In today’s world, almost EVERYTHING is a sensitive topic. Being aware of others and their feelings has become a large point of discussion in the media today. Things such as gender, sexuality, politics, and race are topics that most people try to avoid in day to day conversations, in order to avoid any problems or conflicts.
One point of di
scussion that is more common than others is racial issues. Some television shows attempt to tackle race, and some stay far away from it. Conversations and jokes about race are seen quite frequently on television. More specifically, comedies pride themselves on being able to poke at these sensitive issues. Sometimes, it is handled well, and other times, it does not go over so well. Shows like “30 Rock,” “Family Guy,” “Orange Is the New Black,” and many others attempt to tackle the topic of race.
30 Rock
On an episode of “30 Rock,” one of the characters donned a blackface. What is this, you may ask? Blackface is a form of theatrical makeup used mainly by non-black performers. This has been an on-going controversy for decades, because it can be taken very offensively. Why did “30 Rock” decide to take on this sensitive and controversial concept? One of the characters in “30 Rock” stated in an interview, that “race is the last taboo.” However, another character, played by Tina Fey, was horrified and claimed, “you can’t do race stuff on TV, it’s too sensitive.” These differing opinions are just some of the many that people believe.
Orange Is the New Black
If you have not heard about this new show, you must live under a rock. What started as a Netflix show about a white woman’s stay in prison, turned out to be the catalyst for the discussion of more underlying issues. The cast- composed of characters of all different races and backgrounds- quickly became the main plot for the show.
Contrary to other shows, “Orange Is the New Black” was refreshing and captivating. The way it approached racial issues was so incredibly clever and eloquent. The Caucasian, Hispanic, Asian, and African-American characters all have different backgrounds, personalities, and beliefs. Some critics and viewers did not like the story line, but appreciated the underlying ideas of the show. “Orange Is the New Black” has brought these racial issues to the surface level, because it seems as if they have been non-existant for decades.
Where Are We Now?
Because of shows that have had so much success with diving deeper into racial issues, many more shows are starting to take on diverse casts. They have realized that in order to better represent America, they need to start hiring more people who are not white. Almost 40% of America is non-white, so television shows need to start getting up to the times. The awareness is growing that TV needs to be more inclusive and diverse, so we are headed in the right direction. Kudos to the shows that are already headed that way!
SOURCES:
Media and Entertainment 
what a great article! I honestly haven’t really thought about how race has impact television recently.
As we did see in our textbook race used to be seen as quite taboo, it was not something you messed with in a cast. Certain roles in a cast were often filled by certain races and that was that.
But now that I think we are living in a more progressive world and country our media is becoming that way. While yes some shows do push the boundaries it is what we need in the media. Becuase that is what we have in the real world. We need people to tell stories and challenge boundaries of race gender and social class.
Becuase whether you believe it or not our media does have a huge effect on our populations and our beliefs and actions.
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Emma,
As a TV nut, this arcticle was a good and relevant read! In the age of “PC” and diversifying, I think this is a hot topic. It isn’t just TV, its also movies, most recently casting non-Asians in movies like the live action remake of Mulan and Ghost in the Shell. While we are not where we need to be, we are slowly but surely getting there. In shows, like my new favorite, the CW’s Riverdale, they casted a Asian actor as a classic character from the Archie comics who is usually portrayed as white. Shows like OITNB are great with not just racial diversity, but also sexual orientation. As someone who wants to see more diversity as our country is growing in diversity and open mindedness, we need to have our TV reflect reality more so. Your articles are always great, and this is no exception.
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