By Zenobia Jeffries
Three years ago, I made a commitment to watch only television shows that featured Black actors, writers, and directors.
More on that, but first you need to know my backstory.
Saved by the Bell was my favorite television show as a teenager, and Pretty in Pink one of my favorite movies. Although, it was probably Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark’s “If You Leave” on the film’s soundtrack that made me like it more than I might have otherwise. Saved by the Bell’s Zack Morris (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) was definitely my teenage heartthrob. The favorite part of my after-school routine was watching Zack, while doing homework. In my mind’s eye, I too attended the very nice and very colorblind Bayside High.
"Three years ago I left behind television’s traditional White male narrative and found shows that affirm Blackness."
But Zack wasn’t the first. There was Alex P. Keaton (Michael J. Fox), the fanatically conservative son in Family Ties, and Kirk Cameron’s portrayal of slacker/girl chaser Mike Seaver in Growing Pains, and Silver Spoons’ Ricky Stratton (Rick Schroder), the blonde rich kid with a winning smile.
My Life-Changing Switch to Only TV Shows That Feature Real Black Lives