Great news! TV is more diverse than ever, with an array of shows on both network and cable that feature three-dimensional characters from different racial and ethnic backgrounds. Unfortunately, the writers’ room—where the decisions of who will be represented onscreen and in what way are decided—hasn’t quite caught up yet.
I explored this issue in my Slate story about the lack of diversity in writers’ rooms, and in this video, I’ve tried to lay out exactly why a diverse writers’ room not only makes for more compelling storytelling, but also helps to counteract uncomfortable racial stereotypes and poor representation on screen. (We’re looking at you, Girls and Big Bang Theory.)
