ASSESSING THE PROGRESSIVE PROMISE OF HBO’S THE WIRE

Abstract

HBO’s The Wire garnered critical acclaim for its portrayal of the urban problems of the city of Baltimore, particularly its Black population, specifically those engaged in the street-level drug trade. One of the main accolades was the show’s realism in its portrayal of life on the streets. It also received praise for giving its characters more depth in comparison to shows that had come before it. This was seen as giving a more compassionate and less stereotyping view of those characters. This article will address the issue of stereotypes, whether the show’s realism furthered the reduction of stereotypes of Blacks, and will assess the critical acclaim the show has received in the two decades since it premiered.