Representation of African Americans - The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air'

'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' is an American sitcom that follows the lives of an African American family in Bel-Air California. It was broadcast in the 1990s and it is centred around the life of Will Smith (Will Smith), a teenager from Philadelphia who moves to California to live with his Aunt and Uncle. The Banks family is a wealthy one thanks to Uncle Phil's (James Avery) job as a lawyer. The show depicts two sides of African American life through the wealthy Banks family and Will with his poorer Philadelphia background.

The show is often described as significant in the portrayal of African Americans as it was the first TV show to focus on wealthy, African American protagonists as opposed to poorer characters from the ghetto or criminals. However, throughout the programme Will attempts to claim that the way in which his relatives act represents a 'lack of blackness' as it does not fit his ideas of what being African American is about, being from the city.

In general, the show offers ideas around assimilation as opposed to separatism. Uncle Phil works at a law firm where his partners a predominantly white. This suggests that Uncle Phil is happy and willing to work in a predominantly white profession in a firm with predominantly white colleagues, assimilation in the profession as opposed to separatism. Secondly, the Banks family live in a 'white neighbourhood.' This further shows ideas of assimilation as the African American family lives in a predominantly white community and a completely a part of that community and not outsiders.

Will, however, represents a different view of African Americans. Will represents a more common portrayal of African American life which many African Americans state they can relate to. He represents a poorer African American from the city, a more traditional Hollywood portrayal of African Americans. He is seen to struggle to adapt to the Bel-Air lifestyle as it is different to how he was raised. This difference in upbringing presents Will, in many cases, as an outcast. For example, the picture below depicts Will dressed differently to the rest of the Banks family, suggesting he does not quite fit in to this lifestyle.

Will, however, is able to find common ground with Uncle Phil in terms of the Civil Rights Movement and activism in the 1960s. Will is seen to be a fan of influential African American leaders from this time such as Malcolm X who is constantly referenced. Uncle Phil also states that he was present at several key Civil Rights events such as the march on Washington and present at Malcolm X's key speeches. \This allows two African American's with different views of the world to bond over a common history which they share and a proud of.

Sources
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990-96)
http://www.iperstoria.it/vecchiosito/httpdocs//?p=237
https://storify.com/kperry0123/stereotypes-found-in-the-fresh-prince-of-bel-air