The Screen Communicates the Possibilities and Potential of The Fresh Prince
The Fresh Prince was a show in the 1990s that represented a family who worked their way to a life of privilege reserved for white Americans. The show's central character is Will Smith, a teenager getting into trouble in his underserved community in Philadelphia who is sent by his mother after seeing her son get into a fight and fears for his safety. Will's mother is a single parent. She struggles financially to provide for her son. She wants better for him. So, after some contemplation, she sends Will to live with his uncle, a judge, and his wife Vivian to live in Bel Air, California (36).
The sitcom connects black people in multiple ways. First, the geographic location of their home is located at 251 N Bristol Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90049. The home is currently appraised at $10,594,600 (37). The medium value of a home in the community of Bel Air is $4,750,000 (38). Compare this to the average home price in 2022 of $449,000 (39). The physical structure of the home is remarkable, but the schools that Uncle Phil's children attend are even more impressive. Although Bel-Air Academy is a fictitious academy, the privilege that comes from private schools like it is real. Today, in Bel-Air, Harvard-Westlake is ranked as the #3 private school in California. It costs $42,600 for one year of general admission. Nearby, you'll find The Winward School, ranked #15 in California, which comes in at a total cost of $42,245, and The Oakwood School, ranked number #29 in California, has a tuition of $44,310 a year (40). Bel Air Academy helps audiences unpack the benefits of elite institutions and the opportunities they can provide. More important than material possessions is the supportive family dynamic that Uncle Phil and Auntie Viv create within their home. At the beginning of the series, Philip (played by James Avery) is a senior partner at Wynn and Meyer, a prosperous legal practice within the Bel Air neighborhood. In the show's third season, he is appointed to the Judiciary when his mentor, Carl Robertson, dies unexpectedly. The pathway to such an accomplishment isn't an easy one. To finish law school, an individual has to complete their undergraduate degree, take the LSAT, enroll in a law school, pass the bar and then serve as a lawyer before they're ever able to become a judge (41). Uncle Phil provides a type of exposure to a reality that is hard to grasp but not entirely out of reach.
Vivian Smith is played by Janet Hubert (seasons 1-3) and Daphne Maxwell (seasons 4-6). Vivian's character very much serves as a narrative of perseverance. Vivian is a high school dropout who once left home when she fell in love with a young man in high school. The man she ran off with abandoned her, and she quickly learned how cruel the world can be. Nevertheless, she collects herself, reassesses the situation, and begins to take a long but worthy journey of success. She earns her G.E.D., then a bachelor's, and later a P.H.D. Vivian's character represents what is possible when perseverance meets opportunity.
Their professions are critical to the messaging because they can garnish salaries well into the six figures. Such professions provide leverage, power, and impact. When Will and Carlton are in jail, he can get them out the same night because of his influence. They have several guests visiting their home, including Donald Trump.
This combined income allows the two to provide financial security that gives their children positive experiences and resources. They have more time to be parents because they have more control over their schedules and can take trips. In season two, episode 13, the family goes skiing at a lodge. In season three, episode eight, Boyz in the Woods, Uncle Phil takes his boys on a camping trip that nearly kills them due to a lack of preparation and foresight, but in the end, it helps them bond.
Unless you hit the lottery, you're going to work. The question is, how much is your time worth, and is someone willing to pay you your rate? Uncle Phil is a hard worker, but he is paid handsomely for his effort and doesn't need to work nights to make ends meet. He can invest his time into his children by not having to take on other jobs to provide them with every opportunity. He can be a father that is not only present but respected.
One of the most challenging episodes of the show is when Will's father comes to visit Bel Air. Although absent most of Will's life, Will still yearns for his father, Lue’s, approval. In "Papa's Got a Brand New Excuse," Will's father makes an effort to get to know his son. When Lue tries to leave home without Will knowing, Phil confronts the man about his actions and the consequences that will surely follow. When faced with the reality that he could lose his son a second time, Lue falters and tells Will that he has to leave. Will becomes cold, unwilling to address his father with anything other than "Lue." Although Uncle Phil has done everything to support, love, and provide for Will, he can only hold him as he becomes inconsolable. The Fresh Prince is an example of black America being able to touch the "good life" without losing its identity. Each character is their person but is also black. They are both straightforward and have underlying examinations of systemic and social issues too. Most of all, the show represents a positive lens of the black family out of an impoverished state.
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