Summary Of The Film 'Color Adjustment' By Marlon Riggs

In Marlon Riggs’ 1992 documentary film titled Color Adjustment, Riggs, the Emmy winning producer of Ethnic Notions, continues his studies of prejudice in television. The documentary film looks at the years between 1948 and 1988 to analyze how over a 40 year period, race relations are viewed through the lens of prime time entertainment. The film examined many of television’s stereotypes and mythes and how they changed over the years. The one hour and twenty-two minute documentary is narrated by Ruby Dee, the American actress, poet, playwright, screenwriter, journalist, and civil rights activist. Dee introduces viewers to what were some of television’s most popular shows and actors and actresses. Among those are Amos and Andy, The Nat King Cole Show, I Spy, Julia, Good Times, Roots, Frank's Place, and The Cosby Show. In the documentary, Riggs asks the viewer to look at these familiar shows and

The first is titled “Color Blind TV, 1948-1969.” The second is titled “Coloring the Dream, 1969-1988.” Together, using these two parts, Riggs points out many stimulating critiques though the use of film clips and interviews. By doing so, he gives us an in-depth analysis of, how through prime time programming, we were fooled to not understand the actual racial problems happening in society and to just look over them instead. The story of the Civil Rights Movement was intertwined in the documentary through clips from various shows. Riggs interviews many writers and producers such as Norman Lear from Good Times and The Jeffersons, as well Hal Kanter from Julia. Moreover, actors were interviewed like Esther Rolle, Diahann Carroll, and Tim Reid. The producers and actors were asked to look back on their roles and the meaning and impact that they brought to society. Questions related to how they shaped race relations through prime time television, as well as how their roles entertained and reinforced the notions of the American