Gazing at the black teen: con artists, cyborgs and sycophants

The representation of black male characters on television programs aimed at an audience of adolescents and older teenagers was analysed. Portrayals in programs aimed at children and teenagers were found to differ greatly from the athletic, hypersexual and potentially violent images found in programs aimed at audiences of families or adults; they were most often portrayed as uninterested in athletics; as harmless tricksters and 'brains'; and far less proficient at heterosexual practice than their white peers. The results are discussed through the lens of critical race theory and queer theory.