Editor’s word: The next article is an op-ed, and the views expressed are the writer’s personal. Learn extra opinions on theGrio.
There are just a few iconic tv characters whose cultural imprint is so giant that it should be tough for the individual enjoying that character to ever totally transfer on from it. Steven Q. Urkel, often known as Stefan Urquelle, is one such character. Should you have been alive within the Nineties, you might not have watched “Household Issues” however you completely knew who Urkel was. He was the annoyingly nerdy next-door neighbor of Carl and Harriet Winslow who additionally occurred to be in love with their eldest daughter, Laura Winslow. And if you happen to have been a younger Black boy within the ‘90s who occurred to put on glasses and be even a bit of bit nerdy, people known as you Urkel.
Hello. I used to be Urkel.
Urkel was performed by Jaleel White, a younger man who grew right into a younger grownup over the course of the present. I’ve typically puzzled what it should have been wish to be so identified for one specific position and the way that position impacted the actor’s actual life. For example, I entered Morehouse Faculty as a freshman in 1997. At this identical time, the massive information on campus was that Keshia Knight-Pulliam, who famously performed Rudy Huxtable on “The Cosby Present” was additionally getting into her freshman 12 months at Spelman Faculty, throughout the road.
In Black America, The Huxtables may as nicely have been royalty. Whereas the entire precise actors who performed the characters have been human beings, to us common folks, they have been all symbols of Black excellence who felt like members of our households for your complete run of the present. I nonetheless bear in mind the primary time I noticed Keshia on campus; you could possibly see folks staring, nearly in disbelief that she was really there within the flesh. It was surreal, however I additionally puzzled if she was aggravated. No person known as her Keshia, simply “Rudy” (at first). I can’t fake to know her nicely sufficient to know if that ever ceased however we did have a category collectively my junior 12 months and the professor wouldn’t cease calling her Rudy. It should be onerous being so well-known for such a very good motive that it trails you in such a approach that doesn’t can help you be your personal human.
Jaleel White has written a memoir titled “Rising Up Urkel.” I can not wait to learn this e-book. For one, I think about he has to handle each the constructive and destructive impacts of being related to a singular character that was an truly vital a part of American popular culture — Urkel was the ‘90s. Contemplating how well-known he was and a few of the dustups together with his grownup co-stars we’ve heard about within the information over the course of the previous few years, it looks as if his life story might be really fascinating. In interviews, he appears so well-adjusted that he should have had a very strong household basis.
I watched a latest interview White did on “The Breakfast Membership” and was nearly stunned at how nice he’s on digicam, however that shock is as a result of I, even in 2024, nonetheless consider him as Urkel. I’ve watched tv reveals and movies the place he starred. Shoot, Jaleel White is the star of what could be one of many Blackest movies of all time, “Who Made The Potato Salad?” And but, the entire time I simply noticed Urkel appearing a idiot, not Jaleel. He appears to have come to some peace round that, however man, it’s really onerous to think about life in his sneakers.
For that alone, I’m pleased that he determined to share his story with the plenty as a result of I’m certain it’s each entertaining and informative. Plus, lots of people have tales — I simply don’t understand how many individuals have a narrative that features actually being probably the most central Black figures in Black Pop Cultural historical past. As an individual who felt seen by Urkel for thus a few years, I can’t wait to learn his story.
Plus any grown Black man giving Teddy Pendergrass on the e-book jacket cowl clearly has one thing to get off his chest.
Panama Jackson is a columnist at theGrio and host of the award-winning podcast, “Expensive Tradition” on theGrio Black Podcast Community. He writes very Black issues, drinks very brown liquors, and is fairly fly for a light-weight man. His greatest accomplishment so far coincides together with his Blackest accomplishment so far in that he obtained a telephone name from Oprah Winfrey after she learn one in every of his items (greatest) however he didn’t reply the telephone as a result of the caller ID mentioned “Unknown” (Blackest).
