Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman, Don Cheadle, Chadwick Boseman, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Halle Berry, African American are actors which have made it big in the film industry, acting in movies such as Hotel Rwanda, Hidden Figures, and The Help. Naming African American movie stars is easy, but can you name 3 African American television actors? I doubt it.

The lack of African American culture in the television industry indicates subtle racist behavior. Ever since Television started it has lacked representation from the african american culture, the industry is full of white actors who dominate shows. Times have changed, and prejudice against the african american community has changed with it, making the lack of african american actors, directors and shows unacceptable. Racial stereotypes against the black community in the 21st century shows an extreme sense of ignorance and stupidity, and Television is not contributing to ending said stereotypes.

Because Television is such an influential medium worldwide, increasing the rate of african american actors and directors in television would help the situations of skin colored children, children such as Maria Antonia Aristizabal, a child which throughout all of her childhood felt embarrassed by her skin color because it wasn’t the same as the beautiful princesses or actresses that she saw every day in T.V. and in the movies.

Maria Antonia is right to feel this way, according to the New York Times magazine there are three non white people in America for every non white character on the big screen, and, in terms of lead roles on broadcast TV comedies and dramas, there are seven non white people for every non white character. But the african american community is just one of the many minorities that are heavily marginalized on the big screen, other minorities such as women, asians, and latinos lack representation as well, the New York Times reported that there are half as many women in films as in real life which is another shocking statistics that proves that Television is in fact too white.