The Impact of African-American Sitcoms on Americas Culture Essay

The Impact of Afri potty-American Sitcoms on Americas Culture Since its start, the goggle box system fabrication has been criticized for perpetuating myths and stereotypes about Afro-Americans by dint of characterizations, story lines, and plots. The situation comedy has been the world that has seemed to fleet the most criticism, analysis, and disapproval for stereotyping. From Sanford and Son and The Jeffer newss in the seventies to The Cosby build (1984) and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in the 1990s, sitcoms featuring black casts and characters have always been controversial. However, their entailment upon our American culture cannot be disregarded. During the 1950s and 1960s, 97% of the families were Caucasian. In the counterbalance quintet years of the 1990s, nearly 14% of the television families were Afro-American (Bryant 2001). These statistics patently manoeuver the substantial impact our American culture has had on black television families.Sanford and Son was set in the early mid-seventies. They were a in truth meek class, low-income family that was very disjointed. The go, Sanford, spent most of his time drunk and set his parole down. There were few, if any, family values emphasized. The only positive message conveyed was that the son and popping loved each other. One of the next popular black shows to come along was The Jeffersons. It was about a nouveau riche African-American couple, George and Louise Jefferson. Jefferson was a successful businessman, millionaire and own septenary dry cleaning stores. They lived in a ritzy penthouse on the tocopherol Side. In fact, the theme song referred to the fact that they were movin on up They lived their lives fill with capital and success. It was the first television program that... ...way to a safer intrust where he could be raised properly. This sitcom emphasized positive African-American stereotypes, such as honesty, love, strong family values, and success. The Fres h Prince of Bel-Air also demonstrated that the problems money can bring were not confined to one race. Starting with Sanford and Sons through the advancement of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, it is evident that the changes transpiring in society atomic number 18 tardily entering the television industry. What would have been acceptable in the 1970s would be totally unacceptable in this day. No longer is an African-American fix in a sitcom shown as a worthless, uncivil individual. The father figure is now shown more as a responsible, loving, and lesson someone with more realistic faults. Color now seems, through evolution, to be taken out of the equation for the African-American television families. The Impact of African-American Sitcoms on Americas Culture EssayThe Impact of African-American Sitcoms on Americas Culture Since its start, the television industry has been criticized for perpetuating myths and stereotypes about African-Americans through characterizat ions, story lines, and plots. The situation comedy has been the area that has seemed to draw the most criticism, analysis, and disapproval for stereotyping. From Sanford and Son and The Jeffersons in the 1970s to The Cosby Show (1984) and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in the 1990s, sitcoms featuring black casts and characters have always been controversial. However, their significance upon our American culture cannot be disregarded. During the 1950s and 1960s, 97% of the families were Caucasian. In the first five years of the 1990s, nearly 14% of the television families were African-American (Bryant 2001). These statistics obviously show the substantial impact our American culture has had on African-American television families.Sanford and Son was set in the early 1970s. They were a very low class, low-income family that was very disjointed. The father, Sanford, spent most of his time drunk and putting his son down. There were few, if any, family values emphasized. The only p ositive message conveyed was that the son and dad loved each other. One of the next popular African-American shows to appear was The Jeffersons. It was about a nouveau riche African-American couple, George and Louise Jefferson. Jefferson was a successful businessman, millionaire and owned seven dry cleaning stores. They lived in a ritzy penthouse on the East Side. In fact, the theme song referred to the fact that they were movin on up They lived their lives filled with money and success. It was the first television program that... ...way to a safer place where he could be raised properly. This sitcom emphasized positive African-American stereotypes, such as honesty, love, strong family values, and success. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air also demonstrated that the problems money can bring were not confined to one race. Starting with Sanford and Sons through the progression of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, it is evident that the changes transpiring in society are slowly entering the television industry. What would have been acceptable in the 1970s would be totally unacceptable in this day. No longer is an African-American father in a sitcom shown as a worthless, rude individual. The father figure is now shown more as a responsible, loving, and moral person with more realistic faults. Color now seems, through evolution, to be taken out of the equation for the African-American television families.