When discussing the issue of ethnic and cultural diversity in the industry, one can’t help to think back to the future.  The original, and short-lived (it lasted only 3 seasons), television series “Star Trek” was ahead of the curve in more ways than one.  It wasn’t a hit when it aired, in fact, “Star Trek” only became a cultural phenomena during its successful run (to this day) in syndication.  What was of significance to many of us watching the show was Roddenberry’s choice to feature a multi-racial crew (IMDB). 

For many young “minorities”, growing up seeing the likes of Nichelle Nichols an African-American woman as a communications officer in the future was very significant.  And George Takei’s portrayal of Sulu made a lot of Asian-Americans like nationally renowned civil rights leader and Executive Director of the Japanese-American Justice Center, Karen Narasaki  “very excited to see him because he looked like one of us” at a time when “you didn’t see yourself on TV” (GIM Interview May 2008).  And who can forget “Space Seed”, the episode where Mexican actor Ricardo Montalban played Khan Singh, a eugenic superman, who seizes control of the enterprise, and nearly kills Kirk? 

Other shows come to mind that seemed to bend towards Roddenberry’s vision during the early 70s after “Star Trek” went off the air.  “Sanford and Son” had a variety of recurring characters that created a multi-racial feel at times on its show, and let’s not forget “Chico and the Man”.  “Sanford and Son” dealt with racial stereotypes given the chance, and “Chico” directly addressed those stereotypes. Fans of the show saw the ethnic jabs as a part of the endearing, if acerbic, relationship between "Chico" and "the Man." As Chico once fondly put it, Ed was a minority himself, the barrio's "token white man". (Wikipedia)

But as history moved on, so did television programming. By the 1990’s shows featuring all anglo casts had come to dominate our television sets.  Shows like “Seinfeld”, “Friends”, and “Home Improvement” had come to shape our collective pop culture consciousness.   Granted there were “ethnic” shows, most of which were relegated to the failed “WB” network, while most other shows which featured non-white characters in principal roles were few and far between. Not until very recently have audiences benefited from the likes of multi-ethnic casting for primary characters.

Fortunately for television audiences, choice rules today’s market.  Alleged “ancillary” mediums dominate the old-school format of programming for television.  The expansion of cable programming, satellite technology, DVD sales, DVD mail rentals, the Internet, Video on Demand, and DVRs, etc. have expanded the landscape and we are not confined to the choices that were formerly made for us by network executives and programmers.  Perhaps these advances in technology have forced the issue?  

With the abundance of outlets and content, it seems television has come to (once again?) embrace Roddenberry’s vision for the future.  Modern-day television shows have mult-racial casts and are moving past dealing in stereotypes.  In this regard, since the days of “Star Trek” the original series, diversity on the small screen has most certainly come full circle.  It is our hope that this is not a fad, and that the commitment to represent our multi-colored world soon becomes a mainstay, and that in the future the need to advocate for diversity become a thing of the past…