The Television Show Black Ish

One of my first thoughts when I started Dear White People was: ‘I wonder how this show comes off to white viewers.’ The jokes and references the characters were using in the show were very particular to black

But the most shocking aspect of this whole situation came in the form of the African American performer Bert Williams who was degraded to play roles while in blackface that made a mockery of black people and essential of himself which probably was hard for him to act out. Fortunately the practice of performing blackface ended in the 1960s during the Civil Rights Act. But there are other stereotypes that have prevailed during the 20th century and I have two which are- the angry black women and black men always being thugs. For the first stereotype a particular movie comes into mind that portrays the angry black women perfectly and that is Madea’s Big Happy Family where there was a scene of a black women character that was yelling at her baby’s father about child support and was rolling her neck, chewing gum and speaking loudly. Looking back on the scene I realize now how stereotypical that scene was and that it further perpetuated a particular idea about how African American women behave or

The television shows from 1950 to the present are connected in many ways. The characters showed in the 1950s television show called Leave It To Beaver all have white coloured skin and portrayed as a happy, perfect family. As the decades increased, the nuclear families turned into blended families, and the television shows started to have coloured characters. The families started to have problems and social situations. The viewer sees the conflicts inside the family begin as the years progress. For example, in the 2000's we examined a television show called Arrested Development. The show portrays the characters as if they are troubled and have problems. The children do not listen to their parents but instead have

Living by the restrictions that society places upon us, humanity is constrained to follow rules. Television writers were forced to write a certain way and were forced to leave out information that society would deem as improper, rude, and even racist. However, in 1971, a groundbreaking American television sitcom broke through societal boundaries and transformed the way that the American audience viewed television. Engulfed by the Vietnam War, Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s, fight for women's right, and the Watergate scandal, Norman Lear persevered through stereotypes and entertainment norms with his show All in the Family. This show approached its audience in a very blunt and crude manner; it made conflict the center of its comedy. It dealt with contemporary cultural issues in a relatable way, which blue allowed blue-collar workers to learn about their current everyday issues and concerns. Through his show All in the Family, Norman Lear highlighted sensitive topics such as racism, bigotry, and sexual relations to prove that they are still alive in our country; thus, Norman Lear is an agent of change by bringing awareness to social issues.

According to Henslin, racism is “prejudice and discrimination on the basis of race.” Racism is woven throughout the documentary of Lafeyette and Pharoah’s lives at the Horner Homes. All of the African Americans living in inner-city Chicago are looked down upon by the whites every day. The whites pay no attention to the existence of the lives of these people. The gangs run the streets of the inner-city

One aspect of life for black people in the United States of America that has always remained consistent is white racial hostility. A history of slavery, segregation, unequal protection of the law, and second class citizenship inflicted by a white power structure that dominates on a national level has created a harmful reality for black people. Every aspect of black public life must either be under the control of or in opposition to white supremacy. Every state-sanctioned institution works to use black bodies as tools for the production of capital in any form, yet simultaneously exploits and maltreats black people so that they cannot fully participate in and benefit from the systems which they are indoctrinated to invest in. White America leverages its money, comfort, and tyranny on Black America. It is for this reason that separate spaces are not merely essential to the viability of black counter-publics but inherent to their existence, since black involvement in white spaces and systems typically leads to black assimilation or marginalization. Within these black counter-publics, hip hop and mass connection through new media forms direct attention and allow for personal expression which shapes black worldview and public opinion, but this simply makes black people more comfortable with their oppression and less involved in politics.

