Although there have been significant advancements concerning racial equality regarding African Americans in the United States, there still exist adverse depictions due in part to the continuum of racist stereotypes ensconced into American culture thru the power of television programming.

My thesis contends that with the advent of black and white television negative depictions and stereotypes of African Americans became more prevalent in American culture. These stereotypes served to reinforce the mythology of a "white centric" America strengthened by the Cold War television of the 1950'. These stereotypes remain in present day television.

Chapter One examines the derivation of the African American stereotype.

Chapter Two concentrates on the influence Walt Disney (the American dream) had on both American television and the manufacturing of the American image.

Chapter three is focused on the continuing machinations of these negative depictions through the medium of television to the present.