The importance of the black father in 90s sitcoms.
First thing first, Rest in Peace, Uncle Phil…. For real. He the only father that a nigga knew.
From The Fresh Prince of Bel-air to Family Matters, Moesha, Parent Hood, Smart Guy, Roc, and plenty more, the 90s were a great time for black sitcoms. The jovial black patriarch’s role was on full display for the world. Before this influential sitcom era, the black man’s role in television shows and Hollywood was enigmatic. The first glimpse of black men on the big screen, we saw overtly racial characters like Sambo and zip coon.
Sambo was a racial caricature that portrayed African American men as lazy, docile, and content with their subordinate status. The Sambo character was often depicted as a childlike, grinning figure with exaggerated features, reinforcing harmful stereotypes about the intellectual and emotional capacities of African American men. Zip Coon, also known as “Jim Crow,” is another racial stereotype that emerged in the 19th century.
Unlike Sambo, Zip Coon was portrayed as a dandy, dressing in flashy clothing and attempting to mimic white upper-class behavior. However, the portrayal was intended to mock and belittle African Americans, reinforcing stereotypes of incompetence and buffoonery. Fast forward to the 90s, and I can’t say things were perfect for the imagery of black men on television or the big screen, but progress had been made.
For young black children like myself, the 90s were a golden era of television. Some of the shows and situations we could connect with, and others were just fantasies we wished we were living, but whether we could connect or not, we were tuned in. Life for black TV fathers seemed pretty satisfying; it was fascinating to watch black fathers juggle work and family life while being both providers and available for their families’ needs. For those 30 minutes, we could zone out, tune in, and fantasize about either wanting this life for our future selves or being somewhat envious that we didn’t have a sitcom-type father figure in our current lives. But, when we turned our televisions off, life wasn’t all that promising or golden for many black men at the time.
According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, a total of 2,090,900 black men were incarcerated or under correctional supervision in 1995. This number is more than doubled from that of what it was in 1985 (1,059,200). So, while we were seeing a surge of positive, family-oriented black fathers on television over that decade’s time, in reality, we’re seeing more black fathers removed from their families. Of course, structural and systemic racism played a considerable part in the rise of black men under correctional supervision.
Aminah Pilgrim used The Interaction Institute for Social Change’s definition of the interchangeable terms structural and systemic racism in her 2021 book SYSTEMIC RACISM 101. A Visual History of the Impact of Racism in America is defined as “a system in which public policies, institutional practices, cultural representations, and other norms work in various, often reinforcing, ways to perpetuate racial group inequality.” You would have to date back to chattel slavery (1776–1865) to find a more significant example of structural/systemic racism than America’s War on Drugs.
The war on drugs gained momentum in the United States in the 1980s by disproportionately targeting minority communities for drug-related arrests. The Policy resulted in higher incarceration rates for Black and Hispanic individuals compared to their White counterparts despite the similar rates of drug use across racial groups. At this time, we were also introduced to the implementation of mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses, which led to even more severe and disproportionate punishments, particularly for crack cocaine offenses compared to powder cocaine.
Crack cocaine, which was more prevalent in Black communities, received harsher sentences, which increased the racial disparities in the criminal justice system. Mass incarceration resulting from the war on drugs had a profound impact on minority communities. The loss of family members and breadwinners to lengthy prison sentences disrupted family structures and economic stability, perpetuating cycles of poverty that still persist today. As previously mentioned, life for most black sitcom dads didn’t mirror this lifestyle; however, that didn’t discourage the shows from touching on the topic.
While the overall objective for most sitcoms is to be comforting, humorous, and light-hearted, it would have been dismissive for black sitcoms at the time to not shed light on the reality of black America. Perhaps no 90s sitcom perfectly exemplified being comforting, humorous, and light-hearted while still touching on the then-current state of Black America than the sitcom Roc. “Roc” aired on Fox from 1991 to 1994. It centered around the lives of a working-class African-American family in Baltimore. Roc Emerson, played by Charles S. Dutton, worked as a garbage collector. “Roc” delved into intra-community issues head-on; the show addressed racial discrimination, police brutality, drug addiction, and the challenges of being a minority in America.
By incorporating these themes into its storytelling, the sitcom provided a platform for discussing race, class, and social justice within the Black community and beyond. Throughout the series Roc had a sincere commitment to making a positive impact on his neighborhood. Whether confronting drug dealers, advocating for better living conditions, or taking a stand against injustice, Roc consistently demonstrated a deep sense of responsibility and leadership. His actions often inspire those around him, making him a community pillar.
My overall stance is not that a sitcom father can replace the physical presence of a father. Moreover, the positive imagery of Black fathers on television was a powerful tool for representation and social change for a generation that saw black fathers being pulled out of their homes at an alarming rate. It allowed young Black children to see a reflection of themselves and their potential, contributing to developing a positive self-concept.
Shout out to all the black TV fathers; you are more than appreciated.
Source: The importance of the black father in 90s sitcoms.
