Tv shows or media usually have the power to capture the audience’s mind and help us see a few things from various perspectives. It allows us to feel vulnerable and helps us walk in others’ shoes and understand their journey, philosophy, and point of view. Lately, Hollywood has realized the impact it usually has on ordinary minds. Tv shows are not just some mode of relaxation now. It has the power to stir people’s minds and make them reconsider or think about different issues.
Thus, many people behind the screen in Hollywood are responsible for impacting society with better ideologies. The western world has a long-standing problem with racism. White people have always discriminated against people of color. Even though the discrimination may not be projected now as blatantly as it existed in old times, racism remains a very relevant social issue even now, which has taken many lives of the black population or people of color. Here are some TV series that portray racism and the lives of black people- as it is and help us understand the struggle they face collectively for the color of their skin.
When They See US
The heavily acclaimed limited series, When They See Us, is available on Netflix, which portrays the blatant discrimination faced by black people solely based on the color of their skin. The movie is based on the unfortunate Central Park jogger incident in 1989. Five black and Latino teenagers were held accountable for the assault and rape of a white woman. The exonerated five spent significant time in jail before their sentences. Later they were found not guilty following the confession of the convicted murderer and DNA evidence that pointed towards him. This powerful series showcases how these teenage boys were racially profiled and failed by the justice system.
Black-ish
Kenya Barris’s sitcom, Black-ish, has tackled severe issues like the discrimination identity crisis with a sense of humor since 2014. The show revolves around a family named Johnson. The Johnsons are an African-American family belonging to an upper-middle-class family. They live in a primarily white neighborhood and walk us through their everyday lives and the racial issues they have to face. Apart from racism, it covers essential topics like police brutality and the 2016 presidential election. Even though it brings several relevant evils, the show maintains its levity. Black-ish is guaranteed to make you laugh. To watch it without switching from one platform to another, you can download all the seasons from https://thepirateproxybay.com/
Dear White People
Dear White People series is an amalgamation of drama and comedy which follows a group of black students navigating through their lives while attending an Ivy League college. The protagonist is a person of color, Samantha White, who struggles with her black experience alongside her peers. The story sets itself apart by showing the perspective of others as well, which emphasizes how multifaceted is this problem-racism. It touches on sensitive topics like interracial relationships, microaggression, police brutality. It also shows the conflicted feelings of being somewhat different- a person of color in a predominately white campus in college. The show has excellent comedic timing and claims itself ‘post-racial.’ But it holds up meaningful insights about the active and passive practice of racism.
Self made
Based on actual events, Self Made is a limited series about America’s first self-made female billionaire Madam C.J. Walker who also happens to be a person of color. The protagonist is none other than Octavia Spencer, who brings life to this complex character. Madam C.J. Walker creates hair-loss products for black women, reaching several heights of success and eventually blooms into a haircare empire. Self Made is a brilliantly written series worth watching at least once!
The Hate U Give
The Hate U Give is a critically recognized novel written by Angie Thomas. This novel was later adapted as a TV show which garnered a lot of attention. The protagonist, Starr Carter, a sixteen-year-old girl, finds herself in difficult circumstances when she and Khalil, her best friend, get pulled over by a cop. A police officer shot Khalil, and this became national news. Carter has to deal with difficult circumstances as she finds herself at the center of protests, riots, and, not to forget, a controversial court case. The TV show is hauntingly accurate and keeps you at the edge of your seat.
CONCLUSION
Racism is a relevant issue that has existed for a long time, and it still prevails in modern society. Since racism is so deeply rooted in our minds, it is almost impossible not to have racist thoughts. Here, racism does not necessarily mean discrimination against black people; it means all the people of color who face this over time by the white people. There exist many layers of racism, some of which are very subtle and still very much practiced in society. These TV shows and many more raise such problematic issues which leave us thinking and help us identify the wrongdoings we do individually or collectively as a society.
