Shonda Rhimes’ Shondaland productions is responsible for the most recent examples of real Black women on TV. (Photo by Leon Bennett/WireImage)
TV production heavyweight Shonda Rhimes isn’t sitting back and allowing folks to diminish how influential she’s been on the small screen.
The producer behind ABC’s biggest shows — “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Scandal” and “How to Get Away with Murder” — tweeted Wednesday, March 7 that her impact should not be scaled down at any rate.
“Correction: a Black woman built an empire of Humanity-themed tv shows,” she posted, although what she was responding to was unclear. “Do your homework. Get woke. Black is not a theme. I am not a token. But I am a night of television.”
Correction: a black woman built an empire of Humanity-themed tv shows. Do your homework. Get woke. Black is not a theme. I am not a token. But I am a night of television.
— shonda rhimes (@shondarhimes) March 8, 2018
Regardless, Rhimes got lots of support for her tweet.
The depths ppl will sink in order to try and diminish a black woman’s worth is amazing but it’s also a testimony: she’s bothering you. You’re affected… pic.twitter.com/c7W0O0mhy9
— Stephanie Parrott (@StephParrott) March 8, 2018
— Regina McGuire (@Regine357) March 8, 2018
A whole night, ya heard? pic.twitter.com/b9QdtDK2Gh
— Tiphane Pate (@AsWrittenByTiph) March 8, 2018
Since launching the medical drama, “Greys Anatomy,” in 2005, Rhimes has made it a point to show Black women in a realistic way.
On her flagship series, Chandra Wilson’s Dr. Miranda Bailey has depicted the difficulties of being believed by doctors when you’re a Black woman. She’s also laid bare the hard task of talking to your Black son about how to deal with police interactions.
HTGAWM’s Annalise Keating, who recently appeared together in a crossover event, “How to Get Away with Scandal,” puts down stereotypical notions of what Black women should be on TV. She’s not a sassy BFF or overtly sexual Jezebel. But a real woman who wears a headscarf at night, removes her wig and lashes and battles alcoholism.
