I was reading threads on my favorite show and came across this comment:
I don’t understand why everyone is hung up on there being "no black people on this show." I understand that none of the main characters are black, but so what? Just because there aren’t any there it doesn’t make the show racist. It actually is more realistic, considering only about 12% of America's population is black, why should there be a black person in every frame or the show. Did Family Matters, the Cosby Show, or any other show about a cast of black people have any white leading roles? No! And you don’t hear any white people bitching about that. Also, every time there is a position of power on this show, have you noticed they almost always tend to be black? Like 2 out of 3 of Chandler's last bosses have all been black. When he goes to an interview, the guy is black, they do this all the time, because they cant introduce a new leading role 9 seasons into the show when they know its going to end a year later. Just a rant. I saw a comment on it in the paper the other day and just seeing what all you guys thin…Just for all the angry people whose feelings are hurt about the lack of color on Friends, the producers should extend the show for another 5 years and recast with all black actors and call it "Black Friends". But then that wouldn't be good enough either, would it?'
I think you would have to be black to understand sounds sad but it's true. The phrase 'it's a black thing you wouldn't understand' plays deeply into this situation. I love Friends and I do mean love. I'm parked in front of the TV every Thursday watching, but as a Black person I am the exception not the rule. Most white people love the show because there is a character to identify with. That’s why Blacks have a problem with the lack of color as its being referred to here because where do we get to identify? Overall we shouldn't identify with the color but with the personality and that’s where we are losing out.
Yes Blacks have plenty of organizations but if you can not see where those are necessary, your view of this country in a whole is very naive. I love when white people say 'But Black People have BET and UPN' (which is like saying, riding in the back is better than not riding at all right?), yes you could say that but compare that to the other 200 channels that cater to the white demographic and we are still under represented as all minority groups are in this country. Is it right for ‘The Black’ shows to be just as narrow-minded? No, it’s not.
My personal opinion is that it's television and nothing on TV should be taken this serious. But Art imitates life (yea I said it) and thus what does it say when one of the highest rated shows, which has been on the air for 9 years and has only had 2 Blacks in main guest appearance roles (and those have been in the last two years)?
Article comments
1 - Eric Olsen
I have no particular opinion of "Friends," but I believe you said it best when you said it's the personalities and not the race people identify with. How do white people identify with the many black characters scattered throughout TV land? By personality, as Americans, or just as people. In know it is exceptionally difficult, and I know the legacy of racism lingers, but if we can't get beyond racial identification as our most fundamental identity, how can we ever get beyond racism in its many forms, including black-to-white?
2 - Chris
Even though it was cancelled, I thought The Bernie Mac show was genius, not because I am black (well, I'm not black), but because I identified with Bernie Mac and his frustration with raising kids. Funny show.
3 - Eric Olsen
I agree - it was hilarious and touching
4 - Dew
and Ironically I couldn't get into Bernie Mac. Don't get me wrong I love his comedy and I enjoyed the first few shows I saw but it was nothing I was turning into religiously. But that ties into my point, I dont have kids and I am not married so I don't indentify with the majority of plotlines.
Thanx for the comments guys.
5 - cjones
First off - WHEN DID THE BERNIE MAC SHOW GET CANCELLED. DAMN. I didnt know that. I love Bernie Mac. Anyway, my original point. I LOVVVVVEE Friends and I am black or African American or whatever the current in vogue term is of the day. I personally couldnt care less if Friends never had one black person on their show ever. There are many shows like Friends that have been out throughout the years that have had all black casts (Living Single - A Different World ) The shows were wonderful, funny and intelligent and had all black casts. It didnt bother me then and Friends all white cast doesnt bother me now. The characters are hilarious, well known and accepted. To introduce someone on the show just to be politically correct would not only be silly but it would change the nature of the program. 6 interesting young white 30 somethings who hang out. Its unique , interesting and fun to watch. Drop the race issue !
6 - Evan
Personally I reject a) the idea that what is on television, cable or otherwise, reflects life ("Art imitates life") or even should reflect life b) the notion that 200 channels on the dial are 'white' and 2 are 'black'--that would imply entirely neutral entertainment is white, right down to the spanish language channels, and finally c) that you have to be black to understand something. If someone isn't understanding you, it means there is a failure of communication, and that failure isn't necessarily their lack of blackness.
It's hard to address something like whether there is a sufficient amount of black entertainment or whether there are a sufficient amount of black people on television without a mass of statistics on hand. You're trying to do the same--why don't you get some data and try quantify, convincingly, exactly what comprises white and black entertainment. All you have is a gut feeling that the entertainment you are consuming is 99% white (instead of proportionate to the white population, as it 'should be'), and you are presumptuous enough to think that every black person feels the same way.
