Introduction
‘Everybody Hates Chris’ is a television show based on the youthful life of Chris Rock. The show narrates his experiences and struggles at a white dominated academic institution in Brooklyn and the stereotypes faced by his family. Hence, the show views the characters in terms of community labels on race, which in turn helps the viewers gain insight on racial identities. More so, through the cast and their occupations, the television show limits stereotypes. For example, Chris’ father is a hardworking man, working various jobs to make ends meet for his family. Chris’ mother is no different from the father and works multiple jobs too. This essay will carry out an in-depth analysis on stereotyping black people as belonging to the low class in Brooklyn in the 1980s. In other words, the essay will touch on race, gender, and class.
Reason for associating black people with low class
Identifying the black race with poverty or lower social class standards is not a new phenomenon. The insistent inequality faced by Black Americans seems to disadvantage black communities in every corner they turn. Poverty and black community seem to go hand in hand. For example, the Rock family moves from the ghetto into an apartment in Bedford- Stuyvesant. It is vital to note that Bed-stuy is a low class location (Kellner et.al 67). Young Chris is positive about his new neighborhood until he realized that it is an all-white community. Chris anticipates the stereotypes he will face within the white dominated community. In addition, both of his parents work multiple jobs, an indication of cheap. Julius tried his best to conserve finances and avoid unnecessary expenditure (Season 1, episode 2). In other words, the struggles of black families tend to influence and push forward the notion that they are low class.
Black Americans borne in poverty or a low social class are likely to inherit their condition. It is not easy moving up the economic ladder for African Americans compared to other races such as Caucasians. One of the factors responsible for this observation is work place discrimination and high rates of imprisonment (Kellner et.al 134). For instance, Miss Morello tries to relate with her black student by pumping a fist associated with civil right movements of the 1960s. More so, during Christmas, she brings food to her student’s humble home. Her character points out perceptions surrounding black communities. Poverty and lack of a good education are hallmarks within any black community (Season 2, episode 3). Researchers claim that even after attaining an undergraduate education, blacks do not get access to financial chances vital for securing their future and expand wealth status. Hence, Miss Morello naturally treats her black student in line with society perceptions of black people.
The Black American community made significant strides from fighting for voting rights to the right to hold equal position in the society. However, the struggles are still common among most Black societies. In the 1980s, black Americans accustomed themselves to the daily disrespect and racism (Shapiro et.al 112). Discrimination often reflects on their low class position in society. Poverty leads to disenfranchisement coupled with lack of proper empowerment. Either racism can be subtle or plain obvious. Economist Lawrence confirmed that poverty rates among Black Americans was at its highest during the 1980s. In the television sitcom, Chris’ hardworking family demonstrates the critical analysis of Lawrence (Season , episode 1). In the show, the walls have graffiti, gangsters are roaming the streets depicting the poor neighborhood in which Chris, and his family calls home.
In the face of the gruesome reality of poverty, Black Americans adjust their lifestyles based on the perceptions white people have on them. They share unseen rules on how to navigate a white dominated country. On the other side, racism becomes more expressive and open toward black Americans (Shapiro et.al 131). Although the American society hinges on equal opportunities to all of its citizens, the situation on the ground suggests otherwise because the results of racism are clear whenever researchers analyze black communities. Moreover, blacks have to work twice as hard to get anywhere in life. For illustration, Rochelle is a strict and proud mother. She does not disrespect, which makes her switch from one job to another. Her attributes are stereotypical of any black mothers as being ruthless and unfeminine (Season 3, episode 5). Among African Americans, experience is a valuable tool and information acquired over the years of interaction with white people shapes their thoughts actions.
