How The Black Culture Has Been A Blueprint For TV For Decades
No matter which way you slice the pie, the black culture has been a catalyst for shaping a LOT of things from music to television. The culture didn’t just shape tv, but America. I honestly get aggravated that sometimes credit isn’t given, but that’s changing in this article. Let’s start with late-night television.
You guys ever saw the movie “Talk To Me,” starring Don Cheadle? In the movie, he plays a well known DMV radio personality named Petey Greene. Listen, I love Petey Greene and there was a scene when Petey appeared on late-night television to do stand up. It was completely unheard of and Petey was in the midst. Petey went on and saw the same thing a lot of other people saw. He felt like he didn’t belong in what he felt was a world that he wasn’t so welcomed in and he walked off stage. It made me think, how non-inclusive late-night television was in the ’70s.
In the 60s and the 70s, late-night tv was all the same. Then, things changed. Arsenio Hall came on the scene and completely shook the game up! He was unlike any other late-night tv host and guess what. It represented our culture and what do you think happened after that? Late-night tv was changed FOREVER. Now, you have bands like The Roots and artists such as Da Baby, Megan Thee Stallion and more performing live on late night tv. Ralph Waldo “Petey” Greene would be PROUD. When he stood on that stage on late night tv, he didn’t feel like he belonged. Arsenio gave the blueprint to change that. He made urban culture felt as though it belonged.
Speaking of belonging, more shows developed that resonated more with our culture. Living Single comes outright. Man look! That was my show (I’m singing the theme song right now. lol!) Living Single and Martin paved the way for a lot of shows. You hear me! So much so, the original working title for “Living Single” was alleged “Friends.” Then what happens? “Friends.” That’s what happened. Queen Latifah will tell you.
At the end of the day, no matter which way you look at it, urban culture has been a blueprint for a very long time. I’m super excited to have lived in the midst of it all to see the changes. Truth is, times have changed. But at the same time, sometimes it feels as though it hasn’t because it feels to some we still don’t have those seats at the table. This is why we created our own. It’s a true blueprint.
