‘Seen & Heard’ Traces the Struggles of Black Television

September 10, 2025

Issa Rae's new two-part HBO documentary, "Seen and Heard: The History of Black Television," premiering September 9, examines the complex history of African American representation on television. The documentary features prominent figures including Oprah Winfrey, Tyler Perry, and Shonda Rhimes discussing both the achievements and challenges faced by Black creators in the television industry. Rae was motivated to create this project after witnessing the disappearance of Black sitcoms in the 2000s and their replacement with often degrading reality TV portrayals of Black women.

Who is affected

Black television creators and storytellers
African American audiences and viewers
Television networks and platforms
Black actors, writers, and producers
Industry professionals featured in the documentary (Oprah Winfrey, Tyler Perry, Tracee Ellis Ross, Shonda Rhimes, Ava DuVernay, Norman Lear)

What action is being taken

Issa Rae is releasing the two-part HBO documentary "Seen and Heard: The History of Black Television"
The documentary is showcasing the history of Black representation on television
Prominent Black industry figures are participating by sharing their experiences and perspectives
Rae is highlighting the exploitation of Black creators whose work built network success

Why it matters

The documentary exposes how networks built success "on our backs" of Black creators who have little to show for it
It documents both breakthroughs and setbacks in Black television representation
It emphasizes the importance of authentic representation through details like set design and hairstyling
The project serves as both a celebration of resilience and a call for greater ownership and respect
It demonstrates that visibility alone is insufficient without creative control and ownership

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint