After Watching HBO’s Seen And Heard, I Need To Discuss A Key Point Made About Black Representation On TV

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HBO’s new documentary, *Sean & Heard: The History of Black Television*, explores the significant contributions of African Americans to the world of television. Directed by Giselle Bailey and Phil Bertelsen, the two-part film showcases iconic Black TV shows and includes interviews with prominent figures like Issa Rae (who also executive produced), Oprah Winfrey, and Cord Jefferson. The documentary also thoughtfully examines the importance of representation and addresses problematic patterns that have occurred over time.

There’s A Serious Subject That’s Highlighted In Seen & Heard

I was glad to see *Seen & Heard* highlight shows I already love. But the filmmakers also rightly point out that there aren’t enough TV series led by Black creators and actors produced by major networks. While networks like ABC, NBC, and HBO have featured Black talent in shows recently-like the popular *Abbott Elementary*, which is starting its fifth season in 2025-these instances are still too rare.

As a fan, it’s always been frustrating to see how Hollywood treats shows with Black leads. It’s not that white-led shows ever *stop* being made, they’re consistently popular. But with shows centered around Black stories and creators, it feels like they get a moment to shine, then suddenly aren’t prioritized anymore. It’s like a cycle – they’re ‘in’ for a few years, then they’re ‘out,’ and then eventually, the industry seems to rediscover them again. It’s just… inconsistent, you know?

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It’s happened before that TV networks have initially relied on shows with predominantly Black casts to gain viewers and build their network, only to later cancel them in favor of shows with mostly white casts. A good example is Fox, which launched in 1986 and initially gained popularity thanks to Black sitcoms like *Martin*, *Roc*, and *Living Single* – shows that were very popular with Black audiences. However, by the 2000s, these types of shows became much less common on Fox, with the network instead prioritizing programming like NFL football and series such as *Malcolm in the Middle*, *That ‘70s Show*, *The O.C.*, and *House* (though *The Bernie Mac Show* was a notable exception).

Even when The WB network was first starting out in the 1990s, its leaders relied on Black sitcoms to help build an audience. Shows like *Sister, Sister*, *The Wayans Bros.*, *The Jamie Foxx Show*, and *Smart Guy* were key to this strategy. However, as The WB evolved, it began to focus on different types of shows, including *Charmed*, *Dawson’s Creek*, *What I Like About You*, and *Gilmore Girls*, and those earlier sitcoms gradually disappeared.

What’s The Solution To This Lingering Black Representation Trend?

That question is tricky, and achieving consistent Black representation isn’t simple. The most important thing, I believe, is to have African Americans in leadership positions. There’s plenty of Black talent – look at successful TV creators like Quinta Brunson, Donald Glover, Shonda Rhimes, and Justin Simien. But it’s not enough to just have Black actors; we also need Black creatives who have the authority to approve projects and shape what gets made.

As a movie and documentary lover, I’ve been checking out HBO Max. It’s pretty affordable, starting at around ten bucks a month. They’ve got some really great documentaries, like *Seen & Heard*, and they offer a few different subscription options depending on what you’re looking for. I saw a deal for their plan with ads at $9.99 a month, which isn’t bad at all.

As Tyler Perry and others explain in *Seen & Heard*, owning your work is important because it lets Black creators have significant control over their ideas and creations. While gaining this control can be difficult for anyone, it’s definitely achievable.

I definitely don’t want to suggest that Black people aren’t represented on television at all – there is some representation. But I’ll be much happier when we get to a place where viewers like me don’t constantly worry about whether Black stories will continue to be poorly portrayed or disappear altogether.

Stream both parts of Sean & Heard: The History of Black Television with an HBO Max subscription

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2025-09-18 16:08