Who really makes TV shows with Black casts?

The uncomfortable question of who actually produces TV shows with Black casts

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air went down in history as a series with a mostly Black cast. Less well known is that it was created by two white writers, the Borowitzes, and that the money came from Quincy Jones through his record company. The case raises an uncomfortable question: why isn't the production of these stories in the hands of the community that stars in them?

The credits that debunk the myth

There were attempts at self-produced content. The Cosby Show, Family Matters and Bel-Air itself fit the idea that the Black community can create its own content. But the credits tell a different story. The Cosby Show was produced by Ed Weinberger. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, by the Borowitzes. Quincy Jones was the exception, with a career built in music and connections that brought B.B. King or Tom Jones to the series.

The underlying debate mixes economics and identity. Some argue that representation without control of the means of production is merely symbolic: if you don't put up the money, you don't control the narrative. Others respond with data: the presence of Black actors in film has gone from token quota to central roles, and that too has raised suspicions. In Man of Steel (2013), the only relevant Black face was the boss at the Daily Planet. Less than a decade later, the cast of many productions is undeniably diverse.

And here comes the unsettling fact: the list of "Black" TV shows directed by white people is long. The next time someone says they already have their own shows, it's worth checking the credits. Perhaps the question isn't whether they can make them, but who keeps the rights.