Critics in the '90s praised Moesha producers for going against stereotypes
Growing up in the '90s, there were stereotypes placed on Black characters that many actors had to audition for to stay in the business. For example, we saw the uneducated gangster character that causes mayhem in his community, often referring to it as "his block." We also saw demeaning women characters who allowed themselves to be treated horribly by men out of fear of growing old alone.
There's also the angry woman stereotype, the abusive male character, and many more presented to African American actors in the film and television industry.
When the popular sitcom Moesha, starring Brandy, first aired, it shattered these stereotypes. Instead of a single-parent household, viewers were presented with a loving yet realistic marriage between Frank and his wife Dee, his children's stepmother. He and his first wife didn't get a divorce; she passed, and many years later, he married his daughter's high school principal.
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In the early seasons, Moesha was portrayed as a straight-A student who almost became valedictorian of her graduating class. She often found herself in situations trying to help others solve their problems. To keep the series realistic, Moesha did what many teens her age did: she lied, disobeyed her parents at times, and sneaked out.
Yet, the goal wasn't to influence viewers watching to do the same; it showed them the consequences of not staying focused on what's right, and critics appreciated that. During an interview with Marilyn Beaubien, the show's co-producer, the Detroit Free Press got her to talk about the inspiration behind the show and its characters.
"I had always wanted to show African Americans in a positive light, to exhibit the positive family values I have known in my own family. Moesha is normal, which is a breakthrough because African American youths are most often depicted negatively, even though most of us came from strong family backgrounds."
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