The Jeffersons: Moving On Up A Black American Sitcom
The Jeffersons
By: Camille Shanklin
The Jeffersons was a beloved and groundbreaking '70s sitcom starring George (Sherman Hemsley) and Louise "Weezy" (Isabel Sanford) Jefferson, a couple who moved from Queens to Manhattan after successfully opening a dry cleaning chain, Jeffersons Cleaners. It stands as the second longest-running sitcom featuring a predominantly black cast, lasting 11 seasons and totaling 253 episodes, from January 18th, 1975, to July 2, 1985. Inspired by The Black Panthers, Norman Lear aimed to portray the black household in a positive and successful light following controversy over the depiction of the concept of Good Times.
The Jeffersons upgraded to a beautiful condo with new neighbors and new trials. The sitcom was also one of the first shows to openly use the words “Ni***r” and “Honky,” seen only in earlier episodes. George Jefferson had no problem being outspoken and a little too honest about his feelings on any subject, including Tom (Franklin Cover) and Helen's (Roxie Roker, Lenny Kravitz's mother) Willis marriage – an interracial couple that was the first to feature on a sitcom.
The Jeffersons | The Very Best of The Jeffersons (Vol. 1) | The Norman Lear Effect
With a variety of episodes and topics, it undoubtedly sparked conversations around serious matters such as racism, adult illiteracy, alcoholism, and even LGBTQ issues. Despite addressing the tough conversations, The Jeffersons made its way into the homes and hearts of many with its confrontational comedy and witty banter, especially between George Jefferson and their sarcastic housekeeper Florence (Marla Gibbs). Unfortunately, the show ended abruptly with little to no explanation. The actors and actresses found out in their own ways but each went on to achieve great successes, such as Amen.
The Jeffersons paved the way for many other sitcoms that we grew to love, like The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and The Cosby Show. We will always remember the George Jefferson walk and, of course, our favorite theme song "Moving on Up," sung by Oren Waters and Good Times actress Ja’net Dubois.
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