Artists paint touches of African-American culture on TV shows

African-American art and fabrics add flair to shows like UPN's "Moesha"

From Sherri Sylvester
CNN Entertainment News Correspondent

February 29, 2000
Web posted at: 2:32 p.m. EST (1932 GMT)

LOS ANGELES (CNN) -- Using costume choices, set props and other behind-the-scenes subtleties, African-American artists are capitalizing on their positions to promote black culture on television.

They say they're making the most out of limited opportunities -- something with which their on-air counterparts can identify.

A recent survey released by the Screen Actors Guild found that 44 percent of all black TV characters appear on two fledgling networks, UPN and WB. It also indicated they tend to be segregated in certain sitcoms.

The results were no surprise to the NAACP, which is leading a campaign to put minority workers in front of and behind the camera.

Nor were they a surprise to Yolanda Braddy, a costume designer for UPN's "Moesha" and its spinoff, "The Parkers." Braddy says she sees discrimination in the TV industry.

"Unfortunately, you can only work on African-American shows because those are the only people who are really going to look out for you," she says.

Braddy says she tries to hire lesser-known African-American designers who may not have the opportunity to be represented in stores. "A really nice new African-American line I like working with ... is Akademic," she says. "They have really nice denim."

Braddy celebrates black heritage with clothing featuring authentic African prints and fabrics -- styles not just limited to African-Americans, she notes.

"Everyone can wear mud cloth, and kintes, and textures, and colors," she says. "It's almost like another style of the millennium for everyone to wear."

Set touches

"Moesha's" set also showcases local artists. In her TV dorm room, for example, the character has dolls and a little lion crafted by an African-American artist.

"We just have them around the set," says Silvia Cardenas, a writer-producer. "It's not like we have them sticking out. It's just a part of who this character is and it's important (to have) little touches."

On ABC's "The Hughleys," inspiration for the set came straight from D.L. Hughley's suburban home, according to production designer Brandy Alexander.

"D.L. was so gracious, and I photographed things that were interesting to me to define an African-American family living in the suburbs," he says.

While diversity studies show minorities are under-represented on most shows, the cast and crew of "Moesha" have reason to feel good about their efforts. A multiracial work environment, they say, has paid off where it counts.

"These people created the No. 1 show for this network, and it's doing very well," Cardenas says. "It wasn't based on a favor people were doing us -- we're just doing our jobs."

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July 13, 1999

Screen Actors Guild
NAACP
The WB
UPN

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