How The Twilight Zone Used Science Fiction To Challenge American Racism
The Twilight Zone premiered on CBS in 1959 and ran for five seasons, leaving a lasting impact on television. Creator Rod Serling used science fiction and fantasy stories to challenge American society's views on race, war, and prejudice. While the show had fewer episodes featuring Black actors than some viewers today might expect, the episodes that did include them presented these actors in dignified, non-stereotypical roles. This approach stood out during the early 1960s when most television shows either ignored Black Americans or cast them only as servants and background characters.