Episode 2: Seen But Not Heard
This episode examines how Black girls can be simultaneously hypervisible and hyperinvisible in media, highlighting Laura Winslow’s (Family Matters) experience as her character was increasingly overshadowed by male-centered narratives.
Keywords: Black family sitcom, Essence magazine, “BlackFemaleAnonymous,” Richelieu Dennis, hypervisibility, hyperinvisibility, Family Matters, Black masculinity
Recommended Reading
Tounsel, Timeka N. 2022. Branding Black Womanhood: Media Citizenship from Black Power to Black Girl Magic. Rutgers University Press.
Discussion Questions
What are the consequences of misrepresentation? How do harmful stereotypes impact Black girls and women?
Family Matters was created by two white men. How is their perspective reflected in the show’s portrayal of Black life and family dynamics? Why is it important for Black writers and producers to be included in the creative process for shows about Black people and families?
In what ways does the appearance and growing prominence of Steve Urkel influence Laura Winslow’s role within Family Matters?
How can the media work to challenge harmful patterns of representation that normalize inappropriate behavior and reinforce stereotypes—especially those that vilify Black women and victimize Black men?
What does the portrayal of teenage romance and unrequited infatuation reveal about the gendered and racialized double standards in television?
Lost Credits 