is quite possibly television’s most underrated show. A family drama
chronicling the lives of the Suttons, the show focuses on a family dealing with
real issues both within their household and outside in their community of Lincoln
Heights. The female members of the
Sutton family, mother Jenn and daughters Cassie and Lizzie face trials that
most African American women can relate to, and provide some of the most
realistic and complex portrayals of black women on television today. The
significance of starring on the only African American drama on television isn’t
lost on the actresses, and they shared their thoughts on the variety, or lack
thereof, of compelling roles for black actresses today. –todd williams
Erica Hubbard (eldest daughter Cassie)
The varieties of roles are slim. What we end up having to do is going [for] roles that are meant for a Latina or an Asian. When I did [the film] A Cinderella Story I was supposed to be Caucasian. You make it work.
Rhyon Nicole Brown (youngest daughter Lizzie)
This is probably the deepest I’ve ever dug into a character. Over the last four years, I’ve gotten at least forty scripts and when you look at your lines, they always ask you to dig deeper. I know Lizzie just as well as I know myself.
Nicki Macheaux (mother Jenn)
All of the female characters on this show are well thought-out characters. Unfortunately, you don’t get to do it a lot outside of a show like ‘Lincoln Heights.’ I have been acting for a long time and coming to work with this many black folk is just great. Looking at all these people that we’re working with is so exciting. And one of the things that drew me into it was the great relationship with Jenn and Eddie. [I love] seeing them go through this marriage and how they nurture each other and nurture their kids.
How do African American women respond to the show?
Nicki: They’re just so excited to see themselves on TV — represented the way they see themselves. A lot of women tell me that they’re proud of me. They know how hard the struggle is and it’s kind of an achievement collectively for everybody to have this show on the air and be successful.
“Lincoln
Heights” airs Mondays on ABC Family at 8 p.m.
