Over the past five months, I've watched Dwayne Wayne crash Whitley Gilbert's wedding at least four times on A Different World. I’ve committed countless of Jaleesa’s sassy clapbacks to memory. I’ve also giggled at a ton of Ron’s cheesy pick-up lines and I still get chills when I see Reverend Jesse Jackson’s powerful call for the students of Hillman to get out and vote.
Amidst all the chaos that's ensued during the coronavirus pandemic, this is how I’ve been spending much of my time at home (well, aside from scrolling through Instagram and baking banana bread). And although friends have recommended tons of new shows and movies for me to watch (there’s a lengthy list that I’ve yet to get to, BTW), I always resort to feeding my nostalgia with reruns of ‘90s Black TV shows. And I actually... don't regret it at all.
See, it’s like watching these shows for the first time, which I know sounds weird. But there’s something so comforting and satisfying about seeing fictional characters who not only look like me, but also fully embrace their Black identities. I love getting to live in these fictional worlds that often reflect my own. I love their ability to provide the escapism that I need without completely ignoring social issues that matter. And of course, this isn’t to discredit newer, groundbreaking shows that are currently doing the same (hey, Black-ish!). But when I get to relive timeless classics that practically helped shape who I am, nothing quite compares.
Below, see five Black TV shows that helped lift my spirits during the quarantine.
