There have been countless shows on television that have had a focus on black culture and issues within the community. The Television shows Fresh Prince of Bel Air and Black-ish brings to light and successfully decodes 20th and 21st century race issues, specifically black male issues that have not been adequately dealt with in mainstream media. Mainstream television has had black characters and have covered black issues but they often have characteristics that fit stereotypes surrounding black male. These characters are sometime portrayed similar to what is seen in public or in the news such as gangsters and absent father.
In the Fresh Prince of Bel Air the Banks family is a upper middle class family, Will Smith is a Athletic black male while …show more content…
In the episode “Blood is Thicker Than Mud” Will and Carlton both are trying to join an all-black fraternity. From the very start the fraternity takes a liking to Will however, they are skeptical of Carlton because they are not sure if he is “Black enough.” Ultimately after putting Carlton through awful tasks and interrogation the fraternity turns down Carlton because of the music that he enjoys and the hobbies that he partakes in which aren't what they believe black interests. Will however, is offered a spot in their frat but denies it because he does not agree with their views on …show more content…
It is not often that black males are portrayed in Television as anything but that and when they are they are often seen as nerds like characters like Steve Urkel from the sitcom Family Matters or TJ Henderson from Smart guy. This can have a negative impact because young black males as well as the rest of society may start to generalize and put young black males in a box. The Television shows Fresh Prince of Bel Air and Black-ish brings to light and successfully decodes 20 and 21st century race issues, specifically black male issues that have not been adequately dealt with in mainstream media. Shows like Fresh Prince of Bel air and Black is not only challenge stereotypes but the also show that it is okay to be different. Not only that but they bring awareness to whom certain stereotypes have a extremely negative effects on. The two shows also bringing people into the conversation that people that aren't members of the black community. “Black males who refuse categorization are rare, for the price of visibility in the contemporary world of white supremacy is that black identity be defined in relation to the stereotype whether by embodying it or seeking to be other than it.” In this case the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Black ish are both examples of having black males refusing stereotypes. However, as long as the Fresh Prince of
In the Fresh Prince of Bel Air the Banks family is a upper middle class family, Will Smith is a Athletic black male while …show more content…
In the episode “Blood is Thicker Than Mud” Will and Carlton both are trying to join an all-black fraternity. From the very start the fraternity takes a liking to Will however, they are skeptical of Carlton because they are not sure if he is “Black enough.” Ultimately after putting Carlton through awful tasks and interrogation the fraternity turns down Carlton because of the music that he enjoys and the hobbies that he partakes in which aren't what they believe black interests. Will however, is offered a spot in their frat but denies it because he does not agree with their views on …show more content…
It is not often that black males are portrayed in Television as anything but that and when they are they are often seen as nerds like characters like Steve Urkel from the sitcom Family Matters or TJ Henderson from Smart guy. This can have a negative impact because young black males as well as the rest of society may start to generalize and put young black males in a box. The Television shows Fresh Prince of Bel Air and Black-ish brings to light and successfully decodes 20 and 21st century race issues, specifically black male issues that have not been adequately dealt with in mainstream media. Shows like Fresh Prince of Bel air and Black is not only challenge stereotypes but the also show that it is okay to be different. Not only that but they bring awareness to whom certain stereotypes have a extremely negative effects on. The two shows also bringing people into the conversation that people that aren't members of the black community. “Black males who refuse categorization are rare, for the price of visibility in the contemporary world of white supremacy is that black identity be defined in relation to the stereotype whether by embodying it or seeking to be other than it.” In this case the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Black ish are both examples of having black males refusing stereotypes. However, as long as the Fresh Prince of