5 Of The Most Underrated People Of Color Shows Of The 90s & early 00s
The 1990s and the early 2000s were a golden age for sitcoms with people of color. And thanks to the Internet, there seems to be a renaissance that POC content creators can bypass studio gatekeepers to break into mainstream pop culture.
What feels like a no-brainer to have TV shows reflect the increasingly diverse American population, it seems as though there may have been some hesitance investing in shows with families of color leading up to the 1990s — early 2000s, as you can see in NPR’s Code Switch’s timeline of family sitcoms from 1955–2015.
To honor those who have paved the way in de-homogenizing tv, let’s shine a light on 5 underrated POC shows of the 90s and early 00s.
Living Single — 1993–1998
Move over Ross and Rachel, it’s all about Maxine and Kyle.
Throughout its five year run, Living Single followed the lives of six single friends living in Brooklyn, with a formula that would be later appropriated for a white audience *cough * Friends.
Starring Queen Latifah, Living Single showcased ambitious, smart, strong, and quirky black women who in a nineties kind of world knew they needed to keep their friendships a priority.
Do yourself a favor and look at Tumblr for the gem that is Regine Hunter.
Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper — 1992–1997
The theme song to this show will randomly pop into my head. Starring Mark Curry, Holly Robinson, and Raven Simone (fresh from the Cosby Show), this sitcom took place in Oakland, Calif., just across the bay bridge from the Tanner family.
Mark Curry’s character, Mark Cooper was a NBA player for the Golden State Warriors turned high school basketball coach. Due to high rent costs, Mark moved in with two female roommates.
Hangin with Mr. Cooper didn’t need to follow the nuclear family formula to be relatable, it had it’s own recipe. This show highlighted the importance of showing up for your loved ones regardless of what their position in the family may be.
Familial love doesn’t have to come from just a mom and dad, it can be from your aunty, uncle, cousin, even your annoying next door neighbor.
The Brothers Garcia — 2000–2003
This Nickelodeon show was about a Mexican-American family living in San Antonio Texas, narrated by John Leguizamo, reminiscent of the Kevin Arnold of the Wonder Years.
The four young siblings — George, Carlos, Larry and Lorena were always getting into some mischief.
It was refreshing to see a Mexican-American family depicted in a way that filled the gaps of the narrative that not all Mexican-American’s are gangsters — a popular theme for the time.
In a USA Today interview with Brothers Garcia producer, Jeff Valdez noted that, “Diversity of faces is one thing, but diversity of quality of stories has been lacking.”
Moesha — 1996–2001
In my book, Moesha is the counter to Cher Horowitz’ Clueless. Moesha was a high school student living with her family in Leimert Park, a neighborhood in Los Angeles.
R&B singer, Brandy starring in the titular role as Moesha came from a supportive middle class family, where the focus was usually on her dating life, academics, and of course friends.
Moesha also served as a vessel to talk about real issues like drug use, teen pregnancy, and family secrets.
There was a rhythm to Moesha where it never felt like an afterschool special, it was speaking truth to situations that my own sisters were dealing with.
Taina — 2001–2002
Though short-lived, Taina is an imaginative young Latina who dreams of superstardom. She attends Manhattan School for the Arts with her childhood friends who get themselves in wacky situations all in the name of pursuing their fame.
The theme song is a time capsule of early 2000’s fashion, so.much.bright.pink! Not to mention, there were legit performances sprinkled throughout the show.
Taina was relentless when it came to seeing her name in lights, that drive is contagious.
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While there is still more work to do, I know there are POC content creators at this very moment who are hustling to get their voices and stories heard.
I can’t wait for the next generation to grow up with relatable characters, with families that reflect theirs, and for mainstream pop culture to include voices that have not yet been realistically represented on the silver screen.
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About the author
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Woke is your digital media space for content that is truly diverse and representative. We plan to launch a platform of streaming videos in 2018.
We are following the latest happenings in pop culture, art, entertainment, and tech. Tracking the shift to a more inclusive media and entertainment industry. Read More on Medium.com/woketoday
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