TV Queen Bees: Saluting the Black Moms From Our Favorite Shows

With Mother's Day here, we remember great TV moms.

The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air

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The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air — Vivian Banks, played by actress Janet Hubert, is the vivacious, no-nonsense, nurturing, and valiant mother of Nicky, Ashley, Carlton, and Hillary Bank and the aunt of Will Smith. Regarding iconic television mothers, Mrs. Banks can’t be forgotten, (The character was portrayed in later years by actress Daphne Maxwell Reid.) Photo by: Chris Cuffaio/NBCU Photo Bank

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The Cosby Show - A beautiful, accomplished attorney, Claire Huxtable, played by Phylicia Rashad, laid down the law in the Cosby household. Loving, yes, but never afraid to set you straight.  (Photo: dpa/Landov)

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The Cosby Show - A beautiful, accomplished attorney, Claire Huxtable, played by Phylicia Rashad, laid down the law in the Cosby household. Loving, yes, but never afraid to set you straight. (Photo: dpa/Landov)

black-ish

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Black-ish! -- For eight seasons, actress Tracee Ellis Ross portrayed the radiant Dr. Rainbow Johnson. She’s a highly successful anesthesiologist and a proud and extremely supportive mom to her five children and sometimes to her husband, Andre (Anthony Anderson). This supermom takes on the challenging duties of motherhood, all while looking extremely fashionable. (Photo by Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic)

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Clarice Taylor - In honor of Mother's Day we are honoring some of the greatest mothers who have been on the small screen.  There is no better way to start than with Clarice Taylor, who played Anna Huxtable, Dr. Cliff Huxtable's (Bill Cosby) wise mother in The Cosby Show.  Taylor passed away at the age of 93 on May 30, 2011, but Taylor as Anna Huxtable was one of the first representations of the Black grandmother on network television.(Photo: Joseph Marzullo/Retna Ltd.)

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Clarice Taylor played Anna Huxtable, Dr. Cliff Huxtable's (Bill Cosby) wise mother in The Cosby Show. Taylor passed away at the age of 93 on May 30, 2011, but Taylor as Anna Huxtable was one of the first representations of the Black grandmother on network television.(Photo: Joseph Marzullo/Retna Ltd.)

Tasha Mack, The Game - This momager makes Kris Jenner look like June Cleaver. Tasha, played by Wendy Raquel Robinson, is a powerhouse who turns athletes to stars, speaks her mind and gets paid doing it. She may be a mom, but Tasha seems to be perpetually reliving her youth in this hit series. (Photo: Picturegroup)

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Tasha Mack, The Game - This momager makes Kris Jenner look like June Cleaver. Tasha, played by Wendy Raquel Robinson, is a powerhouse who turns athletes to stars, speaks her mind and gets paid doing it. She may be a mom, but Tasha seems to be perpetually reliving her youth in this hit series. (Photo: Picturegroup)

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Everbody Hates Chris - So tough she's liable to "slap you into another nationality," Rochelle Rock, played by Tichina Arnold, kept the Rock family in line with tough love and a touch of humor for good measure.(Photo: CW/Jaimie Trueblood /Landov)

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Everbody Hates Chris - So tough she's liable to "slap you into another nationality," Rochelle Rock, played by Tichina Arnold, kept the Rock family in line with tough love and a touch of humor for good measure.(Photo: CW/Jaimie Trueblood /Landov)

The Parkers - Oscar-winning actress Mo'Nique starred as the outrageous Nikki Parker, who couldn't help but get entangled in the life of her college-aged daughter, Kim, when they ended up going to school together. Heeeey!  (Photo: UPN /Landov)

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The Parkers - Oscar-winning actress Mo'Nique starred as the outrageous Nikki Parker, who couldn't help but get entangled in the life of her college-aged daughter, Kim, when they ended up going to school together. Heeeey! (Photo: UPN /Landov)

