Jaleel White Clarifies Controversial Comments About Black Viewers Not Ranking “Family Matters” Highly Because It Wasn’t A ‘Hood’ Show

Jaleel White

Jaleel White Clarifies Controversial Comments About Black Viewers Not Ranking “Family Matters” Highly Because It Wasn’t A ‘Hood’ Show

Jaleel White is clearing up some controversial comments about how Black viewers rank his hit ‘90s sitcom Family Matters.

While promoting his new memoir ‘Growing Up Urkel’ last month, the actor spoke at the Wilmington Public Library in Delaware, reflecting on his iconic role as Steve Urkel and the impact the show had on society. At one point, Jaleel admitted that he feels the show is undervalued by the Black community, stating:

“Blackness has been treated as a very monolithic experience in entertainment… If it’s not a hood story, it’s not a Black story, and sometimes I feel left out of that.”

He continued:

“If there’s ever a poll and they say, ‘What are your favorite Black shows’… [if] Martin is in there or Living Single, or any of those kinds of shows, I already know Family Matters is coming in last.”

 

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The series followed the Winslows, a middle-class Black family living in Chicago, which included the father/husband Carl, a Chicago police officer, the mom/wife Harriette, an elevator operator, and their two children Laura and Eddie, as well as love-able, sometimes annoying neighbor, Steve Urkel.

Jaleel’s remark sparked a divided debate online, prompting him to clarify his intentions on The Higher Learning Podcast.

Do you think Jaleel has a point? Let us know in the comments.