Navigating White Societies
Navigating white dominated societies is a difficult task. After the civil right organizations, in the 1980s, American legislations tried to incorporate mitigations reducing the racial disparities experienced in most American communities. For instance, proper housing, better school facilities in order to improve the lives of Black Americans amidst myriad of challenges they faced (Shapiro et.al 201). However, even if African American move from low class and assimilate into middle class, what many term as white space, there is a need to upgrade the life of low class African Americans. In the show, black children need access to quality education for the sake of having a proper foundation in life and get equal treatment. Chris gets into a fight with a school bully but the school bully beats him up and he loses (Season 3, episode 2). However, his schoolmates assume that he did more damage because of his race. Carusso lost but Chris seems more violent than his aggressor due to the color of his skin.
In spite of climbing the economic ladder, most blacks reside and educate themselves in Black dominated neighborhoods. This seclusion acts as a protection from harassment. When blacks enter white dominated spaces, at times, they face unfair treatment and sometimes arrested due to their race. Thus, while entering a white neighborhood, blacks are more careful to avoid attracting unnecessary trouble and attention to themselves. When black Americans interact with white people in a white dominated surrounding, they never give up trust easily. They assume whites are insensitive toward racial issues (Shapiro et.al 115). In the family situation comedy, Chris explains the trouble of studying in a white dominated school. In one of the episodes, Chris enlightens the manner in which his classmates treat him due to his color. Classmates treat him as an object of beauty rather than a normal person (Season 1, episode 2). Some classmates find his hair texture strange or ask racist questions on whether he knows Gary Coleman or he raps, for the sole reason he is black. In the end, they end up racially discriminating him.
Most Americans are conversant with the social challenges encountered by black Americans (Season 4, episode 1). For example, Chris’ classmates assume he has lose moral values, violent and poor. These notions mirror the opinion and attitude of white people toward low class blacks. Nevertheless, the belief that blacks are inclined toward violence is nothing strange. For centuries, being black was a crime and constructed along the lines of irresponsibility (Coleman, et.al 84). In the present society, blacks lead in teenage pregnancies, single mother families, and high rate of unemployment among other vices. Consequently, the low class has to integrate and survive.
Racists claim that blacks are genetically inferior to other races and social problems were just a byproduct of their inferiority. Moreover, supporters of this point of view argue along the lines of black are genetically wired to partake in violent crimes and other unacceptable traits than whites (Coleman, 103). The above perspective seems to appear in some episodes of the show, ‘Everybody Hates Chris’ Chris seems to think that if he fails in school he may end up in a gang or worse(Season 4, episode 14). The whites and Chinese are smart while black kids are slow learners. Miss Morello intentionally makes racist remarks on the grade Chris scored in school but Chris ignores them to save his skin.
In the 1980s, low class black Americans had a distinct life especially among the urban class. The culture among low class blacks permits low ambitions, aggressive males, and single mother families as part of normal life. In addition, low class blacks have an abnormal family arrangement. Even though unemployment is an issue, a dysfunctional family plays a major part in facilitating poverty within the community. In fact, absence of a functional family is the cause of an ever-growing poor low class. For instance, in the show, Chris fights for respect both in his family and in the outside society (Boyd & Nancy 92). His parents harass him and his younger brother is more visible than he is(Season 4, episode 18). All material things he wishes to possess are out of his reach. This scene outlines the daily challenges faced by lower class Black American citizens and their options in terms social acceptance. Thus, the show portrays a dysfunctional family and lack of discipline among black people.
The rationale behind low class blacks possessing traits limiting their own achievement and bear responsible over their own misfortune from one generation to the next is unfair and baseless. This is because the argument portrays poverty as a result of the thought processes of an individual rather than an unfair system that isolates and marginalizes black Americans from accessing essential amenities such as quality education and health care. It seems like poverty and family patterns are Siamese twins (Shapiro et.al 141). Family passes values and the man acts as the head and breadwinner of a family. When women bear the role of being the head of the family, shouldering every economic needs and catering the emotional needs of her children, it takes a negative toll on the family. Therefore, the situation comedy depicts Chris’ family in terms of a surviving to stay afloat even though both parents work multiple jobs to make ends meet. In addition, Rochelle claims that unlike other black women, her husband works two jobs to cater for the babies needs and she is quick to anger when she finds her children engaging in gambling or other vices such as taking drugs. Thus, through her roles, racial identity and perceptions come alive to the viewers.
