Black History Month: Top African American Television Characters (Part Two!)

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  • Wendy Raquel Robinson, The Game
  • Tichina Arnold, Martin
  • Marla Gibbs, The Jeffersons
  • Harold Perrineau, Oz
  • Eartha Kitt, Batman
  • Audra McDonald, Private Pracctice
  • Malcolm-Jamal Warner, The Cosby Show
  • Kim Fields, Living Single
  • Brandy, Moesha
  • Kerry Washington, Scandal
  • Idris Elba, Luther

Marla Gibbs as Florence Johnston

BF (Before Florence), Black maids on television were mostly stereotypical, clueless women. After The Jeffersons introduced this iconic character on the long-running sitcom, the TV idea of domestic help was changed forever. Florence's quick, non-stop comebacks to boss George Jefferson provided timeless hilarity that is still funny today.

(Photo: CBS)