You're not prepared to make the assumptions you're making without a little more to back you up except your Black Experience and your curious inability to identify with a character of a different skin color.
7 - Dew
Evan,
1)'Overall we shouldn't identify with the color but with the personality and that’s where we are losing out.' Maybe it was while you were smelling the clouds that you conveniently caused that oversight.
2)I do not see where I said the Black Experience was universal but rest assured Black is a state of mind and not a color and no survey you could take would disprove otherwise.
3)I find it quite hypocritical for you to disclose to me what I am prepared to assume.
4)Friends, which is the topic at hand or did you miss that (see number 1) is 99% white. And quite frankly whether it is consumed by White America is a given - statistics show that Friends takes in on average at least 18 million viewers, your(note: sarcasm) statistics (see Nielsen ratings) also show that Blacks, ages 14-27, watch BET primetime over Friends on Thursday nights.
5) Do you have to be Black to understand something, no. Some things: yes. There are some things that only certain minorities can truly understand (i.e. identify with) because we have been misrepresented or underrepresented repeatedly for so long.
6)You are correct I am presumptuous. I am presumptuous enough to see pass color and know what entertains me and what offends me. Friends does not offend me becuase of its lack of color and you, Evan, entertain me with your pretentious, hypocritical supercilious comments which have been noted and discarded.
But, fortunately we can always agree to disagree...Goodnite
8 - Mac Diva
Evan makes a good point about providing data. Numbers are much harder to dismiss.
According to the stats I'm familiar with, African-Americans are stil proportionally under-represented on prime time and mainstream television. Asians, Hispanics and Indians are even more under-represented. Women over 50? Forget about it.
Cable shows don't really compensate for under-representation because they are such a small part of the broadcast menu. Furthermore, the people most likely to watch minority shows are the least able to pay the additional costs for cable.
Nor am I in favor of ghettoized shows, by which I mean shoving programs with primarily black casts onto 'the black channel.' What I would prefer to see is more minority characters as part of ensemble casts. Examples include Hill Street Blues and my former favorite The Practice (which is in deep trouble). The focus should be on personality, but who says the personalities on major shows have to be white?
The most ignorant aspect of the rant Dew cited is the person's failure to realize most black organizations or events are a response to de jure and de facto segregation. They were created because African-Americans and other people of color were not allowed to participate in majority groups. For example, I used to be a member of the National Bar Association, created because the American Bar Association excluded people of color into the 1960s and 1970s. I joined after it became a legacy group, of course, but believe it still serves a useful purpose. Too many Americans are ignorant of even relatively recent history.
9 - Mac Diva
After reading Dew's comment above, which was posted while I was writing mine, I must reiterate:
The focus should be on personality, but who says the personalities on major shows have to be white?
Point of comparison. I just finished reading a fairly good sci-fi novel. None of the characters were identified as people of color. (Though one, despite his blue eyes, had a Japanese last name.) I enjoyed the plot of the book immensely, but, I couldn't help but notice people of color do not exist in this writer's future universe, including on Earth. (Aliens do, though.) She has snapped her fingers and we have disappeared. That sure looks like rather prejudicial wish fulfillment.
10 - Michael
I've never seen Friends, but that's not necessarily because there are no Black characters. Several of my friends (who, like me, are Black) have told me that I'd love Friends b/c I loved Seinfeld. But for some reason the show just appears bland to me so I'm not moved to tune in. But clearly many Blacks watch shows and movies that have all white casts. I've seen it cited many times that Blacks watch more hours of TV than any other race. Given the programming choices, we have to be watching 'mainstream' shows. The Sopranos and Sex & the City are obvious examples.
And I do agree that the racial dynamic on Friends is a case of art imitating life. Americans still live largely segregated lives outside of work and school. (In many places the schools are nearly as segregated as they were back in the day.) So it's not surprising that a group of friends would mostly consist of people of the same race.
11 - Steve Rhodes
Bernie Mac isn't cancelled. It did better last year, partly because of the American Idol lead-in.
12 - Dew
Michael, I'm inclined to agree with your friends here. If you like Seinfield you probably would enjoy Friends. At least some of the earlier episodes.
13 - Eric Olsen
Very glad to hear about Bernie, thanks Steve
14 - Amina
This is an interesting concept to look at, as i dont think it has been something discussed before. Although i am neither black or white, as i come from a mixed background with Irish and egyptian parents, i often feel that it can be hard to find people you are able to relate either, so it could be argued that who on television nowadays, will share the same ethnicity as myself? The answer...not many. Although i am a huge fan of the program, it would be interesting to see whether it would be as popular if there was a multiculral cast instead of an all white-american cast? Something worth considering i feel.