''Color Adjustment'' is a 1992

documentary film A documentary film (often described simply as a documentary) is a nonfiction Film, motion picture intended to "document reality, primarily for instruction, education or maintaining a Recorded history, historical record". The American author and ...

that traces 40 years of race relations and the representation of African Americans through the lens of prime-time television entertainment, scrutinizing television's racial myths. Narrated by

Ruby Dee Ruby Dee (born Ruby Ann Wallace; October 27, 1922 – June 11, 2014) was an American actress. She was married to Ossie Davis, with whom she frequently performed until his death in 2005. She received numerous accolades, including an Emmy Award, ...

, it is a sequel to Riggs’s '' Ethnic Notions'', this time examining racial stereotypes in the broadcast age.

Content

Examining American television's most popular stars and shows, including ''

Amos 'n' Andy ''Amos 'n' Andy'' was an American radio sitcom about black characters, initially set in Chicago then later in the Harlem section of New York City. While the show had a brief life on 1950s television with black actors, the 1928 to 1960 radio sho ...

'', '' Beulah'', '' The Nat King Cole Show'', '' Julia'', ''

The Jeffersons ''The Jeffersons'' is an American sitcom television series that was broadcast on CBS from January 18, 1975, to July 2, 1985. Lasting 11 seasons and a total of 253 episodes, ''The Jeffersons'' is one of the longest-running sitcoms in history ...

'', '' Sanford and Son'', '' Good Times'', ''

Roots A root is the part of a plant, generally underground, that anchors the plant body, and absorbs and stores water and nutrients. Root or roots may also refer to: Art, entertainment, and media * ''The Root'' (magazine), an online magazine focusin ...

'', ''

The Cosby Show ''The Cosby Show'' is an American television sitcom created by (along with Ed. Weinberger and Michael J. Leeson) and starring Bill Cosby that originally aired on NBC from September 20, 1984, to April 30, 1992, with a total of 201 half-hour e ...

'', '' Frank's Place'', and others, Riggs outlines a history of the race conflict as reflected in television. It asserts that African Americans were allowed into America's prime-time family only insofar as their presence didn't challenge the mythology of the American Dream central to television's merchandising function. It demonstrates how the television networks managed to absorb divisive racial conflict into the familiar non-threatening formats of prime-time television. However, the sitcoms surrounding African-American characters did not reflect the actual societal values of the time, retreating from the conflict surrounding the Civil Rights Movement and pretending that society was "colorless." Clips from the shows are interwoven with the parallel story of the Civil Rights Movement as presented on the evening news. Writers and producers—such as Hal Kanter, Norman Lear, Steven Bochco, David Wolper and others—take viewers behind the scenes of their creations. Esther Rolle,

Diahann Carroll Diahann Carroll ( ; born Carol Diann Johnson; July 17, 1935 – October 4, 2019) was an American actress, singer, model, and activist. Carroll was the recipient of numerous nominations and awards for her stage and screen performances, incl ...

, Tim Reid, and other Black performers reflect on the roles they played in shaping prime-time race relations. Cultural critics Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Herman Gray, Alvin Poussaint, and Patricia Turner suggest that, while these television programs entertained, they reinforced and validated a particular notion of the "American Family."

Reception

''Color Adjustment'' was met with critical praise, receiving a

Peabody Award The George Foster Peabody Awards (or simply Peabody Awards or the Peabodys) program, named for the American businessman and philanthropist George Foster Peabody, George Peabody, honor what are described as the most powerful, enlightening, and in ...

and being nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance. It was also aired as part of the P.O.V. series on PBS. The film was awarded the Independent Documentary Association's Outstanding Achievement AwardKanopy
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Organization of American Historians The Organization of American Historians (OAH), formerly known as the Mississippi Valley Historical Association, is the largest professional society dedicated to the teaching and study of American history. OAH's members in the U.S. and abroad incl ...

' Erik Barnouw Award. It also received a National Emmy Award Nomination for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Research.

Content

Reception

See also

References

External links