Part One: SEEN

Part One, SEEN, details decades of cultural shifts in television, with prominent Black voices sharing stories of their journeys, inspirations, and insights into their work and the industry. Historically, Black television was shaped by white writers and creators, from "Amos ‘n' Andy" to wildly popular shows including "The Jeffersons" and "Good Times." While Black characters were becoming increasingly visible on screen, their stories were not always written with authenticity or complexity. A rise in shows by Black creators brought social issues including the AIDS crisis, homosexuality, and racial protests to the forefront, and Black television went beyond merely reflecting culture – it began to create it. "In Living Color" and "The Arsenio Hall Show" gave an unprecedented national platform to hip-hop and Black comedians, driving discourse and reframing the cultural landscape. Despite a host of shows with Black creators and crews that built audiences and boosted ratings, by the end of the 1990s and into the early 2000s, many popular Black shows were cancelled and a new slate of programming featuring all white casts emerged.