Revolution Televised.pdf

126 Respect Yourself!
spaces. These voices refused to comply with television’s depictions.
Without such active black response in producing counternarratives,
the regressive politics suggested by Julia would have remained
unchallenged. Future programming also would not have needed to
address or attempt to explore black life beyond the confines of integrated
and assimilated Julia.
Julia ended in 1971 after three seasons; both Kanter and Carroll
reportedly wanted to work on different projects. Diahann Carroll
continued to respond to the televisual image after Julia’s demise. In
1974, she starred in the film Claudine. As Claudine, Carroll played
a character who was conversant with the representation of Julia.
Although both are single mothers, Claudine lives in the inner city
and has to deal with the harsh realities of the welfare system. Carroll’s
image was far from the highly made up and stylish Julia; she
was often pictured in a housecoat, tired after a long day of work.
The film is very critical of the welfare system, and Claudine incisively
points out the flaws. In a conversation with the welfare investigator,
she questions her treatment by the worker, who is suspicious
of her efforts to make a better life for her children. She also
critiques the media and societal discourse, which suggest that the
welfare system allows one to live a comfortable life. Furthermore,
she reveals the ways in which the system actually works to keep
black men and women apart. Carroll earned an Academy Award
nomination for her performance.
The use of other media resources to question the televisual discourse
carried over to other black-cast shows in the 1970s. This
method of resistance, seen with the production of Sanford and Son,
was even more evident in the conflicts surrounding the production
of Good Times.
Good Times?
MICHAEL: There are a lot of good movies out there—Black Belt Jones,
Blacula, The Black Godfather, Six Black Men.
FLORIDA: They all sound like violent pictures to me. I don’t like violence.
THELMA: There is a comedy out with James Earl Jones and Diahann
Carroll called Claudine. James Earl Jones is a garbage man, and
she’s on welfare.
FLORIDA: Julia on welfare—this I’ve got to see.
Good Times, “The Gang,” 1974