Erika Alexander explains why ‘Friends’ was the white ‘Living Single’ and the importance of Black culture being acknowledged as mainstream

Erika Alexander attends the 2023 Writers Guild Awards West Coast Ceremony at Fairmont Century Plaza on March 05, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images for WGAW)

Erika Alexander attends the 2023 Writers Guild Awards West Coast Ceremony at Fairmont Century Plaza on March 05, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images for WGAW)

There was no way we’d have Erika Alexander on “Dear Culture” and not speak about the “Friends” vs. “Living Single” debate that swirled up on Twitter and onto websites and discussion boards. Erika, who played the incomparable Maxine Shaw on the iconic show “Living Single,” has become the unofficial spokesperson for the discussion around equity, resources and acknowledgment, especially when discussing the space that “Living Single” took up then and still does now, in Black and white households. A comment from David Schwimmer (Ross on “Friends”) about the prospect of one day having a Black or Asian version of “Friends” was the gateway to the much-needed discussion and thankfully, Erika has been there to lead that charge. While many people love Ross, Rachel and company, there is no ’90s kind of world without the likes of Khadijah, Regine, Max, Sinclair, Kyle and Overton.

You can catch the entire interview on the “Dear Culture” podcast.


TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku, and Android TV. Please download theGrio mobile apps today! 

Exit mobile version