AFTER ‘ROOTS’

After reading “Roots: 20 Years Later” (by Greg Braxton, Jan. 26), I am compelled to clarify my “quotes.” For the record, neither do I believe nor intend to imply that all black sitcoms are negative and full of buffoonery. Uh, duh, I happen to co-star in a black sitcom.

Fact is, all comedy is hard and most shows have paper-thin premises where character development is often pushed aside for cliches and sight gags. Take away the topic of sex and most white sitcoms would broadcast dead air.

If the sitcom format is the major vehicle to explore the comic nuances and character of an entire people, then shouldn’t those of us (black or white) who have the opportunity work even harder to raise the standards of our product? What’s to lose? It’s not like 90% of the stuff we turn out survives past a few episodes anyway.

TIM REID

Los Angeles

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Caramba! Only “sixteen shows with predominantly black casts are scattered around the prime-time schedule.” If African American actors are upset by this, imagine how us Latina actresses feel!

Not one Latino show on any of the networks. Only the occasional guest roles consisting primarily of “maids” and long-suffering “gang mothers.”

Hey, muchachos, now that’s depressing!

MARCIA DEL MAR

Calabasas Park

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Given what we see on television, what blacks find funny and what whites find funny often differs--especially for the younger generation. I have sampled such shows as “Homeboys in Outer Space” and “Martin.” I am embarrassed at the stereotypes presented, which I am sure warm the cockles and tickle the funny bones of those who think Ebonics is a distinct language. But us middle-class white folks are left with a “say what?” expression on our faces as we try to figure out what we just saw and heard.

“Living Single” started promisingly, but of late it has also given in to the demands of those who apparently believe if it isn’t ignorance (promoted as a separate language/dialect/culture), it isn’t ethnic. Although “The Jeffersons” mined much of its humor from racial conflict, at least George and Louise talked and acted like the upper-middle-class, predominantly white society they joined. Thus the multiracial cast and humor clicked.

But, if it makes everyone feel good in this multiethnic, politically correct society to dumb down to pander to the audience watching, what’s the harm? Better than no minorities on television at all, right?

ALAN B. CAWI

Alhambra

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I am totally perplexed by the omission of the name of John Amos in your articles. Most of us who have seen “Roots” through the years strongly cherish his memorable and dynamic performance as the older Kunta Kinte.

NED MANDERINO

Los Angeles

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Roots--a flash across the sky

A meteorite lighting the Earth

Maybe for a moment

Maybe for a century

Maybe a change

Maybe not

A light in the sky that’s for sure

Masses, masses, masses watching

Hardhat, baseball hat, derby, no hat

Children, children, people, people

Millions, millions,

White face, black face lit in a

dark room of flashing images

Of life and death

Of family and courage and mercy

and honor

My skin is white

I felt no shame, no guilt

Many feelings came

Proud, jealous, joy, sorrow

Proud that some of my species can

strive and grow

From hell and beyond

Jealous of their courage

Joyful of their love

Sad of the lies told me in my life

I knew the man in the white hat

With the white suit

On the white horse

Had family, courage, mercy, honor

Nobody told me the man in the

black hat

With the black suit

On the black horse

With the black face

Had family, courage, mercy, honor

I was lied to, cheated, fooled

Now I know better

Much better

Much more

DAVID L. WOLPER

Burbank

Wolper was executive producer of “Roots.”