Malcolm Jamal-Warner was the first cool Black teen of the 80’s, he definitely gave kinfolk and cousin type of vibes. I feel like a piece of my childhood died today.
For many Black families, Malcolm-Jamal Warner represented the first time we saw a young Black teen on primetime television who felt like their own son, nephew, or cousin. He wasn’t a caricature, he was cared for, respected, and central to the narrative of a functional, loving Black family.
To draw a comparison, think about Michael J. Fox, who played Alex P. Keaton on Family Ties. Fox won over white America with his charm, comedic timing, and the way he represented the “boy-next-door” the ideal conservative but lovable, sharp-tongued but endearing. White audiences saw in him a son they could be proud of, someone navigating adolescence with smarts and wit.
In a similar but culturally distinct way, Malcolm-Jamal Warner was our Michael J. Fox. He was the Black teen who made Black excellence look cool and accessible. While Fox made white families laugh and nod along to their own suburban dreams, Malcolm made Black teens feel seen, our jokes, our awkwardness, our frustrations with school, our family dynamics, our swag. Theo Huxtable wasn’t just Claire and Cliff’s son; he became everybody’s son.
Today, we put our Gordon Gartrell shirts in the rafters.
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