Television pioneer Norman Lear dies at 101

By Lauren Victoria Burke, NNPA Newswire Contributor Legendary television visionary and producer Norman Lead has died at 101. Lear was known for creating television shows featuring characters from an America that hovered closer to real life experiences and real relationships than what was previously aired on American television before his career took off at the start of the 1970s. Lear’s career breakthrough arrived in the 1970s when he produced several highly successful and influential television sitcoms that tackled social and political issues including race. One of Lear’s most famous shows was “All in the Family,” which premiered in 1971. The show was a massive hit with viewers and critics. It depicted the blue-collar family of Archie Bunker with all of the blunt realities of American history and culture that included racism, sexism, and other societal issues through the lens of Bunker’s New York family. Before “All in the Family,” television families were displayed as Brady Bunch bubblegum perfect with few, if any, societal or political issues ever being discussed. Norman Lear then went on to produce over 10 series through the 1970s. Many of the TV shows featured Black families and characters. They include “The Jeffersons,” which ran from 1975...