This seminal book unapologetically and authentically explores layered images of African Americans connected to, or at least coeval, with the television drama Empire. With amazing clarity and nuanced thoroughness the author provides compelling examples of a television programming renaissance and a kaleidoscope of portrayals that transcend stereotypes. This wonderful book splendidly detangles pernicious media myths and shows that television is not an impenetrable cultural bubble.Elizabeth Clark-Lewis, Howard University; I am truly impressed with the books subject matter and content. What I especially commend Dr. Wright for is his thorough contextualization of the images of African Americans in Empire. Armed with past and current film and television series images and representations of African Americans interwoven with sociological and historical research, Wrights examination of the father, the mother, the sons, and the characters together as a black family in Empire shows how the images of African Americans have changed while remaining the same. Furthermore, the empirical audience research is quite useful for assessing African Americans reception of Empire. Finally, tracking the Empire Effect provides a 21st century starting point for gauging the exodus and exile of African Americans involvement in television in the decades to come.Angela Nelson, Bowling Green State University.
