There has been a lot of discussion recently about the importance of diversity in all areas of life. And sometimes, we also look back and reflect on the lack of diversity in things from the past – just like Quinta Brunson did with the popular ’90s TV show, Friends.
Quinta Brunson is well-known for her role in the show Abbott Elementary. During her hosting gig on Saturday Night Live, she took the opportunity to call out Friends for its lack of diversity. While in the spotlight, she pointed out how there were no black characters on the show.
Quinta also talked about her own show, Abbott Elementary, which focuses on the lives of teachers navigating a state-funded elementary school primarily made up of black students in Philadelphia.
When you compare the diversity on Abbott Elementary with what was on Friends, the difference is clear. Quinta humorously mentioned, “I wanted to be on SNL back in the day but the audition process seemed long – so instead, I just created my own TV show, made sure it became really popular, won a bunch of Emmys, and then got asked to host. So much easier, so much easier.”
The audience agreed with her, and she continued, “It’s a network sitcom like, say, Friends. Except, instead of being about a group of friends, it’s about a group of teachers. Instead of New York, it’s in Philadelphia, and instead of not having Black people, it does.”
While Quinta’s commentary was playful, it raised an important point that resonated with many people. Even Martha Kauffman, one of the creators of Friends, expressed embarrassment over the lack of diversity in the show.
Kauffman pledged $4 million to a university to support African and African-American studies departments, acknowledging her own ignorance and growth over the past 20 years. She said, “Admitting and accepting guilt is not easy. It’s painful looking at yourself in the mirror. I’m embarrassed that I didn’t know better 25 years ago.”
She also added, “It took me a long time to begin to understand how I internalized systemic racism. I’ve been working really hard to become an ally, an anti-racist. And this seemed to me to be a way that I could participate in the conversation from a white woman’s perspective.”
The lack of diversity in popular shows like Friends will always be a subject for discussion. But it’s comforting to know that the conversation is progressing and efforts are being made to address the issue.
