How ’90s TV transformed black representation
Black representation on TV has transformed over the last century. But the biggest change arguably came in the 1990s.
After the Jeffersons and the Huxtables in the ’70s and ’80s, a whole host of black families and friend- ships burst onto the small screen. Moesha Mitchell and Carl Winslow shared the hilarity and frustration of Los Angeles teendom and Chicago family life, respec- tively. While Khadijah James and Martin Payne exposed life with pals in Brooklyn and Detroit. And who can forget about West Phila- delphia’s Will Smith moving in with his auntie and uncle in Bel-Air? That, of course, was the premise of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.”
“The portrayal of blacks in the ’80s and ’90s, you begin to see an expansion of our identity,” Gil Rob- ertson, journalist, author and president of the African American Film Crit- ics Association, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitu- tion. “Whereas back in the ’70s or back in, cer- tainly, earlier periods, Afri- can American identity was pretty one-note. In the ’80s and the ’90s you started seeing people in TV with different personalities outside of being either a per- son’s sidekick or being the token black person. You started to see a truer representation of black people.”
Many black shows were introduced on Fox, UPN and the WB. Each network emerged in the 20th century’s final years. With them came a desire to key into an audience that had previously been untapped. The goal was swift commercial popularity, NPR reported. Soon shows like “In Living Color,” “In the House,” and “Sister, Sister” were staples of prime time TV.
“You might just have a show where the girls (on “Living Single”) are trying to figure out how to pay the rent, how to get the bills paid, which is a very universal kind of thing,” Robertson said. He noted that blackness on TV at this time wasn’t “tied to civil rights” as was the case two decades earlier.
Before the ’90s, there wasn’t much of a difference in what black and white audiences were interested in viewing. A 1996 BBDO Report on Black Television Viewing showed that in the 1985-86 season, 15 of the top 20 shows among black viewers were in the top 20 for white viewers. During the final decade of the 20th century, how- ever, black audiences were gripped by television focus- ing on relatable life experiences of black people. Yet after Y2K, many of these shows began to disappear. By 2005, talks began for UPN and The WB to merge. By September 2006, The CW network debuted. With it, many black shows fell to the wayside as the new network focused on TV deemed fit for more main- stream audiences. Post’90s sitcoms like “Girlfriends” and “The Game” soon ended, or in the case of the latter, moved to networks like BET.
“A real pattern emerged where if you’re a close
‘The portrayal of blacks in the ’80s and ’90s, you begin to see an expansion of our identity.’
Journalist, author and president of the African American Film Critics Association
watcher of stuff, you can see that blackness was being used as a way to keep these networks propped up and solid until they got a hit with some show that reflected the mainstream,” Robertson said, referring to Fox, UPN and The WB. “That happened over and over and over again with all three of those networks. Fox had … just a real robust lineup of black content. And the unfortunate thing about it is once the net- works took flight, they became established off of the black talent, then they sorta just tossed the shows aside.”
Statistics, however, say there’s demand for more black faces on the small screen. But it’s not just rep- resentation that viewers want today. A 2019 study from Horowitz Research revealed seven in ten black viewers wished to see more TV shows and movies show- ing the diversity of the black American experience.
Within the past decade, black storytelling has re- emerged on screen. It has in sitcom form with “Black- ish” and w ith dramas including “Queen Sugar.” The latter show is one of several programs featuring black stars Robertson praised.
“OWN has done a good job of that,” he said, noting as examples the Ava DuVernay-pro duced “Queen” and “Cherish the Day,” an anthology series from the director coming in February. “I think ABC, certainly, is on the right track when they began working with Shonda Rhimes,” he added. “When you look at the incredible array of stories and black charac- ters that she has injected into all of her series from “Grey’s Anatomy” to Kerry Washington’s character in ‘Scandal,’ it was must- watch TV.”
And while the way the small screen has portrayed black women has been an improvement, Robertson said he hasn’t seen the same for black men “in all of our rich diversity. But hope- fully we’ll see that change. And I don’t think we see enough positive imaging, enough storylines that are wrapped around black families,” he added. “And see a full functioning, healthy, nuclear black family.”
