ON THIS DATE
successful “What’s Happening!!” from Yorkin, who died in 2015. (Lear’s “The Jeffersons” was rare in featuring an affluent Black couple.)
While Black viewers finally got to see a version of themselves on screen, it was mostly one limited to those in struggling neighborhoods and created by almost uniformly white producers, writers and directors at the behest of white executives.
That’s in sharp contrast to the 21st-century comedies created and steered by Black writers, producers and actors, including ABC’s “black-ish,” HBO’s “Insecure” and FX’s “Atlanta,” and their wideranging and nuanced
In 1368, China’s Ming dynasty, which lasted nearly three centuries, began as Zhu Yuanzhang was formally acclaimed emperor following the collapse of the Yuan dynasty.
In 1845, Congress decided national elections would be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.
In 1932, New York Gov. Franklin D. Roosevelt announced his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination.
In 1950, the Israeli Knesset approved a resolution affirming Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
In 1962, Jackie Robinson was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Tony Bennett recorded “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” for Columbia Records.
In 1964, the 24th Amendment to the United States Constitution, eliminating the poll tax in federal elections, was ratified as South Dakota became the 38th state to endorse it.
In 1973, President Richard Nixon announced an accord had been reached to end the Vietnam War and would be formally signed four days later.
— ASSOCIATED PRESS views of Black life.
Eric Deggans, TV critic for National Public Radio, sees a “double-edged quality” to the older-generation sitcoms. They showcased performers beloved by Black audiences, and, starting with “Sanford and Son,” proved that a series about a family of color could be widely successful.
The comedies also were honest about depicting some real-life Black challenges, Deggans said. But they ultimately relied on racial stereotypes and settled for laughs.
The shows made poor areas “look livable and even fun, as opposed to the issues that they really faced,” Deggans said.