Targeting the Youth: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990 - 1996)
Targeting the Youth: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990 - 1996) The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air wasn’t a regular sitcom; it was a cultural phenomenon, intended primarily for the youth during the 1990s. Some even say that the 90s was considered the “golden-era ” of Black television ( Reyna, 2016 ). The show’s protagonist, Will Smith (also played by Will Smith), portrayed a teenager who moved from West Philadelphia to the affluent neighborhood of Bel-Air, a coming-of-age tale for young Black people in America. Similar to A Different World , the series cleverly used humor to tackle serious issues relevant to its young audience, like racism, identity, and family dynamics, to make it educational while relatable. The show’s catchy opening theme song, “Yo Home to Bel-Air,” (later titled “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (Theme)”) set the stage for Will’s transition and the cultural clash he experienced. There weren ’ t many shows that came out at the time that went directly towards the younger ...
