The Best of TV and Harlem
We’ve already talked about some of our favorite combinations of movies and Harlem, now let’s get into TV and Harlem.
We’ve already talked about some of our favorite combinations of movies and Harlem, now let’s get into TV and Harlem.
We’ve already talked about some of our favorite combinations of movies and Harlem, now let’s get into TV and Harlem.
TV about Harlem
In the last few years, there has been an uptick in the number of new TV shows that showcase Harlem and its history
Godfather of Harlem: Starring Forrest Whitaker, Nigel Thatch, and Giancarlo Esposito, this TV show is based on the Harlem that was once run by gangster Bumpy Johnson. It starts after Johnson gets out of prison after a 10-year sentence, and his battle to regain control of Harlem. It also touches on the ties he had to other Harlem legends like Malcolm X and Adam Clayton Powell. The show is a TV prequel to the American Gangster film.
TV Set in Harlem
Luke Cage: A Marvel creation, this tv show set in Harlem is about a man navigating life in Harlem after he is the victim of a sabotaged experiment that results in him having super strength and unbreakable skin. This superhero story was directed by the amazing Neema Barnette, who was a recent guest on the HarlemAmerica Digital Network’s flagship podcast, “What’s Hot! HarlemAmerica with G. Keith Alexander.” Listen to her episode and many others right here on the HarlemAmerica website.
And if you are a fan of the podcast, you’ll also be delighted to know that our guest Dapper Dan also made two appearances on the show as himself! You can listen to his episode of our podcast here.
Harlem: This is a 2021 show from Amazon Studios that follow four women who met at NYU and are now living in Harlem, trying to navigate the ins and outs of life in their thirties. It’s a love letter to the strong Black woman in 21st century Harlem.
TV about People from Harlem
The Hazel Scott Show: This was the first show in America to be hosted by a person of African descent. The show ran during the summer of 1950. It was a short musical program hosted by Hazel Scott, a woman born in Trinidad and Tobago but moved to Harlem as a young child.
Hazel performed show tunes, jazz, blues, and other music on the show. You can still find some of her performances – both of her singing and her piano talents – on YouTube.
How Harlem Shaped ‘Sesame Street’
Did you know that one of America’s most beloved children’s programs has much of its roots based in Harlem? Sesame Street first aired in 1969, and its initial target audience was “the four-year-old inner-city Black youngster,” according to the Smithsonian Magazine.
Most of the show – from the sets to the Duke Ellington-esque theme song – took its cues from Harlem. Part of President Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society agenda, the goal of the children’s show was to eliminate poverty and racial injustice.
Chester Pierce, a Black professor and psychiatrist, created the show’s “hidden curriculum,” which used studies from experts in the fields of education, child development, psychology, medicine, and the arts.
From this, they created scenes and stories aimed at building up feelings of self-worth in black children by exposing them – and eventually the whole nation – to what we would now call positive Black representation.
Those brownstones look more familiar now, don’t they?
Make Your Own Mark on TV and Harlem Today
Harlem icons like Richard Roundtree and Dapper Dan are making their own mark on TV and Harlem, right here at HarlemAmerica Digital Network. You can see these and so many more full episodes on “What’s Hot! HarlemAmerica with G. Keith Alexander” TV. You can also, download the HarlemAmerica TV app on your cell to see the episodes, or download the app on your TV from Roku, Apple TV, Android TV, and Amazon Fire TV.
Recently, there’s been a huge shift in entertainment content-streaming giants like Netflix and Amazon are greenlighting more and more TV shows. Binge-watching is a new favorite pastime, and viewers want more than just a few hours of a story. Are you interested in starting an online TV show for your target audience or business demographic?
Harlem has been the home for Black entertainers and businesses since the 19th century, and that isn’t changing any time soon. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, coach, thought-leader, attorney, physician, realtor, or celebrity – you and Harlem are meant to be.
The HarlemAmerica Digital Network is tailored to provide your business with a production team for your podcast or online TV show, so you can skip the trial-and-error period and dive straight into creating top-tier content for your business.
Check out our website to learn more about our small business membership packages.