UrbanFaith.com posted a short article about the “Huxtable Effect.” This is the notion that the middle-class African American family portrayed in Bill Cosby’s famous ’80s sitcom, The Cosby Show, had an impact on the way Americans voted in last month’s presidential election. The theory is that the show helped normalized black people in the minds of white citizens to the point that they felt comfortable voting for an African American candidate. In other words, Cosby was Obama’s Jackie Robinson.
Or perhaps it’s not baseball or sitcoms but, rather, golf that helped lay the groundwork for Obama’s victory. Some commentators have suggested that it was actually Tiger Woods who paved the way for Obama’s breakthrough.
What do you think? If you have an opinion, please head over to UrbanFaith and leave a comment. And, of course, you’re welcome to chime in below as well.
Reconciliation Blog 
I’ve been thinking it was the show ’24’ which had two seasons with African American US Presidents characters was a factor.
The Cosby Show isn’t even on re-runs much anymore so not sure it had much to do with this election. I do agree that Tiger Woods’ popularity over the last few years did help some.
In the end, it was Obama’s character and message that won it for him but I can’t dismiss TV’s effect on our pop culture which might have helped.
Why choose?
There’s been a growing number of Blacks in the middle-class and above, and the media has actually shown them – both factual and fictional – instead of solely showing negative stereotypes of Blacks. This has had to have had a normalizing and positive effect on the perception of Blacks in the minds of US’ white citizens.
It’s my thought and belief that Whites are far more concerned about “Black Culture” – at least what’s been publicized by the MSM – than about melanin. Show them a Black who has “gotten with the program” and they have no complaints about him or her.
And so we get Obama, a Black raised by Whites who campaigns on an inclusive mantra but presents himself identically to well educated, wealthy White man….
I think Colin Powell and Condelezza Rice should be given some credit, too. We saw Bryant Gumbel on the morning news every day for several years. It all works together. Shirley Chisholm. Barbara Jordan. Andrew Young. Jesse Jackson. It’s a journey and a community effort. Don’t forget Oprah.
I think one has to give some credit to some of the more conservative churches, too. Many evangelicals began to shift their perspectives on the relationship between faith, issues of race, and the role of the political establishment in that matrix. They began to develop relationships across racial lines within local communities. The Other became my brother.
But Cosby did have a big effect, in putting himself out there as a prominent, positive role model. He does deserve a lot of credit. Tiger, too. Michael Jordan. And Paterson, the Governor of New York. Douglas Wilder, former Governor of Virginia.
The emotion at the Dem convention and the night of the election was the result of many years of effort, risk, and pain. But also of victory, progress, and hope.
Julana,
You should probably strike Jackson from your list. He did far more harm than good.
I have been thinking about the providence of God. Why were African people brought to his country, (yes, I know slavery) but why did God allow it to happen and why have we survived?
Our story reminds me of the story of Joseph in the bible who was sold into slavery by his brothers. He suffered a great deal just as African American people have. And yet God used him in a mighty way, just as (I believe) he will use Obama and Michelle.
I think this election is bigger than Cosby or anyone else.
Joseph said to his brothers that “What they meant for evil, God meant for good.”
Gerri
Claiming that the Cosby’s had an effect on perceptions of Obama is, in my mind completely valid. People loved Bill Cosby, they loved the Huxtables. There was something that was culturally familiar to them. This was not the Jeffersons, Sanford and Son or Good Times. The Jokes were not culturally specific (though there is nothing inherently wrong with that), they were universal. Family was the universal, you knew the Cosby’s were black you couldn’t deny that in the History spoken about on the show, the artwork, the music (Jazz), the guest stars, etc. But those things were secondary; primarily the Cosby show was about family, which everyone can relate to. Cosby himself said this,
“I would not be surprised with the comfort level of people looking at a family and not being afraid of them, and not holding them to some strange old thoughts of a nation,” he said. “It’s what people have done with themselves by watching that show and believing in it.”
I think it would be improper to deny the effect that the Cosby’s had on culture. Although there were African-Americans on TV previous to the Cosby Show (including middle and upper-class black folk), the Cosby Show was a real catalyst for change.
After the Cosby show there was a surge of Blacks on mainstream TV, in the Media and in visible politics. We can’t deny that the Cosby’s have had an impact. In a documentary about the Cosby Show (which is included when you by the first season) Oprah speaks on how refreshing it was for the world to see into the life of an upper class Black family. We are perhaps out of the Cosby culture, but those young adults (35 and under) and even their parents who voted Obama were highly influenced by seeing the Cosby show. It is another part of the multicultural society we live in. That is not a non-racist society, but one where various cultures can be seen (especially in pop-culture)
There are definitely other political and pop culture icons that have helped pave this road (Condi Rice, Colin Powell, Douglass Wilder, Andrew Young, Clarence Thomas, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Warren Moon, Nat King Cole, etc.). And there has been a plethora (relatively) of blacks in prominent positions on TV. And yes, other shows, politicians, and actors influenced Cosby; there was a long road before him. But because the, Bill Cosby was the dad everyone wanted, the Cosby Show is one of the most successful TV shows ever, and the fact that America was exposed not only to an individual but a family and entire culture leads me to suggest that the Huxtables did a lot of paving work.
Ed,
I also think that it is interesting that the Cosby Show was criticized for not being as authentic to Black life in America; it represented a small slice of African-American culture, and that Obama was critiqued for not being black enough; which culturally his family represents some African-Americans but by no means all. However, as time passed both were seen a s the quintessential example of American Blackness. The interesting similarity I see in both the fictional Huxtables and real-life Obamas is the universal acceptance of a minority family that is, upper-class (and acts like it). For me, this suggests that the issue of class influences the presence or lack of racial prejudice. It is just that Hethcliff and Barack are minorities; they are the right type of minorities. Perhaps as V.P. Elect Biden said, they are “articulate”.
[…] with images of a very good president who is also very black.” Earlier this week, Edward Gilbreath, pointed out a short article on UrbanFaith.com about the “Huxtable Effect.” “This is the […]
I think that the Huxtables played a part, certainly, but there were a convergence of factors. Tiger woods, diversity programs in the educational system (especially in our universities), MtV and the popularity of Rap music with it’s crossover appeal with middle class whites. The rising expression, visibilty, and acceptance of diversity, especially among the younger generation, all converged to make an Obama Presidency possible.