Black Family Imagery and Interactions On Television

Abstract

Most would probably agree with assertion that the is at once most sensitive, important, and enduring element in culture of any people (Billingsley, 1968). For it is within family-the principal socializer-that an individual's personality and identity are formed and norms and values of particular cultures and subcultures are transmitted. Perhaps because of this central role that plays in socialization of individuals, has been of great interest to scholars and laymen alike. Television families have also been of great interest. As Glennon and Butsch (1982) pointed out, many of more than 200 fictional families that have appeared in family series since 1946 are known and loved by millions of Americans. The Nelsons (The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet), Cleavers (Leave it to Beaver), Bunkers (All in Family), Waltons, Jeffersons, and so forth, have all become a part of our collective history and culture. Black families have been represented in television programming scheduling since 1950s. This article examines portrayal of Black life on commercial television during 1985-1986 season. Its purpose is twofold: (a) to provide data that, when analyzed in context of previous studies, will allow for establishment of a trend of how Black has been portrayed on television; and (b) to examine Black portrayals as a possible model for social learning by children.