Mini Lecture: The emergence of the 'Awkward Black Girl' on TV

Representation matters, but how much? When it comes to the representation of Black women on TV, the historical tropes have largely been negative and one dimensional. However, since the 2010s, there has been a proliferation of the ‘awkward Black girl’ trope on terrestrial and streaming networks. Are these characters unsung representations of an authentic self that often hides behind what we see on social media? Or are they just modern iterations of what Black Feminist scholar Patricial Hill Collins calls ‘controlling images? We will examine a few case studies and define what is so ‘awkward’ about the contemporary Black girl on TV. Additionally, we will and assess whether or not this is any different from depictions of the past.  

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