Because after the last incident, i had children bussed in. When i think about the history of black television, i think about when black folks watch, we watch to zero in on us. Instead of making us celebrate your holidays, why dont you celebrate some of ours . What about tupacs birthday . And when you have so little, it means everything. All of those shows, they all matter so much. It feels like theres been more of an ebb and flow and an evolution. It is so important for us to have true authenticity. Why we always the only black people here . Thats why representation matters, black stories told by black people. Im trying to tell you something. [man] we set the pace for sit comedy. You hear that, elizabeth . Im coming to join ya, honey . From Sanford And Son to the other black shows. What is this . Loved The Jeffersons. Monogrammed shirt, brand new silk tie. Is that a tie . I thought your tongue was hanging out. Good times is one of my favorite sitcoms because you could not tell me that
because after the last incident, i had children bussed in. - when i think about the history of black television, i think about when black folks watch, we watch to zero in on us. - instead of making us celebrate your holidays, why don t you celebrate some of ours? what about tupac s birthday? - and when you have so little, it means everything. all of those shows, they all matter so much. - it feels like there s been more of an ebb and flow and an evolution. - it is so important for us to have true authenticity. - why we always the only black people here? - that s why representation matters, black stories told by black people. - i m trying to tell you something. - [man] we set the pace for sit comedy. - you hear that, elizabeth? i m coming to join ya, honey? - from sanford and son to the other black shows. - what is this? - loved the jeffersons. - monogrammed shirt, brand new silk tie. - is that a tie? i thought your tongue was hanging out. - good times is one of my favori
run, yasmine! run like the wind! ental music) - do you feel that there is not enough representation? because after the last incident, i had children bussed in. - when i think about the history of black television, i think about when black folks watch, we watch to zero in on us. - instead of making us celebrate your holidays, why don t you celebrate some of ours? what about tupac s birthday? - and when you have so little, it means everything. all of those shows, they all matter so much. - it feels like there s been more of an ebb and flow and an evolution. - it is so important for us to have true authenticity. - why we always the only black people here? - that s why representation matters, black stories told by black people. - i m trying to tell you something. - [man] we set the pace for sit comedy. - you hear that, elizabeth? i m coming to join ya, honey? - from sanford and son to the other black shows. - what is this? - loved the jeffersons. - monogrammed shirt, brand new
- america was changing. you re in the middle of reaganomics and trickle down economies. - the social policies of that era were really splintering black families and the black community in this country. - in the early 1980s, the landscape of primetime television was dominated by these hour-long dramas. some of them were very gritty. - one of the things people were all saying was the comedy on television was dead. ( the bill cosby show theme song) - but then there s this juggernaut of a show in the form of a black family comedy, and it completely reinvigorates the sitcom genre. - i am your father. i brought you in this world and i ll take you out. (audience laughs) (soft upbeat music) - the cosby show absolutely created a phenomenon of must-see tv. - the cosby show is consider the pinnacle black sitcom. gives you a black family that s not just incredibly tight knit. - listen. let s put on some music round here. - it was also a family that was doing very well for themselves, that was
- [marla] the jeffersons had something for every segment of society. - yeah. - government is not the solution to our problem. government is the problem. - america was changing. you re in the middle of reaganomics and trickle down economies. - the social policies of that era were really splintering black families and the black community in this country. - in the early 1980s, the landscape of primetime television was dominated by these hour-long dramas. some of them were very gritty. - one of the things people were all saying was the comedy on television was dead. ( the bill cosby show theme song) - but then there s this juggernaut of a show in the form of a black family comedy, and it completely reinvigorates the sitcom genre. - i am your father. i brought you in this world and i ll take you out. (audience laughs) (soft upbeat music) - the cosby show absolutely created a phenomenon of must-see tv. - the cosby show is consider the pinnacle black sitcom. gives you a black family tha