Aunt Viv: Smashing Racial Stereotypes

           This week, we looked at different representations and misrepresentations of race and ethnicity in American popular culture. Culturally and historically, there are hundreds of years worth of scientific and cultural dehumanization of African Americans. Often the butt of jokes, African American people have served as high entertainment. This all makes the popular television series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air no different. However, instead of offering an outlet to laugh at the expense of African Americans, the show allowed audiences to laugh with African Americans and see them in a more flattering light. The family of Judge Philip Banks is flipped, turned upside down when his wife’s nephew, Will, comes to live with them after being in an altercation in his hometown of West Philadelphia. Phil’s wife, known as Aunt Viv, is caring, yet no nonsense, and loving, yet firm. Her presence on the show is tremendous. The audience is led to believe that she is just a housewife that reaps the benefits of her husband’s work, but thats not true. It is revealed in episode 21 of season 1, that she had struggles herself. Coming from a family that relied on her to succeed and do well, she dropped out of high school and had to work days to go to school at night. Then, she was able to earn her PhD, become a teacher, and carry out the success her family expected of her. After seeing how hard she worked to achieve all that she has, she becomes a role-model for everyone. Her depth and revelation showed that everyone is deserving of a second chance, and that being at the bottom doesn’t mean that you’ll never make it to the top. 

          Aunt Viv’s struggle in her life can be paralleled to that of African American’s life in America. Showing that despite what is given you, you can rise above and make things better for yourself, if you want it to be. Her representation in the show is the opposite of the stereotypes put out. She was educated, a hard worker, and influential. All things that would be unseen had this episode not been aired. She shows the importance of not judging a book by its cover, because she is more complex than what is initially portrayed. 


TheAntiIntellect. "Jasmine Guy Guests on Fresh Prince In One of The Most Powerful Episodes Ever." YouTube. YouTube, 30 Mar. 2014. Web.