Only a small percentage of blacks who grew up in a poor neighborhood, end up carrying the same behavior into adulthood. Poverty is not a culture passed from one generation to another. More so, poverty entrenches itself in the surrounding of blacks. In other words, poverty is not genetic neither is it responsible for behavioral patterns (Coleman, 89). It is for this same reason Chris has strict parents who want to shape him into a responsible adult rather and disapprove stereotypical norms encountered in the society today. In fact, Chris’s parents are disciplinarians in an attempt to shape him into a young upright black man capable of making it in life and pursuing his own goals without the supervision of adults (Season 3, episode 8). His mother runs things in the house.
There is a sharp contrast between Caucasian and black individuals. Consequently, blacks are ignorant on white culture and whites have no clue on matters pertaining black Americans. The borderline that differentiates beliefs and values taints any chances of bringing the two races together. Whites and blacks have lived separately for many years (Coleman, 88). However, in modern times, urban settings are integrating races resulting to challenges between members of various races. Black people train themselves to avoid conflict and evacuate any residence that racially discriminates against their culture. For further illustration, white people may subtly discriminate against black people by linking them to poverty even when they know little about them and their backgrounds (Season 2, episode 3). Julius, Chris father is a security man. Although Julius is a cool man, Chris cannot afford to joke with him. Even after falling sick, Chris father still works. Most importantly, the family rarely interacts with member of the white community. Hence, the distinction remains in the separation.
Common fact is that family structure is a central element that sustains poverty among low class Black Americans. In the 1980s, six out of ten kids, were from single parent families. For any black person aged 25 years to 34 years, divorce rate is higher than white communities are. Hence, black children are likely to grow up in dysfunctional families than their counterpart white people (Boyd & Nancy 76). A family where the mother is in charge raises a black community in which youths are a product of female ideals and notions. On the other hand, focusing on single parent marriages tend to perpetuate the message that poverty is against the backdrop of poor single parent women who do not get any assistance from men. Chris younger sister symbolizes the struggles of a single woman. She is ready to defend her dignity and tells on her brothers whenever they break rules of the family. In other words, she is a pain to her brothers (Season 2, episode 7). She often gets whatever she asks for due to her manipulative skills that make people around her easily gain trust. At the end of the day, she single handedly caters to her needs and interests without.
Conclusion
All in all, the television show succeeds to demonstrate themes such as disintegrated families, poor work principles, and lack of a proper intellectual system to facilitate decision-making. The situational comedy ridicules the struggles of low class Blacks as they live their day-to-day lives. For instance, when Chris’ mother takes him to a professor to discuss on his university plans, the professor asks about her heroin habits. The professor adds salt to injury by asking if she is in relation with more than one man. This scenario points out lack of intelligence and bad taste. The comedy covers almost all stereotypes but fails to indicate the cause of actions taken by black Americans.
Works cited
Banks, James A. Cultural diversity and education. Routledge, 2015.
Boyd-Franklin, Nancy. Black families in therapy: Understanding the African American experience. Guilford Publications, 2013.
Coleman, Robin R. Means. African American viewers and the black situation comedy: Situating racial humor. Routledge, 2014.
Kellner, Douglas. Media/cultural Studies - Critical Approaches. , Peter Lang Publishing Inc 2009.
Shapiro, Thomas, Tatjana Meschede, and Sam Osoro. "The roots of the widening racial wealth gap: Explaining the black-white economic divide." Research and policy brief (2013).
Season 1-4. Everybody Hates Chris (2005-2009). Retrieved from https://www.cbs.com/shows/everybody_hates_chris/video/2156659850/everybody-hates-chris-everybody-hates-g-e-d-/
