Julia, September 17, 1968 to May 25, 1971, NBC

Diahann Carroll shocked the nation when she brought to life fiercely independent, widowed single mother, Julia Baker.  When Julia entered the scene, there wasn’t a television show with a black female as the lead character, as a single parent, or being depicted in a relatively respectful manner.

“You know, you may be number one, but I have to tell you that one just happens to be the lowest number you can be—except for zero.”  ~Julia Baker

Julia was indeed a smart TV mom. The show represented a milestone, not just for fictional moms, but also for sitcom integration and providing a boost to the African-American role model.

Good Times, February 1, 1974 to August 1,1979,CBS

Who can forget Good Times? None of us should, whether for its in-your-face approach to racial stereotypes or the socioeconomic injustices of the world. Florida played by veteran performer, Ester Rolle, was the strong, caring matriarch of the Evans’ lower-class home in Chicago.  She convinced us time and again of the validity of her character and of her talent as an actress.  Florida Evans maintained her dignity as she persevered the hard times in the “ghetto.” She was a great role model for mothering across the country.  Despite their financial circumstances Evans did not allow her lot in life to have an adverse effect on how she felt about or carried herself.

The Jeffersons, January 18, 1975 to July 23, 1985, CBS

Typically television spin-offs do not fair well with viewers.  Quite the opposite was true when creator-producer Norman Lear introduced George and Louise Jefferson to high-society and the Upper East Side of Manhattan.  I remember that first episode—the family had finally “made it”.  The time had come when they could say goodbye to their working class neighborhood in Queens and their neighbors, Archie and Edith Bunker.  For Louise, it was a bitter-sweet departure.  Louise Jefferson, played by Isabel Sanford, was a thoughtful, level-headed woman-- quite the opposite of her hot-headed, loud-mouth television husband, George Jefferson.  She was ever so careful not to allow the family’s sudden wealth “go to her head” and not to lose sight of what she had always held near and dear to her heart-- valuable lessons that we all should remember. Throughout its ten year run, The Jeffersons never hesitated to play the race card from many different angles, while at the same time providing an alternative to the typical black family scenario (poor and living in the ghetto).