One of the cool things about streaming television being a thing; there’s access to a bunch of old t.v shows from my childhood. Over the last few years, Netflix added a few classics and that included one of my of my old favorites, Moesha.
You Haven’t Heard of Moesha?
I know you can’t be reading this and not possibly know what this show is. If on the slight chance you might actually be too young or you didn’t watch primarily black cast shows; no worries I’ll explain.
Moesha was a show about a young black girl growing up in the Lameirt Park Los Angeles. She lives at home with her dad Frank, step-mom Dee (who’s also the vice principle at Crenshaw High School, and little brother Miles. Her life also consists of frequent hangout sessions with her closest circle of friends Hakeem, Kim and Neecy. There was also the staple hangout center The Den owned by family friend Andell.
Ok so now you’ve go the basics let me get to the real reason I’m here.
Moesha was an Allegorical Tale for Teen Stupidity
I have to admit, singing along to the opening song was super nostalgic; but as the show continued on I found myself cringing. Halfway through season one I had to wonder, “how did I ever watch this show and agree with Moesha’s character??”
And then I had to think about the type of teenager I was. Intelligent, rebellious, chock full of hormones and thinking I was grown and knew better than the adults who I called parents. As I delved further into the show, it prompted me to recall my own teen years and how much I wish I knew back then what I know now.
Watching this show got me to thinking about what I consumed as a teenager and why it was so impactful on me as a kid.
Why I Loved It
Moesha was relatable. She was smart, she was a young black girl, she had ambitions and goals but she also made a lot of missteps as a teenager. The show did a great job of showing how the teen years can be some of the most difficult. It addressed the ups and downs of navigating friendships as teenagers transition into youg adulthood. It also show cased the nuances of family, sibiling connections, the tug and pull between parent and child; even the complexities of having a step parent. As a young teen, this was all relatable content to me.
I also loved the fashion on Moesha! Braids, platforms, plaid skirst, cute tops, stylish jeans, andaccessories to match! Moesha was hanging out with her friends at a cool lounge, living her best young teen life and I wanted to mirror that so bad as a young teen!
Why I Hate It Now
Watching as an adult, I recognize how spoiled, self centered and obnoxious Moesha was. She was also a very inconsiderate friend. Her whole world revolved around being the “it girl” amongst her peers. She openly treated Kim and Niecy as if they were her sidekicks, never her equals. When any little bit of attention was shown to either of her counterparts, she found a way to minimize, dismiss or turn the lense back to her.
While watching this I realized I was triggered! It brought back a rush of feelings from my teenage years as the fat or chubby friend of the group, and how easily my friends were eager to dismiss my presence as a supporting character in our shenanigans. As an adult, I realize the person I related to most was Kim, not Moesha.
Moesha repeatedly disobeyed her father, spoke disrespectfully, made impulsive decisions, toyed with the emotions of Hakim who was clearly head over heels for her, and consistently ignored good advice when her friends would try to steer her clear of any messiness. As an adult I realized that the show Moesha romanticized a lot of foolish behaviors, and as a teenager I was way too impressionable.
The Beauty of Maturation
As much as I cringe watching 90 % of these episodes now, it does give me validation that I’ve grown up. There was a time when I would have been finding ways to justify Moesha’s behaviors, likening her to my own friends and circumstances. As an adult, it simply reiterates for me how unwise I was in my youth, and how much experience is what shapes our abilities to grow, learn lessons and make better decisions.
I won’t hate on Moesha too bad, after all, I was tuned in EVERY week! I guess my biggest takeaway from rewatching this is how grateful I am to have grown up!
How about you? Did you watch Moesha growing up? What’s a show you loved as a kid but makes you cringe as an adult?
AP Young Blog 
Leave a Reply