Black History Month: The Importance of African American Representation on TV

We have come a long way with the representation of African Americans on television. I’m so happy that we have a variety of shows today that show African Americans in a positive light and also spark a much needed conversation regarding race in our country. I don’t like to refer to these shows as “black shows” because they should appeal to all audiences with strong families, and relatable characters. They are important shows that star African American leads. We have come a long way, but as long as we still refer to these shows as “black shows,” we as a country still have a long way to go.

Representation and diversity is so important in television. It warms my heart that young black kids can see a superhero that looks like them on Black Lightning (the CW), an educated and successful loving family on black-ish (ABC), the plight of a single black woman trying to find her way in Insecure (HBO), the struggles of a blended family in Queen Sugar (OWN), the wit, fearlessness and brilliance of The Carmichael Show (NBC -I hate that this show ended), Atlanta (FX) about two cousins trying to make in the music industry,  and the ultimate conversation starter regarding the life of black college students in Dear White People (Netflix). These are just a few of the many shows we have now that embrace black culture and diversity and I love it. I often think how my life would have been different if I had the representation on TV that this generation has.

Queen Sugar

It is so important for us to see people that look like us in a positive light on TV so we know that the sky is the limit. The first time I saw someone who looked like me on TV was Denise Huxtable on The Cosby Show (and when I found out her real name was Lisa, I thought she was my soulmate). I could relate to her; I grew up in a middle-class household as an only child. Both of my parents worked and seeing the Huxtables gave me a strong sense of family (and made we want brothers and sisters, which I was blessed with as an adult). Like Mrs. Huxtable my mother always taught me lessons and she didn’t play any games (she was not to be messed with). The Cosby Show gave me the feeling that I could be a doctor, lawyer or anything I wanted to be and that was such an important message for me as a young black girl who rarely saw people who looked like me. At that time, the only representation we had was The Cosby Show, Family Matters and A Different World. I always wanted to see more families like mine, or others that looked like me (in cartoons as well), but it just wasn’t there.

That’s why it’s so exciting that there are so many diverse shows with multiple ethnicities represented in addition to shows with predominantly black casts on television now that are pushing black representation forward and it’s fabulous. We are no longer slaves, maids, criminals and sidekicks. We are superheroes, doctors, lawyers, judges, professors, college students, nurses, ad agency executives, scientists, music moguls, writers, farmers, fashion stylists, politicians, teachers, models, police officers, firemen and the list goes on. We can do anything we put our minds to and it’s beautiful to see that message presented to the current generation on television. It doesn’t matter where you are from, or what your race or economic status is, the opportunities are limitless! This is an exciting time in television and there is a plethora of exceptional shows on TV.

In honor of Black History Month, I’ve listed 15 shows (in no particular order) below that I feel embrace diversity and black representation while also just being exceptional shows. Check them out, enjoy them and support them.

1. black-ish (ABC)
   
   

   THE CARMICHAEL SHOW (Photo by: NBCUniversal)

2. Black Lightning (The CW)
3. Atlanta(FX)
4. The Carmichael Show (NBC)
5. Queen Sugar (OWN)
6. Luke Cage (Netflix)
7. Insecure (HBO)
8. Dear White People (Netflix)
9. Grownish (Freeform)
10. Power (Starz)
11. Greenleaf (OWN)
12. Empire (Fox)
13. The Quad (BET)
14. The Chi (Showtime)
15. The Mayor (ABC)

Lastly, there is no way I could not give a shout out to the cast and crew of Black Panther. What a phenomenal film that is the definition of black representation and visual excellence. We are seeing history being made with this film. It is a masterpiece and everyone should go see it. Happy Black History Month!

What’s your favorite show that has positive black representation? Any shows not on my list that you’d like to highlight? Let me know in the comment section below. You can keep up with the Nice Girls on Twitter @NiceGirlsTV and you can follow me @Lisa_NGTV.