Living the (All-)American Dream — Yet Still Facing Stereotypes

Theresa Sheridan
Nov 4 · 4 min read

Moving schools is hard for anyone. Questions weigh regarding whether or not people will be nice to you, if you will get lost in the unfamiliar place, and if you’ll be able to blend in soon enough. Take those fears, and now imagine that you’re one of the only black students, and you’re moving from the poorer, run-down side of town to the iconic Beverly Hills. Talk about difficult! Based on a true story, a recent CW show details the life of one such student trying to not only succeed socially but also athletically in this new environment. Although the pilot episode of the show All-American attempts to change the portrayal of African-American teenage boys in the media, they unfortunately enforce the norm that this group is not able to fit in at a predominantly white neighborhood.

The episode begins with a high school football game nearing the end of the 4th quarter, with the score tied. The star player evades tackles and miraculously reaches the end zone after a long run. As the team celebrates, there is a drive-by shooting on the street next to the field, establishing the stereotype right away that African-Americans cannot even enjoy a football game without worrying about violence on their streets. A coach approaches the star player, Spencer Jones, after the game, encouraging him to come play at Beverly Hills High School because it provides a “better education at a safer school.” Despite Coach Baker being black himself, he plays into the stereotype that teenagers on the poorer side of town are somehow looking for someone to save them from their problems.

Eventually Spencer agrees to play at the other high school, which is a long bus ride away from his house. It is evident from the beginning that he stands out like a sore thumb, as the opening shot of Beverly Hills shows blonde, blue-eyed teenagers laughing as they walk to school. His first class is biology, and the students are instructed to take out their laptops and begin work. Unsurprisingly, Spencer doesn’t have a laptop, further emphasizing the fact that neither his neighborhood nor his family is well-off economically. Furthermore, the only person who offers to be his partner is also the only non-white student in the class. At lunch, this friendly girl, Olivia, explains that she is biracial, the daughter of Coach Baker and his wife. She clearly has a crush on Spencer, and he seems to like her too. However, the second an African-American girl walks past, Spencer completely zones out on his conversation with Olivia. Although this girl, Leila, is apparently considered the prettiest in the grade, it is unfortunate to see the common trope that Spencer feels the only girl he actually wants to date is fully African-American.

Spencer does not only have these problems, however. He also maintains many internal struggles with patience as the episode continues. During the same lunch period, he sits with a group that is obviously meant to represent the popular students; almost all the boys are on the football team, and most have a girl sitting right next to them. As soon as the conversation turns to Asher, an angry-looking white boy, it is explained that Asher and Spencer play the same position. Asher doesn’t take to this lightly, and instead says to Spencer, “so lay it on me…. Crips or Bloods?” Spencer has not even been at the school for a full day, and already he is being labeled as a gang member. This stereotype is worsened when he immediately stands up with fists clenched, egging Asher on with a dangerously-whispered “excuse me?!” Spencer’s problem with fighting is a common focus throughout the episode, and it is unfortunate to see that the writers decided to make that his initial response to any small issue. This same problem continues when the football team practices for the first time. Spencer is told to play a different position on the field, and this causes him to explode with “come on, man, I didn’t come here for this!” and stew on the sideline for the rest of practice. Spencer clearly has issues dealing with anger, and it is evident that his first thought whenever he’s annoyed is to pick a fight. This trait is all too common in media focusing on African-American teens, which is detrimental because this portrays them as temperamental and impulsive.

All in all, this episode is harmful to the progress made by African-Americans over the years. By portraying the main character as hot-headed and arrogant, this show essentially tells viewers to be cautious around teenagers of color. Black Lives Matter, among other organizations, is a group that peacefully aims to stop racial discrimination in America. If Americans believe that all black teenagers act like Spencer and his friends, support for further strides in civil rights may be limited at a time when it is needed most.

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