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Where are the Black sitcoms that portray the Black family as a cohesive, healthy unit? You know, the sitcom about the happily married couple — with decent houses and incomes — who parent some mischievous kids? Instead, Black programming has been replaced by a swarm of reality TV shows that consistently depict the Black family as broken. Look at Black Ink. Nearly all the men are drowning in “baby mama” drama. Love and Hip-Hop never fails to portray Black men as scheming adulterers and women as objectified fools — a far cry from Mr. and Mrs. Huxtable!
Phil Banks, a respected judge on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and his wife, a teacher who taught at an upscale prep school, have been replaced by a new reigning king and queen of Black television: Stevie J and Joseline Hernandez — it’s scary, I know. Check out the list of quality programming that we really, really wish would come back to rectify the deteriorating image of the Black family.
via The CW
Everybody Hates Chris
Chris’s naively racist teacher, Ms. Morello, marveled over the fact that Chris actually had a father or could even afford to donate canned goods. Defying stereotypes, Everybody Hates Chris follows a married, middle-income household. Rochelle Rock, Chris’ beautician mom, might be a little strict and intimidating, but it’s all because she strives to see her children succeed beyond street culture. Her husband, Julius, worked two jobs as a newspaper delivery man and a security guard. The Rocks have definitely exceeded Ms. Morello’s small-minded perceptions of the African-American household.
Family Matters
“Did I do that?” Family Matters was a scripted classic! We watched Carl Winslow and his wife Harriet climb up the career rungs throughout the seasons. We first met Carl Winslow as a cop for the Chicago Police Department. Over the years, he blossomed into a sergeant, lieutenant, and finally captain. And Harriet eventually became the Head of Sales at a department store. All while juggling teenage kids and an graceless nerd! They were a happy family with a nice house and normal issues.
The Bernie Mac Show
The late Bernie Mac had us cracking up in tears as he became an instant dad; he reluctantly took in three of his sister’s kids. Alongside him stood his wife Wanda, the vice president of AT&T. The show follows the well-off couple and their trials and tribulations in raising children that are not biologically their own. But it also shows that families, including African-American families, stick together.
Sister, Sister
The premise of Sister, Sister might even be more peculiar than The Bernie Mac Show. Long story short, twins — separated at birth — find each other and move in together. Tia had a single mother and Tamera had a single father. The parents held their own quite well in the household with their entrepreneurial ventures. Tia’s father, Ray, ran his own limo business. Tamera’s mother Lisa, a fashion designer, ran Fashions by Lisa right out of her home. As for Tia and Tamera? We watched them grow from self-conscious high schoolers into mature college graduates. Strange premise, but great showcase.
That’s So Raven
If you look beyond Raven’s silly antics on the show, you’ll see a beautiful family dynamic that’s missing from today’s television. We’re introduced to Roger, a quirky dad with great culinary taste. As the seasons progress, we see Roger ditch his job as a chef and open his own restaurant. Raven’s mom, Tanya, put her law studies on hold for the kids. For a while, she worked at Raven’s high school as an English teacher.
My Wife and Kids
When Michael isn’t using nutty parenting tactics for his dolt of a son,vain eldest daughter, and spoiled little girl, he’s managing his own trucking business. His slightly insecure wife, Janet, has been known to be an accountant, stock broker, and of course, a mom. The shenanigans that ensue inside the Kyle household might be undesirable, but the undying marriage bond between Michael and Janet left us a little bit inspired. Not to mention the fun they were having. How many happy, wacky marriages do we see on TV?
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
There is no way this list could not include Will Smith’s most lovable TV character and his family. Will, too stubborn to conform to Bel-Air’s upscale life, caused quite a strain for the surly Phil Banks — the respected judge in the area. Aunt Viv, a retired doctor, held a PhD from UCLA. Phil and Viv Banks, married with three kids (and a butler!), definitely challenged the common stereotypes placed upon the American Black family.
The Jeffersons
Unlike the other shows featured on this list, the hilarious 70s sitcom The Jeffersons portrayed a Black family household after the children leave the nest — their son Lionel eventually got married and moved out. George Jefferson was a Black entrepreneur with seven successful dry cleaning businesses in the neighborhood; his wife, Louise “Weezie” Jefferson was a housewife and a philanthropist. After hitting the jackpot as being his own boss, George convinced his wife to get a maid — a sign that they’re “movin on up!”
The Cosby Show
If I exlcuded The Cosby Show — the godfather of Black sitcom gold — this list would be a travesty. “There probably wouldn’t have been a President in office if it weren’t for the Bill Cosby show,” Oprah said. “The Bill Cosby show introduced America into a way of seeing Black culture that they had not seen before.”Is this true? No one knows. But if it is, the dearth of healthy Black families on TV is alarming — because I know for damn sure that Basketball Wives or Black Ink won’t be raising the next Obama.
Did we miss something? Tell us your favorite ideal TV Black family.