Good Times - A devout Christian and devoted mother and wife, Esther Rolle's Florida Evans weathered many storms with a look up to the sky in prayer. No matter what her project-habitating family dealt with, they always came out shining in the end. Rolle died November 17, 1998.  (Photo: CBS/Landov)

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Good Times - A devout Christian and devoted mother and wife, Esther Rolle's Florida Evans weathered many storms with a look up to the sky in prayer. No matter what her project-habitating family dealt with, they always came out shining in the end. Rolle died November 17, 1998. (Photo: CBS/Landov)

The Bernie Mac Show - Somebody had to reel Bernie in when his parenting skills went out of whack. And his wife, Wanda (Kellita Smith), was there every time. Her no-nonsense style and soft sensibility provided the perfect balance to help nurture "Nessa," "Baby Girl" and "The Boy."  (Photo: Scott Gries/ImageDirect)

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The Bernie Mac Show - Somebody had to reel Bernie in when his parenting skills went out of whack. And his wife, Wanda (Kellita Smith), was there every time. Her no-nonsense style and soft sensibility provided the perfect balance to help nurture "Nessa," "Baby Girl" and "The Boy." (Photo: Scott Gries/ImageDirect)

Julia - In 1968, Diahann Carroll made history and created controversy when she became the first Black actress to star in her own show in a non-stereotypical role. The part of Julia, a widowed nurse and single mom to son Corey, won her a Golden Globe that same year.(Photo: NBC Television/Courtesy of Getty Images)

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Julia - In 1968, Diahann Carroll made history and created controversy when she became the first Black actress to star in her own show in a non-stereotypical role. The part of Julia, a widowed nurse and single mom to son Corey, won her a Golden Globe that same year.(Photo: NBC Television/Courtesy of Getty Images)

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What's Happening!! - Always full of wisdom and never scared to ask for a belt, Raj and Dee's mother, played by Mabel King, embraced her family and their friends with love — sometimes until they couldn't breathe.  (Photo:  Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

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What's Happening!! - Always full of wisdom and never scared to ask for a belt, Raj and Dee's mother, played by Mabel King, embraced her family and their friends with love — sometimes until they couldn't breathe. (Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

My Wife and Kids - She was a mother and grandmother, but Jay, played by Tisha Campbell-Martin, balanced her crazy family life and her professional goals with nothing but love and laughter.  (Photo: lc/Laura Cavanaugh /UPI/ Landov)

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My Wife and Kids - She was a mother and grandmother, but Jay, played by Tisha Campbell-Martin, balanced her crazy family life and her professional goals with nothing but love and laughter. (Photo: lc/Laura Cavanaugh /UPI/ Landov)

Family Matters - Before Steve Urkel stole the show, Harriet Winslow (JoMarie Payton) was the focus of Family Matters. Like many moms, she showed love and was there when she was needed, even if it meant putting up with the antics of that high-water wearing, bespectacled neighbor.  (Photo: Ron Galella/WireImage)

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Family Matters - Before Steve Urkel stole the show, Harriet Winslow (JoMarie Payton) was the focus of Family Matters. Like many moms, she showed love and was there when she was needed, even if it meant putting up with the antics of that high-water wearing, bespectacled neighbor. (Photo: Ron Galella/WireImage)

Empire

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Empire -- She may have been away serving a bid, but Cookie Lyon, played by the amazing Taraji P. Henson, quickly tried to make up for lost time with her three sons following her release. Yeah, her parenting style may be a bit sharp around the edges, but you can be sure this lioness doesn’t play when it comes to her baby cubs and will do what it takes to protect them. (Photo by FOX Image Collection via Getty Images)

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Sister, Sister

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Sister, Sister — Blood doesn’t make you family, and Lisa Landry— the adoptive mom of Tia Landry, played by actress Jackée Harry, redefines the concept of family and mother. Upon learning of her daughter’s twin sister, Lisa jumped into gear to play a mom for two. She’s always there for excellent advice and, of course, fashion tips. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)

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