The "Ideal" Black Family?

Abstract

Many writers have documented changes that have occurred during past two decades in respect participation of Blacks in North American television programs. Earlier reports emphasized general underrepresentation of Blacks on television and their typical restriction unimportant petty criminal roles in crime drama series; even when characters were industrious and law abiding, they were located almost exclusively in low-status positions (e.g., Banks, 1977; Hinton, Seggar, Northcott, & Fowles, 1973; Lemon, 1977; Northcott, Seggar, & Hinton, 1975; Poindexter & Stroman, 1981). As more all-Black shows were developed, it was felt that characters became, if anything, even more stereotyped: Viewers could conclude that to be Black means that one is poor, carefree and unskilled (Banks, 1977, p. 339). Alternatively, because so many new Black shows were comedies, the American people have got idea that black people are funny (Sklar, 1980, p. 103). The early 1980s saw increasing development of integrated shows in which Blacks portrayed central characters who were generally as successful, competent, professional, and attractive as