Because after the last incident, i had children bussed in. When i think about the history of black television, i think about when black folks watch, we watch to zero in on us. Instead of making us celebrate your holidays, why dont you celebrate some of ours . What about tupacs birthday . And when you have so little, it means everything. All of those shows, they all matter so much. It feels like theres been more of an ebb and flow and an evolution. It is so important for us to have true authenticity. Why we always the only black people here . Thats why representation matters, black stories told by black people. Im trying to tell you something. [man] we set the pace for sit comedy. You hear that, elizabeth . Im coming to join ya, honey . From Sanford And Son to the other black shows. What is this . Loved The Jeffersons. Monogrammed shirt, brand new silk tie. Is that a tie . I thought your tongue was hanging out. Good times is one of my favorite sitcoms because you could not tell me that
because after the last incident, i had children bussed in. - when i think about the history of black television, i think about when black folks watch, we watch to zero in on us. - instead of making us celebrate your holidays, why don t you celebrate some of ours? what about tupac s birthday? - and when you have so little, it means everything. all of those shows, they all matter so much. - it feels like there s been more of an ebb and flow and an evolution. - it is so important for us to have true authenticity. - why we always the only black people here? - that s why representation matters, black stories told by black people. - i m trying to tell you something. - [man] we set the pace for sit comedy. - you hear that, elizabeth? i m coming to join ya, honey? - from sanford and son to the other black shows. - what is this? - loved the jeffersons. - monogrammed shirt, brand new silk tie. - is that a tie? i thought your tongue was hanging out. - good times is one of my favori
run, yasmine! run like the wind! ental music) - do you feel that there is not enough representation? because after the last incident, i had children bussed in. - when i think about the history of black television, i think about when black folks watch, we watch to zero in on us. - instead of making us celebrate your holidays, why don t you celebrate some of ours? what about tupac s birthday? - and when you have so little, it means everything. all of those shows, they all matter so much. - it feels like there s been more of an ebb and flow and an evolution. - it is so important for us to have true authenticity. - why we always the only black people here? - that s why representation matters, black stories told by black people. - i m trying to tell you something. - [man] we set the pace for sit comedy. - you hear that, elizabeth? i m coming to join ya, honey? - from sanford and son to the other black shows. - what is this? - loved the jeffersons. - monogrammed shirt, brand new
- some of the hits started coming in that were more like smallville, gilmore girls. you only have so many hours you program. something has to give. - and they just canceled us. everybody was just, oh, we re done. thanks. - i will never forgive the cw for what they did to upn. they really had a good run. we did get great writers like mara brock akil and kenya barris out of that. mara went from writing for moesha to creating the influential sitcom girlfriends. - hey, girl. - hey! - the vision i had for girlfriends is i wanted to document our existence as black women. i was a big fan of sex and the city, and i appreciated that it wasn t centered around a man s opinion about how women were. - i ll be on my way and leave you to your hot lesbian action. - we were trying to figure out if we could have it all. all my black girlfriends were wondering that, too. we wanted it all. we wanted it all. (upbeat music) (bernie whistles) - give me a chance.
- we were trying to figure out if we could have it all. all my black girlfriends were wondering that, too. we wanted it all. we wanted it all. (upbeat music) (bernie whistles) - give me a chance. (men laugh) i ll take wb. i ll take upn. i ll take usa. - by the early 2000s, networks are only looking for big name black comedians to headline their shows. - when you talk about the bernie mac show, you get a slice of life, of african american life. - yeah, my sister s on drugs. what am i supposed to do? allow these three kids to go to some foster home? - you don t know what you re getting yourself into. - i didn t wanna come into america s living room. i wanted to bring america into mine. this is my house. - bernie had a very clear idea of the kind of show he wanted. bernie mac goes, you know, reggie? of all the people in hollywood, you get bernie mac. - ma am, don t do that. this is my car. i m trying to tell you something. - my goal working on the show as a director, as a producer w