The Essence of 90's African American Sitcoms Become Non-Existence

When it comes to the African American community, the essence behind the culture has changed over time due to the influence of the media. In the 90’s, the depiction of African Americans used to be centered on meaning and held substance. However, as network television began to evolve, the essence of the community has begun to go asunder, and African Americans are now depicted in a different light. 

In the early 90s, network television had many African American shows that displayed an accurate depiction of life for the African American community.  These shows talked about African American history, as well as, our heritage.  An example of shows such as this was “A Different World,” a sit-com that followed the lives of students at Hillman College, a fictional historically black college located in the Virginia region.

This television show was a good example of African Americans being depicted in the media, because it showed the diversity of the black community through the characters of the show. Each character came from different social-economic backgrounds and held different beliefs.  This television show displayed positive images of African Americans excelling in the classroom, as well as, in their life after college.  

Another example of an African American television show in the media that was a good example of the African American culture was “The Cosby Show.” 

According to The New York Times, “The shows unprecedented success in depicting the lives of affluent blacks has exercised a profound influence on television in the last half of the 80's.” Throughout the show, the audience could see a household being comprised of African Americans making a successful living in the world. The father, Heathcliff Huxtable, was a successful obstetrician gynecologist. And, the mother was an attorney who could be seen as a positive depiction of an intelligent, successful black woman.

In the 90’s, television shows such as “A Different World” and “The Cosby Show” were a way for the African American community to embrace their culture. African Americans were able to watch television programs that they could relate to and that correlated with their beliefs and values such as "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" and "Family Matters."

However, over the years, many African American shows have, unfortunately, disappeared and the importance of the African American culture quickly followed behind this drastic change. The slow reemergence of new African American television shows that are shown on network television now offer its audience little to no celebration of black life and culture.

An example of this would be “The Game.” When this show first began, it was a series that was a good exemplification of the African American culture. However, as it continued the essence of this aspect begin to dissolve. Unlike “A Different World” and “The Cosby Show,” “The Game” began to turn into a soap opera, and the characters begin to evolve into bad representations of the African America community.

                      

 The show revolved around sex, money, weed, and many other bad notions that are stereotypical of the African American community. This show was seen, once, as a reemergence of the essence of past African American shows; however, it succumbed to the view that society has placed upon African Americans.

Nevertheless, when it comes to media, individuals are now starting to get the wrong perception of the African American culture. The bad perceptions of the African American community that are given off to the public have been carved into the minds of many by a variety of media and entertainment sources. Just as television shows in the 90's, the media needs to find ways to depict African Americans in a positive light, where they downplay the stigmas and stereotypes associated with the African American community. When it is all said and done, the media is quickly becoming the message and the messenger.