Reframe Spotlight: 'Amos 'n Andy: Anatomy of a Controversy'

One of the first radio comedies in the 1920s and later becoming equally popular on TV through the 1950s, Amos n' Andy, a sitcom set in Harlem and highlighting the antics of two friends (who were perceived to be Black when the show was on radio, then confirmed when the cast on TV were Black, the first show of its kind) was the brainchild of two white actors (who voiced that characters during its radio days), leading to controversy over the show in the decades to follow. Finally, after the NAACP exerted pressure on CBS for what they perceived as a program that shed a negative light on African-Americans and reinforced stereotypes, the network canceled the series after a few years.

Remaining a largely unseen chapter in TV history, Amos 'n Andy: Anatomy of a Controversy, features rare archival clips, an episode not seen since it was pulled from TV and interviews with former TV cast members, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Redd Foxx, Marla Gibbs and former NAACP leaders of that era to recount the show's history.

To rent or buy Amos 'n Andy: Anatomy of a Controvery, go to the Reframe Collection.