"I'll Fly Away" and, to a lesser extent, "American Dreams" were period dramas that had positive, realistic representations of black American families.

Tim Reid's shows have been full of positive, realistic images, too. I mean, I still remember "Frank's Place." "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" (minus the butler) was pretty realistic. And, I still think Cosby's shows are great representations of real-life black families.

The fact that some non-blacks have had trouble grasping the commonplace reality of dual-professional-led, upper-middle-class black families doesn't negate that reality. If anything, it creates tension between their concept of reality and reality itself. What we do with such tension -- reject revelation and stay isolated, or accept revelation and grow as people -- is up to us.

And, I appreciate Spike Lee's continual efforts to bring some sort of larger context to the wholly clownish images perpetuated by folks like Tyler Perry (whose stuff -- save "Why Did I Get Married?" -- I boycott).

Tim Reid's shows have been full of positive, realistic images, too. I mean, I still remember "Frank's Place." "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" (minus the butler) was pretty realistic. And, I still think Cosby's shows are great representations of real-life black families.

LEAVE TYLA PURRY ALONE!

You really think that?

I think that show was a setback:

Will - Misfit, who hates school = Cool!
Carlton - Bookworm, who likes school = Nerd!

The show has alot of things that echo Steppin' Fitchitt's(sp?) routine.

Interesting. I know several familes damn near EXACTLY like the Fresh Prince of Bel-air.

here's my question to those offended by the tyler perry tv show (which i have no argument for or against):

other than the cosby show, what do you think have been some honorable/realistic black characters on television?

it's interesting about the cosby show, i remember back in the 80s when it was on, some people were grumbly about how they were upper-middle class and how that wasn't realistic to the average black family in america. does anyone agree with that? (i don't, though i can kinda see the point, flawed though it may be.)

Anx, Good Times was a great example. To me, it showed black people living in the projects and it didn't feel stereotypical to me.

"Good Time" had its share of "stereotypes" esp after they made Jimmie Walker the LEADER of the show since his 'Dy-No-Mite' thing.

Esther Rolle & John Amos were furious about the whole affair, in fact, thats why John got fired(or quit) from the show because he wasn't with the new direction the show was taken. And if I'm not mistaken, Esther Rolle was abscent for a WHOLE season too untill they had to bring her back on her own terms, one of them was to tune down the "Dy-No-Mite" bullshit.

here's my question to those offended by the tyler perry tv show (which i have no argument for or against):

other than the cosby show, what do you think have been some honorable/realistic black characters on television?

it's interesting about the cosby show, i remember back in the 80s when it was on, some people were grumbly about how they were upper-middle class and how that wasn't realistic to the average black family in america. does anyone agree with that? (i don't, though i can kinda see the point, flawed though it may be.)

here's my question to those offended by the tyler perry tv show (which i have no argument for or against):

other than the cosby show, what do you think have been some honorable/realistic black characters on television?

it's interesting about the cosby show, i remember back in the 80s when it was on, some people were grumbly about how they were upper-middle class and how that wasn't realistic to the average black family in america. does anyone agree with that? (i don't, though i can kinda see the point, flawed though it may be.)

I disagree because the Cosby's were actually VERY representative of the average black families I knew growing up. Most of the middle class black folks I grew up with had college educated parents with white-collar jobs and all or at least most of their kids also went to college. All black people don't live in the ghetto in perpetual crisis. The media and some folks outside of the black community for some reason have a problem realizing that.

And real Black people on TV IS balance, but that's the problem - NO BALANCE.

And real Black people on TV IS balance, but that's the problem - NO BALANCE.

Of course I was much younger then but at the time I didn’t really get why people had problems with the Cosbys.

There were a lot of Black people that didn't think it was realistic to have an Attorney and Doctor - Black. Mainly due to the fact that Blacks didn't control the images of themselves put out there and we were coming off the Blaxploitation era, which was filled with negative images, so this sort of "setup" was new to Black audiences.

Yes, but I thought folks would be relieved to see another side of black life or different imagery in general from what is usually depicted.

"Good Time" had its share of "stereotypes" esp after they made Jimmie Walker the LEADER of the show since his 'Dy-No-Mite' thing.

Esther Rolle & John Amos were furious about the whole affair, in fact, thats why John got fired(or quit) from the show because he wasn't with the new direction the show was taken. And if I'm not mistaken, Esther Rolle was abscent for a WHOLE season too untill they had to bring her back on her own terms, one of them was to tune down the "Dy-No-Mite" bullshit.

You would think that would be the case, but there are some people who have been brainwashed that that's ALL they'll ever be - pimps, hoes, thugs - so when they see "better" it's foreign to them.