Childhood sitcoms: 90's Edition

Television was first successfully demonstrated in San Francisco on Sept.7, 1927 and since then the world was never the same.

Fast forward to the 90s and here we see many Black TV sitcoms that helped shape the way the world views Black culture. But I am not here to talk about how the world views Black TV. I am here to to talk about my personal relationship with 90s Black Sitcom and why they were needed and still needed.

At the beginning of 2020, I was looking for something to watch and saw the series ‘A Different World’ on Amazon Prime. Like many of us (late millennials and early Generation Z), I had seen a few episodes here and there but I had yet to watch the entire show from beginning to end. I quickly fell in love with Hillman College and its students as I found the characters’ growth so rewarding. I then submerged myself in all kinds of 90s Black TV sitcoms from beginning to end.

‘Living Single’ was the next TV show I watched after I spent time attending Hillman College, and to no surprise, my love for Queen Latifa grew uncontrollably. (It is just something about being able to see the Black women who are well-loved and respected now, back in their prime.) What I appreciated the most about Living Single, was how honest the characters were to each other about everything. Well, besides, when Max and Kyle started to date(lol for those who know, know).

Regardless, I soon found myself down a rabbit hole of Black TV sitcoms. Not only do they all provide many nights of laughter, but I have personally been able to take something away from each show; A Different World, Living Single, A Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Martin, and Moesha. Each show that I have mentioned is not only an example of Black history, culture, icons in the making, and Black excellence but has literally paved the way for so many ‘everyday’ Black Americans. A Different World is why so many young Black Americans attended college in the 90s. Living Single is why so many people wanted to move in with their best friends and take on the city (LA, NY, etc.). Martin is what the Black Community defines as Black Love: STILL TODAY IN 2022. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air taught us that your biological father does not have to be around for you to have a loving father figure. Moesha taught us that you still deserve to be loved and cared for no matter how difficult you are.

My favorite part about watching old sitcoms is noticing all of the side characters who play different roles throughout the many shows and the appearances of late celebrities who we love. Celebrities who I did not get a chance to see growing up like 2 Pac, Biggie, and even Kid make a few appearances throughout the shows. The late Thomas Mikal Ford who is known as Tommy in Martin is Kim’s father in the sitcom The Parkers which formed from Moesha. Even, Bumper Robinson, who plays Jada Pinkett Smith's love interest in A Different World is later Queen’s Lafita’s troubling mailman/assistant in Living Single. Young Larenz Tate, from the iconic film Love Jones, is in Fresh Prince of Bel Air who plays a freshman that mocks Will to spit game at Ashley Banks. In a sense, Film and TV are digital time capsules. I find it ‘dope’ to be able to go back in time for a few minutes through TV shows and be able to see the beginning of so many careers.

To wrap things up, I wanted to say to the current generation seeking ‘good’ Black TV and to the complainers who swear ‘they don’t make TV like that no more’ ... WELL YOU ARE RIGHT, THEY DON'T. A great TV show can never be duplicated, but it can be rewatched and enjoyed a thousand times. Which is a great way for me to end with letting y’all know what my favorite sitcom of all time is. Drum roll, please! It is MARTIN, and I actually grew up watching the reruns often but watching Martin from beginning to end classified it for me. It could be due to where I am in life, but I found myself laughing every single episode, along with self-reflecting on how to be a better friend and lover. The love Martin and Gina have for each other on the show is unlike anything I have ever watched and they teach us that love is a choice. If you have watched the show, then you know in the end, love always wins.

As told by Sonora.