Brady Bunch

One cultural artifact that exhibits a typical stereotypic notion of a white family would be the “Brady Bunch” TV series. This classic television show took place in the 1960s. It had depicted the relatively normal life of a classic white American family with issues and concerns of the time. Social and racial identity can be seen throughout this television serious. Class is also integrated within their racial identity emphasizing that fact that these characters were your standard rich, white American family in the mid-sixties that did not associate with any black people. There is a distinction between a white family and how a black family lives.

          The suburban setting of this show exemplifies the definition of a typical white household. This idea is contrary to the black stereotype, which is believed to be in an urban setting with very poor living conditions. The Brady family had very nice material goods, modern to that time. The beautiful big house not only symbolized the American dream but it represented the desires of the white American family. Throughout the years the Brady family had many different cars as well, this helped establish their class level too. This show offered a very clear message, a message that did not allow black Americans to relate.
        The fact that they had a maid also insinuated a richer white family. The maid shed light on the fact that a rich white with a lot of kids should have a maid. The reason why the maid was white is the paradox of the message. One would assume that they would hire a maid of color, to facilitate the idea of social white supremacy; however I believe that the producers of the show wanted to incorporate the thought of change because it took place during the civil rights movement. They did not want to anger any person, nor did they want to cause controversy. So to presume the impression of white superiority they had to integrate other factors as to why they are what a normal white family should be like.
         The style of dress and clothing creates that sense of an upper white class family. They all have really nice clothes that were modern to their time. They were a very neat family that that did not look sloppy or messy. They fact that the producers also chose blonde girls is another stereotype that helps describe the white family, they all have blue eyes as well including the boys. The choice of blue eyes is yet another stereotype that defines the white family; it tries to separate them from normal brown eyed people. This also expresses the point of white supremacy, a stereotype that people have acquired, including white people, they believe that they are better than the colored because of shows like this; it plays on their desires to be supreme. ­­­­

          The Brady Bunch television series not only portrayed the definition of the modern white household, but it also helped create the image as well. The writers of this show started the concept on how a white family should act and be like. From there many other television shows have emulated the idea. Omi had stated the fact that the media and television are the factors that helped create these stereotypes for generations to come to follow.