He also remarked posi- tively on sci-fi/fantasy programming featuring black leads, like The CW’s “Black Lightning.”
But it’s not just about who is seen on-screen. Robertson pointed to the importance of black people work- ing behind the scenes to produce authentic programming.
“TV has the power — just like film — to influence how people see themselves, how people view their positions in life in the world,” he said. “So it’s very, very pow- erful.”
Staff Writer
Dayton’s T.O. is looking to shine the spotlight on the Gem City’s most spectacular trea- sures.
For the 15th year, Tommy Owens Jr. is recruiting elemen- tary through high-school age students for the Family Affair Talent Show.
“It’s more than just a talent show, it’s a ‘life’ show,” Owens told us. “We have motivational speakers come and empower the kids. They also participate in community service. Our kids work very hard to bring the city the biggest talent show on Earth. It’s our kickoff to a Violence Free summer.”
Selected students must have approval from a staff mem- ber of their school and good grades, he said.
The talent show is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. Saturday, May 9, at Ponitz High School, at 741 W. Washington St. in Dayton. Admission will be $10.
Tryouts for the talent show are 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21, at Horizon Science Academy, 250 Shoup Mill Road in Harri- son Twp.; 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22, at Orbit Fun Center, 5001 Nebraska Ave. in Huber Heights and 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday Feb. 23 at The Arena Sports Bar, 4515 Salem Ave. in Trotwood.
We recently caught up with Owens.
What do you do?
Entertainment and mar- keting specialist/consultant.
What superpower would you love to have?
I would want to be invisible so I could watch everybody or be a Wonder Twin.
How did you get involved with Family Affair Talent Show?
Dayton promoter Tommy Owens Jr. (man in striped shirt) is pictured with former winners and participants in the Family Affair Talent Show. The other adults in the photo are comedian Faizon Love and Ohio Rep. Fred Strahorn, D-Dayton.
I am one of the founders of the Family Affair Talent Show that started in 2005 at Fair- view Middle School.
What do you love about life in Dayton?
I love the cost of living in Dayton. I love that I’m still friends with some of the peo- ple I’ve known since kindergarten. It’s a close-knit city. More importantly, I love the talent that comes from Dayton.
would you do on a perfect date in Dayton?
I would go have a couples massage at Lily of the Valley. I would get a manicure and pedicure at Lux Nails and Spa by Danielle Harrington. She’s the best in the city. I would go eat at Huffie’s BBQ. I’d catch a nice live band at the Taste. I would go to 937 Members Only and The Arena Sports Bar for old-school night on a Friday for a nightcap.
Why did you decided to settle in this community?
I was born and bred in this community. It’s home.
What should people know about Dayton?
Dayton is the home of the funk. It is home of the (Dayton International) Peace Museum. The Wright brothers and Paul Laurence Dunbar were best friends in a time when it seemed to be taboo. Dayton is a great place.
What’s your favorite Day
ton hidden gem?
The Family Affair Talent Show. Our kids are amazing and people usually don’t know these kids have this wonderful talent hidden inside of them.
hat’s one word you think people would use to describe you?
Resilient.
What inspires you about Dayton?
Our resilience. We’ve been dealt a bad hand economically, but we still end up with an ace when it’s all said and done.
If you could change or bring one thing to Dayton, what would it be?
If I could bring something back to Dayton, it would be the west side. We had our own shopping centers, a bowling alley, a skating rink, multiple grocery stores and movie theaters. Three hospitals at one time. The west side of Dayton really thrived. We never had to go to the other side of town. Dollars in our community regenerated themselves and our schools were of quality.
What do you think Dayton will look like in 10 to 15 years?
It is my prayer that Dayton will look like the ’70s and ’80s again. The city really thrived. However, the only way Dayton can bounce back is if we take care of and protect our most precious gems. Those precious gems I speak of are our children.