Let’s Talk About African-American Women In Media

African-American women are more relevant and active in media than ever before.

Today, they are anchors, reporters, disc jockeys, executive producers, writers, editors, media moguls and play a huge role in the advancement of mass media.

Forty years ago, during the unjust era of the Civil Rights Movement, black women in media were scarce and unconventional, as blacks were not treated as equals. Even then black women had to work hard to exemplify that they were just as valuable in media as whites.

With the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Chairwoman and CEO of the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN), and Debra Lee, Chairwoman and CEO of Black Entertainment Television (BET), it is evident that black women have advanced in this field. One would have never dreamed that women of color would be in such prominent positions.

But, contrary to the strives being made, in many ways, African-American woman continue to be poorly depicted in media. This comes after succeeding expectations by winning Academy Awards, raising the bar by increasing network ratings, exceeding box office sales, becoming entrepreneurs and doing it all with class and dignity. We ask ourselves, how is this possible?

Also, being questioned is how black women are being portrayed on screen today? In the 1980s and 1990s there were shows that depicted black women in a positive light. Such as attorney Clair Huxtable from “The Cosby Show,” or Khadijah James, who started her own magazine in the series “Living Single.”

During those eras of repression, African-American creators made it their job to assure that black women were seen as being strong, intelligent, and intellectual. These women laid the foundation of what black women in Television should represent.

With shows today such as, VH1’s “Love And Hip Hop,” and Oxygen’s “Bad Girls Club,” black women are exemplified by the stereotypes that they fought so long and hard to stay away from.

This is a topic that we all think about, but rarely take the time out to discuss or report.

Let’s take a look at black women who have gained and maintained prominence through positive means. These are the women who daily fight against the negative images of black women in media.

Who best to speak with regarding black women in media than those who are actually out in the field daily, making a change, and putting those stereotypes to rest?

Throughout, these very up close and personal interviews, we will explore how these black women in media have excelled, and failed, over the years as they have maintained careers in the third largest media market in the United States.

Through discrimination, hate, sweat, blood and tears, these women of color have managed to maintain and remain prominent figures in media.