Study Reveals Steady Drop In Number Of Minorities On TV Soaps

Jet, May 29, 2000

The number of minorities on daytime dramas has declined steadily over the past years, according to a recent study.

The American Federation of Television & Radio Artists (AFTRA) study found that of the dozen daytime soap operas, only a handful of the roles go to Blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans, Asians or the disabled.

"There was an increase in the number of African-American actors in the soaps around 1994 and 1995, but that has steadily decreased," Ray Bradford, AFTRA's national director of affirmative action told Daily Variety. "Performers with disabilities, Asian-Americans and Native Americans are virtually non-existent on daytime dramas."

AFTRA is planning to hold meetings with the Big Three networks to discuss diversity and employment.