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
to be a consultant on the show. so when we would write out a storyline, we d send that off to dr. poussaint, and that would come back with all his notes on it, and alvin poussaint was the guy that grounded us to make sure that we were always representing this black family in the best light. - in the 1980s, the cosby show gave a vision of blackness that was comfortable. - we re here to say goodbye to lamont goldfish. - the way that it conveyed blackness specifically was often quite subtle. it was in the art that was on the walls. it was in the music that was being played. it was in the sweatshirts that they wore referencing a historically black college. - cosby doesn t come on on nbc when they re at their height. he comes on when they re in the dumps. - fight, fight! (upbeat music) (audience laughs) - and next thing you know, the number one show on television is an african american comedy. (laughs) (audience laughs) (muffled shouting) bill cosby was, to all of us, america s dad.
(upbeat music) (audience laughs) - and next thing you know, the number one show on television is an african american comedy. (laughs) (audience laughs) (muffled shouting) bill cosby was, to all of us, america s dad. the cosby show was, at its height, doing astronomically high numbers. (wesminster chime) it was that mash finale territory of just the biggest numbers you ve ever seen on paper. (soft jazzy music) (audience applauds) - now, as far as who he is outside of the work, it s not to be ignored. - he s been controversial, absolutely. - [patrick] in 2018, bill cosby was convicted for drugging and violating a woman in 2004. - [female reporter] some 50 women have alleged similar sexual assaults. - the conviction was overturned and cosby was released, which, to him, was a vindication because he always had maintained his innocence. - so how do we celebrate bill cosby s legacy? - it has been hard. it s been difficult to reconcile the man versus the myth,