Gray (2005), "Where Have All the Black Shows Gone?"

Gray (2005) discusses representations of Black characters, arguing that shows that prominently feature Black characters are often isolated and contained by industry practices.

1. Television representation is limited by structure of distribution

Gray (2005) argues that the conglomeration of media outlets influences representations of Black characters by standardizing and limiting the ways Black characters can be portrayed. Since deregulatory acts like the 1996 Telecommunications Act consolidates representational power to only a privileged few companies, there is little room for non-dominant markets to develop.

2. Conglomerate networks use stereotypical and niche programming to appear progressive

Television programming that includes representations of Black characters is often segregated and contained within the conglomerate television industry structure. Gray (2005) notes that television representations of Black characters are often limited to narrowly defined domains like sports and certain types of musical performance. This gives networks the illusion of representing Black populations, even though mainstream television shows include very little Black representation.

3. Since these representations are so shallow, they only strengthen historical representations of American Blackness