FOX's musical drama
Empire
has been hailed as the savior of broadcast television, drawing 15 million viewers a week. A "hip-hopera" inspired by Shakespeare's
King Lear
and 1980s prime-time soap
Dynasty
, the series is at the forefront of a black popular culture Renaissance--yet has stirred controversy in the black community. Is
shifting paradigms or promoting pernicious stereotypes?
Examining the evolution and potency of black images in popular culture, the author explores
's place in a diverse body of literature and media, data and discussions on respectability.