No Longer Taboo

Television has played a great role in the lives of many Americans for decades. There have been thousands of T.V. aired, yet few made a significant impact on its viewers. There are many important televisions programs, but three stand out among them: All in the Family, I Love Lucy, and Roseanne. These shows touched on issues that Americans typically ignored and brought new light to “unacceptable” ideas. First off, All in the Family was extremely important in terms of addressing racial and political issues. It shows the ideals and opinions of white supremacy during the 1970’s. It depicts racism at its highest point, during the African American movements and suffrage rights. It talks about politics and racism, as well as addresses the major issues in the 70’s. Another important television show is I Love Lucy. This black and white comedy was one of the first shows to promote the idea of biracial relationships. Lucy was white and Ricky was Cuban, and their relationship on and off screen helped convert the American views of interracial relationships. As well, I Love Lucy depicted the power of women and the key roles they play in society. It presented the idea that women were capable or working and managing a family. Roseanne also remains one of the most important television shows. It was one of the first shows to depict the true problems of families in America. It touched on issues such as sex, debt, affairs, unemployment, and numerous other family problems that were often hidden by the public. Roseanne did not show the typical upper class, picketed fence, white American family. It touched on numerous taboo topics of its time and opened the door for other shows relaying the same messages. These three shows have helped shaped our society’s view on certain issues and addressed topics that needed to be recognized. Although there have been numerous important television shows, there are few that have such a major impact.