This document discusses the influence of television on African American culture from the 1950s to the 1980s. It explains that early shows like Amos n Andy portrayed black characters negatively as clowns or crooks. Later shows in the 1970s and 1980s made progress by having black characters in non-stereotypical roles and addressing issues of racism. The influence of television on shaping public perceptions of race was immense during this period.