Actress Phylicia Rashad talks with reporters at the 12th annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the John F. Kennedy Center on October 26, 2009 in Washington, DC.

Listen, back in my day, when we needed guidance, it was the black sitcom moms who stepped in to help raise us. Unlike now, our mothers didn’t have the luxury of a quick Google search for answers. Reflecting on my own journey into motherhood, I’ve come to realize that those incredible women who raised us were simply figuring it out as they went along, just like me.

We relied on our mothers for solutions to life’s myriad questions, and in those days, it was the TV moms like Florida Evans and Claire Huxtable who served as guiding lights. So, as you keep scrolling, take a moment to appreciate the women who played a pivotal role in shaping generations, all from the cozy embrace of our living rooms.

These ladies aren’t just characters; they’re the soulful, funny, and downright real portrayals of black motherhood that broke molds and made us laugh, cry, and everything in between. They showed us the many faces of being a mom, from dealing with the grind to keeping family first, no matter what. Here’s to these TV moms who brought the black motherhood experience into our living rooms, doing it all with flair and making it look easy. Hats off to these queens!

  • Claire Huxtable (The Cosby Show) -

    Phylicia Rashad, aka the queen of TV moms, nailed it as Claire Huxtable. She was the ultimate power mom – lawyer by day, supermom by night, juggling five kids with a level of grace that made us all wonder, “How does she do it?” A legend, truly.

  • Rainbow Johnson (Black-ish)

    Tracee Ellis Ross made Rainbow Johnson the mom everyone wishes they had. Living in a mostly white neighborhood, she’s keeping it real and blending modern vibes with those good old-fashioned values, all while keeping the focus on culture and family. Iconic? Absolutely.

  • Rochelle (Everybody Hates Chris)

    Tichina Arnold’s Rochelle is the kind of mom who doesn’t play. She’s hilariously strict but fiercely loyal, working her butt off for her family and making sure those kids of hers keep it right and tight.

  • Vivian Banks (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air)

    Whether it was Janet Hubert or Daphne Maxwell Reid, Aunt Viv was the show’s stealth MVP, dishing out wisdom and keeping Will (and her own kids) in line with a kind of cool that can’t be taught.

  • Harriette Winslow (Family Matters)

    With JoMarie Payton bringing her to life, Harriette Winslow navigated a house full of crazy with a quick wit and the patience of a saint. Her secret? A hefty dose of love and common sense.

  • Florida Evans (Good Times)

    Esther Rolle’s Florida Evans was the heart of her family in the projects of Chicago, showing the world what resilience and love look like, even when the chips are down.

     

  • Jessica Pearson (Suits)

    Okay, so not your typical sitcom mom, but Gina Torres’s Jessica Pearson is a powerhouse. Balancing motherhood with being a legal eagle? Talk about goals.

  • Tasha Mack (The Game)

    Wendy Raquel Robinson’s Tasha Mack is the cool mom who’s got her son’s football career on lock, all while sorting through her own love life. Talk about multitasking.

  • Jay Kyle (My Wife and Kids)

    Tisha Campbell-Martin as Jay Kyle brings the laughs and the heart, showing us what it’s like to crush it as a lawyer and a mom. Major respect.

  • Lisa Landry (Sister, Sister)

    Jackée Harry’s Lisa Landry is the mom who will put her needs on the back burner for her twins any day. Her love game? Strong.

  • Mary Jenkins (227)

    Marla Gibbs as Mary Jenkins brought us the matriarch of all matriarchs in a tight-knit D.C. community, dishing out humor and wisdom in equal measure.

     

    Growing up in the Jim Crow era, Mary faced discrimination and hardship, but she never let it break her spirit. She worked hard to provide for her family as a single mother, taking on multiple jobs and sacrificing her own dreams for the sake of her children. Despite all the challenges she faced, she remained resilient and determined to create a better life for those she loved.

     

    But it wasn’t just her strength and determination that made Mary such an inspiring character. It was also her unwavering love and compassion for others. She

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