What was the first predominantly black show on American TV?

Amos ’N’ Andy (1951-53 and 1955) is one of the most important pop-culture items in the history of the United States. Indeed, the popularity of the radio version made it possible for the form to evolve into the American sitcom, which has proved ridiculously successful. And yet Amos ’N’ Andy is the rare controversial TV program that’s maintained its allure of controversy for more than 60 years since its initial broadcast. The reason for that is simple: It relies extremely heavily on racist stereotypes that we’ve since realized are harmful.

The question of representation is a difficult one to answer. The primary argument in favor of Amos ’N’ Andy is that it depicts a richly textured Harlem community at its center, filled with all manner of black people, filling all manner of occupations and roles. White characters were an unusual occurrence, and every one of the major regular and recurring characters was played by a black actor. In the central roles of Andy and the Kingfish, Spencer Williams and Tim Moore are fine and funny indeed, finding the humor in some very broad material. The TV series’ Harlem is a place that comes to vibrant life each week, filled with a panoply of characters from all walks of life. When Amos ’N’ Andy was airing, it was essentially the only place on American television to see black people at all; the next popular sitcom with a majority black cast—Sanford And Son—wouldn’t arrive for nearly two decades after this show’s cancellation.