E-Books →Scratchin' and Survivin' Hustle Economics and the Black Sitcoms of Tandem Productions

Scratchin' and Survivin' discovers surprising parallels between the behind-the-scenes drama at Tandem and the Descriptionlines that aired on their sitcoms, as both real and fictional African Americans devised various strategies for getting their fair share out of systems prone to exploiting their labor. The media scholar Adrien Sebro describes these tactics as a form of "hustle economics," and he pays special attention to the ways that Black women-including actresses like LaWanda Page, Isabel Sanford, and Esther Rolle-had to hustle for recognition. Exploring Tandem's complex legacy, including its hit racially mixed sitcom Diff'rent Strokes, he showcases the Black talent whose creative agency and labor resilience helped to transform the television industry.