My Life-Changing Switch to Only TV Shows That Feature Real Black Lives

Yes! Magazine ^ | June 7, 2018 | Zenobia Jeffries

[2ndDivisionVet]

Three years ago, I made a commitment to watch only television shows that featured Black actors, writers, and directors.

More on that, but first you need to know my backstory.

Saved by the Bell was my favorite television show as a teenager, and Pretty in Pink one of my favorite movies. Although, it was probably Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark’s “If You Leave” on the film’s soundtrack that made me like it more than I might have otherwise. Saved by the Bell’s Zack Morris (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) was definitely my teenage heartthrob. The favorite part of my after-school routine was watching Zack, while doing homework. In my mind’s eye, I too attended the very nice and very colorblind Bayside High.

But Zack wasn’t the first. There was Alex P. Keaton (Michael J. Fox), the fanatically conservative son in Family Ties, and Kirk Cameron’s portrayal of slacker/girl chaser Mike Seaver in Growing Pains, and Silver Spoons’ Ricky Stratton (Rick Schroder), the blonde rich kid with a winning smile.

I often pictured myself outside of my mostly Black life as a love interest for all of these stars. Never mind that not one of the shows ever gave me reason to think that I actually could be....

[Gay State Conservative]

I remember when the Jeffersons were still on “All in the Family”, occasionally Lionel Jefferson would tell Meathead that he went too far with his liberalism.

One of my favorite lines from All In The Family was when one time,as Meathead and Lionel were talking Meathead,as usual,was going on about "the struggle" Lionel interrupted him and said something like "Hey,Mike,how come you and I never talk about the weather? You know,black folks have weather too".

Classic!

[dfwgator]

Yep, that was the one I was thinking of.

Norman Lear may be liberal, but sometimes he got things right.

[jmcenanly]

Basically, George Jefferson was a smaller version of Donald Trump