Entertainment: 3 Shows Showcasing the Future of African American Actors

With Black History Month coming to an end, let’s take a moment to appreciate the future as well as history. Throughout the history of movies and television, there have been plenty of actors who have made their mark. From actors like Will Smith and Martin Lawrence to Dave Chappelle, to Eddie Murphy, Richard Pryor, Denzel Washington, Sydnie Poitier, James Earl Jones, Forrest Whitaker, and so many more examples of representation in movies and television. That list can go on and on. There have been so many icons in the entertainment industry and those are just the men.

We can’t forget actresses Regina King, Halle Berry, Kerry Washington, Angela Bassett, Oprah, Vivica Fox, and Whoopi Goldberg. Another list that can go on just as long. But there’s one thing about the list of great African American actors and actresses that needs to change. The majority of the entertainers on these lists got their breakout roles later in their adulthood. While there have been a few exceptions to that rule, often times we miss out on seeing good actors grow from a young age. Hopefully, the entertainment industry is catching on and we get more great shows with the talent as these icons.

In 2021-2022 seasons there were 3 stand out shows that stand out with young talent that future shows can take cues from:

Swagger

First off, let’s start off by making it clear that this Apple TV+ show was one of the more underrated shows of 2021. What makes Swagger so special was the ability to show black culture without using stereotypes to push the plot forward. It perfectly shows the struggles of not only African Americans but the communities around them as well. They build a narrative showing the struggles of not being able to afford youth sports programs, of a single mother trying to balance taking care of her children and mentoring them for their future, and providing for a growing family. These aren’t exclusives to just the African American community. With a plot that’s driven by relatable struggles in any culture, the focus stays on the characters and how they overcome adversity. It was important for Swagger to establish relatable struggles early on, that way when it comes to a Black Lives Matter protest towards the end of the season, audiences of all races/backgrounds felt the pain and emotion of these character’s stories as they’ve already invested in their connection to their struggles.

Each character on Swagger faces their fair share of challenges. With a well-rounded group of young actors, hopefully, this show gets a second season to showcase their talent a little more.

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The Wonder Years (2021)

It’s hard to take a beloved show and make it feel new again. However, The Wonder Years pulls it off without a hiccup. The older generation of the audience remembers The Wonder Years original show as the coming-of-age tale that defined relatability with growing up in that generation. However, the original show showed the perspective in a one-sided story. That’s the beauty of The Wonder Years for new audiences. Not only does it pay homage to the original show, it brings the struggles of an African American family in the 1960s. What makes the reboot so appealing from a different perspective? When it comes to the hard times The Wonder Years shows that despite the cultural differences, both black and white families shared similar struggles. Culturally we may be different, but as humans, we share the same hopes and fears for our families. We share the same strengths and weaknesses in how we handle them.

There’s no better way to highlight young actors and actresses than a coming-of-age tale. The Wonder Years nails it with a cast of characters who take classic television and make it fresh again.

Bel-Air

Being that Bel-Air was going to be mostly different from the original The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air show, it was met with a lot of skepticism. Despite what critics might say as they secretly hope for nostalgia, as far as acting goes Bel-Air doesn’t have a weak link. Every single character from Jabari Banks’ Will to Akira Akbar’s Ashley is cast perfectly. One of the hardest things to watch a movie or show do is force an actor into a character that doesn’t come across as genuine. Getting caught up in an emotional scene and being taken out of it by a poor choice of dialogue or action can have momentum come to a screeching halt. Bel-Air doesn’t seem to have that problem. The cast is believable, natural, and relatable. Just as Will Smith blew up after The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, there’s a bright future for this cast.

Representation in Hollywood has come a long way, but it still could be better. Hopefully, the more we explore new forms of entertainment, the more young talent we find to put their name on the map.