The announcement of the BAFTA Television Awards nominations and the release of the trailer for Netflix’s Supacell has brought up a conversation about the representation of Black people in television and film.
No, not the usual one, but rather a take that comes up when Top Boy comes up.
“Why is this the only Black show out there?!” is often tweeted, with a sneering undertone. Or, “Finally, a Black show that doesn’t revolve around gangs!” someone says when they see a new trailer for a new Black-led show.
Top Boy – a brilliant show – is by no means an all-around representative of the Black experience. It isn’t meant to be. But like any other piece of art, it represents some Black people's experiences. Rather, the show offers a glimpse into the murky criminal underground of East London.