Mixed Couples on American TV

[jenny_ravenclaw]

Wow!  This is a loaded topic (and one I'm now looking forward to 
discussing with my students).  Ebony said much of what I wanted to, 
about history and all, and others said what I also agree with, which 
is that the media perpetuates racism at almost every opportunity 
possible.  I think there is even more to it than that.

We all know that segregation here in the US is not legal and hasn't 
been for a while.  However, segregation is very much a part of life 
here; so much, IMO, that most people don't even notice it.  On the 
east side of Manhattan, when one goes above 96th street, suddenly all 
the doorman buildings turn into projects - I kid you not.  Black and 
Hispanic men (like my boyfriend) are constantly hassled by the police 
when they dare to venture into white neighborhoods, especially during 
the evenings.  Most of the public schools here are mostly attended by 
- you guessed it - Black and Hispanic students.

What is the point of this?  Well, most tv show writers are white and 
really don't know much about minorities because our country *is* 
segregated still.  You may disagree with me or tell me I am being 
racist, but this is what I believe.  If an interracial couple was to 
be seriously written into a plot for a show ("Friends" or another 
popular show), the characters would *have* to deal with the real life 
things interracial couples deal with, like what it's like to be a 
black man whose family hates his white girlfriend, or how hard it is 
for a Jewish girl to have a Puerto Rican boyfriend who comes home 
after being followed by the police - again (that would be my 
experience!).  I think most tv shows don't really want to deal with 
racism at all because they don't know how to.  It's not funny the way 
sitcoms are supposed to be, and it's not simple the way most tv shows 
in general are. 

In reality, interracial couples still get stared at and questioned 
regularly, like Raul and I do - and we live in Harlem!  In some ways 
it is like dealing with rape on a television show - there's the 
aftermath, the fear, guilt, depression, distrust... what sitcom 
watcher wants to see that?  In general, I think most tv shows avoid 
certain topics like the plague, and I think race is one of them, 
unless it's touched upon lightly and briefly.  It's a shame, but until 
there are more minorities writing for tv shows, they will remain 
mostly white, both in character and topic.

I could start blathering on about my feelings about "Boston Public", 
but I'll save that for another time.

--jenny from ravenclaw, who could write a *great* interracial couple 
for a show ****************************