It’s no secret that the United States is still very much segregated in terms of race, so it’s no wonder pervasive stereotypes of black people — black men in particular — are still very much believed. And it doesn’t help that, historically, black men have been given stereotypical roles without a lot of depth on TV shows and films. However, new TV shows are changing that. New TV shows, such as Donald Glover’s Atlanta and Issa Rae’s Insecure, with the help of brilliant black writers, are creating complex black male characters that show that black men are indeed multifaceted, just like everyone else.
Insecure actor Jay Ellis has a personal vision for his role: “I wanted to find a way to change the conversation about black men in this country… which is what’s so important about this show. Yes, there are nuances and specifics to every demographic of people, but we all kind of boil down to the same few things. We all wanna be loved, we all want happiness, we all want success, we want happy, healthy families.” Black television is important — revolutionary, even.
‘Luke Cage’
Given the social commentary within Jessica Jones, it’s no surprise that the latest Marvel series to hit Netflix also has important themes. Luke Cage may be a superhero, but he’s also a black man living in New York. In the second episode, the unbreakable Luke Cage dissects his own personal relationship with a racial slur. That’s not all: Showrunner Cheo Hodari Coker explained that he put Cage in a black hoodie to signify that heroes can wear hoodies — a nod to Trayvon Martin, who was wearing a hoodie when he was shot and killed by George Zimmerman.
Luke Cage is a tall, dark-skinned, muscular black man. The kind of black man white people feel uncomfortable having walk behind them at night. Throw in the hoodie, and his aesthetic is perceived as basically criminal. The criminalization of black bodies in society juxtaposed to Luke Cage’s heroism is sure to make for good entertainment and possibly necessary conversation.
‘Insecure’
Awkward Black Girl creator Issa Rae’s new HBO series Insecure won’t just talk about the experience of main character Issa — it will also open up a conversation about her black male peers. Insecure actor Jay Ellis says that the series will illuminate what being a black man is really like in America. He told AOL:
“I meet so many people who think that a black man is this or a black man is that and don’t realize that there’s cats that went to Harvard and cats that didn’t go to school who still came up and did something amazing… I wanted to find a way to change the conversation about black men in this country… which is what’s so important about this show. Yes, there are nuances and specifics to every demographic of people, but we all kind of boil down to the same few things. We all wanna be loved, we all want happiness, we all want success, we want happy, healthy families.”
So much of black life in America is trying to prove that we’re just like everybody else that, essentially, black Americans are stuck with the task of proving our humanity. Insecure, like other “black shows,” gives white America a glimpse into the lives of black men and women being — gasp — human.
‘Atlanta’
Atlanta, a series about a group of friends figuring out their lives in the titular city, is a rare gem. A review from Observer declares that Donald Glover’s critically acclaimed cable show is unique to the black experience because it exists as a reflection of the black male experience rather than being an obvious social commentary. Ebony agrees, citing the all-black writers’ room as the reason the show is able to excel as “a mirror for most of our realities, regardless of social class or geographic location.”
Black writers are essential when attempting to portray black lives. It’s no wonder the show is a raging success. Maybe Hollywood should take some notes.
‘The People v. O.J. Simpson’
The O.J. Simpson case is one many people know — or at least think they know — but Ryan Murphy’s Emmy-winning series made it culturally relevant to the events happening in 2016. Issues of institutional racism, police brutality and white privilege were all brought up in the series, both in relation to Simpson and outside of his case.
‘Black-ish’
Black-ish began as a sitcom about a black family attempting to keep their roots while living in a mostly white, upper-class community. It tackled plenty of issues of race — both large and small — over the course of its two seasons, but it was Season 2’s police brutality-focused episode “Hope” that really resonated. The episode, which involved the family teaching their son about police brutality after yet another incident, reminded its audience of the ongoing struggles of being a black man in today’s world.
Black-ish bravely tackles what being black in America means. The father in the sitcom, Andre Johnson, grew up in a tough neighborhood. He climbed up the economic ladder and lives with his family in an upper-middle-class suburban neighborhood. He struggles with feeling like a “sellout” and feels guilt that his kids are so immersed in white America. So much of being black is associated with some sort of struggle. So, can you be full-on black and have it all? Eh, maybe blackish.
‘The Daily Show’ with Trevor Noah
Trevor Noah had some huge shoes to fill when Jon Stewart passed on the role of The Daily Show host. Yet the South African comedian has won over skeptics with his sharp humor. Following recent incidents of police brutality, Trevor Noah hasn’t shied away from addressing the controversial issue of police violence. Instead he turns pain into laughter. When Alton Sterling and Philando Castile were killed by police days apart, Trevor Noah gave this impassioned speech.
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