African-American Television Writers: Breaking Barriers & Creating History
- By
MadameNoire
Soap Writers Making Scenes: Michele Val Jean, Susan Dansby & Aida Croal
Few know the contributions blacks have made to this cornerstone of daytime television. “General Hospital” writer Michele Val Jean was the first black head writer of a daytime soap, and won four daytime Emmys for her efforts. Award-winning scribe Susan Dansby wrote for “As the World Turns” for a decade. Plus, Aida Croal has been a writer for “One Life To Live” for the past four years. Yet, these black writers are rare in this niche. Could daytime drama producers have rendered their story lines out of touch with the diverse masses by keeping their writers’ room too homogenous, thus contributing to the soap opera’s demise? Only time will tell.
Comment Disclaimer: Comments that contain profane or derogatory language, video links or exceed 200 words will require approval by a moderator before appearing in the comment section. XOXO-MN
