According to a Nielsen report, television programs with predominantly black casts or a main storyline focusing on a black character are attracting substantial non-black viewership. Of course they are – we been lit! From lingo to music to fashion to entertainment, black people have always been architects of culture. When it comes to television, not only are shows like Black-ish, Insecure and Atlanta winning in these streets, they are challenging tropes, amplifying diverse perspectives, and conveying the universality of our experiences while also addressing complicated themes around gender, race, and ethnicity.
Characters like "Molly" and "Issa" on HBO's Insecure and "Van" on FX's Atlanta, provide a glimpse into the lives of women who are coming of age and navigating the politics of what it means to be black and woman, and black women navigating workplace politics, sex, and relationships, and discovering themselves in the process. While we revel in the glory of this millennial group, we can't forget about the 90's sitcom O.G.'s who set the table for this delicious brand of womanism.
From the comfort of their shared Brooklyn brownstone, Khadijah, Synclaire, Regine, and Max, embodied every flavor of #BlackGirlMagic on the hit Fox sitcom, Living Single (1993-1998). While each woman brought their own winning dynamic to the foursome, Maxine "Max" Shaw was my personal favorite. The sharp-witted, confident, strong-willed attorney, played by actress Erika Alexander, was instrumental in introducing a generation of black girls to a form of feminism to which we could relate. Here's why Max Shaw deserves credit as an OG womanist ahead of her time:
1. She Was Here For Female Empowerment
Max could always be counted on for a good pep-talk when adulting got hard.
2. She Was Smart
She was not with the okie-doke. You'd be hard pressed to pull one over on "Maxine Shaw, Attorney-At-Law."
3. She Prioritized
Because…precedence.
4. She Had A Zero Phuckage Policy
A fully realized, comfortable in her own skin, unapologetic bad ass, Max did not need your approval. She was that rare 20-something-year-old gem who was perfectly confident in who she was.
5. She was a BOSS
Maxine was out here litigating and winning cases!
6. She Kept A Balanced Perspective On Relationships
Maxine loved men, but her world didn't revolve around them.
6. And Never Compromised Her Worth
Your girl was never pressed. Preach this word, Maxine!
6. She Was Confident
Max had the audacity to celebrate her wins, out loud.
In true 90's fashion, Maxine Shaw kept it real. Uninterested in performing femininity or policing anyone's perception of her, your girl embraced her intelligence, owned her sexuality, and centered her career.
