Changes Of Time :: essays research papers

constantly since the invention of the television in 1939, African Americans have been portrayed as maids, servants or clowns. These nix perceptions started to appear in sitcoms such as in Amos and Andy, who were the stereotypical blacks who never took anything seriously. All those views changed during the 1970s when black sitcoms were becoming more reality based. Although blacks have been, and often still, portrayed in a negative way on TV, on that point has been some improvements of stereotypical images of African Americans on television.There were five stereotypical roles of blacks between 1940-1970 the gobbler, Coon, Mammie, Tragic Mulatto, and the Buck (Gray Recognizing). The Tom was always insulted, but kept to his faith and remained generous and kind. The coon (most apply image) was always lazy, unreliable and constantly butchered his speech. The mammie was more distinguished than the coon barely because of her sex. She was usually big and plump and full of life. The tr agic mulatto was fair-skinned, trying to congest for white. Always well-liked and believed that their lives could have been better if they were non biracial. The last stereotype was the hitchhike. He was the big, oversexed black man (Gray Recognizing). In the late 1960s, there were shows like I Spy and The Flip Wilson Show which had blacks starring in them. Starting in 1971, shows were premiering everywhere with black casts (Changing Image 76). Sanford and tidings appeared on NBC on January 14,1972, to re define another show (Booth 26). The show took place in South Central California, where Fred Sanford and his son Lamont lived and owned a junkyard. Fred was snug with his little business. However, Lamont, wanted something bigger and better. Fred would do anything to keep his son from abandoning him and the business. all time Lamont threatened to leave, Fred would do his famous act and fake a heart attack and start moaning to his late wife, "Im coming, Elizabeth, Im coming. " Lamont, never fooled by his fathers project did love him and, despite what he said about his future, really would not have left him (Network and Cable). They were rated the 6th most democratic show during the 1971-72 season, and 10th during the 1976-77 season. The stereotype was still there, but realistic views were coming into court on the show of realistic lives of black men.After Sanford and Son aired, others followed. acceptable Times appeared in 1974 (Ingram Good Times).