A sitcom is a situational comedy, which is when the same setting and same characters appear in every episode. In terms of sitcoms much has changed between time and a good example of that is, I Love Lucy and The Simpsons. I Love Lucy first premiered in 1951 and for television viewers of the fifties; Lucy and Ricky could have been well known neighbors from down the street. Many people are able relate to this young couple, the Ricardo’s, who were experiencing the hard times and trails of marriage as typical Americans were. They lived in a brownstone in Manhattan with common struggles such as paying the rent and affording household materials. The humor and jokes came along when ordinary situations were amplified as Lucy managed to get herself into trouble time and time again, and

The Cosby Show declared positive attributes to the black stereotype in opposed to the black sitcoms that came before it. Although the success of The Cosby Show dispelled negative perceptions of the black community the initial idea was thrown, which contributes to racial segregation in American at that time during the 80’s. However, the typical black family perception did change as a result of ‘The Cosby Show’ and opened the doors for many comedians and sitcoms to come. ‘The

In 1971, New York Times columnist Fred Ferretti wrote an article about a new television series called All in the Family. Ferretti asked, whether or not if racism and bigotry were considered funny and he concluded that it was not and as a result believed that the show was lacking good taste. Apparently, the television viewers of America disagreed. Running from 1971 to 1979, All In The Family wasn’t the first television series to tackle major issues on a major network, but what was innovative about the series, was that is that it hewed its situational comedy from topical issues, and it explored them through characters we got to know and cared about every week. Simply put, All in the Family wasn’t just a great situational comedy; it as was an ongoing national conversation rooted in well-written, well-acted and multifaceted characters.

Since its start, the television industry has been criticized for perpetuating myths and stereotypes about African-Americans through characterizations, story lines, and plots. The situation comedy has been the area that has seemed to draw the most criticism, analysis, and disapproval for stereotyping. From Sanford and Son and The Jefferson’s in the 1970s to The Cosby Show (1984) and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in the 1990s, sitcoms featuring black casts and characters have always been controversial. However, their significance upon our American culture cannot be disregarded. During the 1950s and 1960s, 97% of the families were Caucasian. In the first five years of the

Family sitcoms have been the most popular and positively influenced television shows watched since the 1900s to today. Many of these shows have consisted of African American, Caucasian, and Hispanic families who all play a role that we as watchers look up to or perceive as the right way to run our household. Over time there has been an addition to biracial shows and family role changes throughout these sitcoms. For example, now observing single parent homes, homosexual guardians and even the changing of social interaction has both positively and negatively impacted real families who are watching.

The legend of the Black Shuck is a folktale originating in areas of eastern England. It is called by many names including Old Shuck, Old Shock, or simply Shuck. The name of which it is referred to depends on the local legend. The origin of the name ‘shuck’ may have come from an Old English word for demon [succa] or more likely from regional slang meaning “shaggy” or “hairy” [shucky] (Eberhart, 2002). True to its name the Black Shuck is mostly commonly told as having black shaggy fur, flaming eyes (or in some instances a single eye), and of abnormal size and stature (Westwood & Simpson, 2005). Like most supernatural creatures they are also gifted with powers of tremendous strength and speed. The Black Shuck hellhound

     In the All in the Family episode we watched in class, it is no secret that Archie Bunker is racist. In fact, in the episode we viewed, there is a racial argument between Archie and the George Jefferson. Through this show, the writer’s can convey thoughts, theories, and opinions about the

An episode of Black Mirror, a British TV show, portrays ideas of our reality or near future of our reality. Each scene carries specific messages that compare these ideas. In particular, this episode had a theme of high standards for humans. From the start of the show, it seemed as if every person is trapped. There's no way to see the outside world, but monitors everywhere. Also, in order to become the best, they need to train with serious procedures and guidelines. The bikes were literally creating power for the entire place, like it was a job. Each individual is in their own zoned-out world when they are on the bike, always staring at a monitor and secluding themselves. This system was very regulated. Moreover, these high standards surround and affect everyone, in reality and in the show. Black Mirror effectively implies that perfection is necessary for every human in society and the characters in this episode, by showing the negative consequences that result, if they fail, such as being a nobody.

One of the biggest misconceptions about black humor is that it involves race. Black humor is not a form of African American humor