Author Danzy Senna’s latest novel, Colored Television, delves into the complexities of race, identity, and ambition in contemporary America. Set in Los Angeles, this narrative follows Jane Gibson, a struggling novelist, and her artist husband Lenny, as they navigate life in a city that oscillates between glamour and grit. Through Jane’s perspective, Senna examines the challenges faced by artists who grapple with personal identity and societal expectations. The novel critiques the superficial treatment of diversity in Hollywood while exploring the deeper implications of racial identity in art and culture. Ultimately, it raises questions about the authenticity of artistic expression and the compromises one must make to achieve success.

In Colored Television, Jane Gibson finds herself living in a luxurious mountain mansion owned by her friend Brett, a former academic turned Hollywood script doctor. This setting provides a stark contrast to the couple's usual precarious existence, moving from sublet to sublet. Jane’s struggle to complete her second novel, a historical fiction about biracial Americans, mirrors her own internal conflicts about race and identity. Meanwhile, Lenny’s abstract art, which avoids depicting Black themes, reflects his resistance to conforming to the market’s demands for racial identity. The tension between their artistic pursuits and the realities of their lives forms the crux of the story.

The novel also explores the broader context of academia, where adjunct teaching positions like those held by Jane and Lenny are increasingly precarious. Senna highlights the corporatization of higher education, with shrinking tenure tracks and rising tuition fees. This backdrop underscores the economic struggles faced by many in the creative and academic fields. Additionally, the novel touches on the concept of a “racial identity-industrial complex,” where artists and creators are pressured to align their work with specific racial narratives to gain recognition or financial support. Jane’s interactions with Hampton Ford, a cynical television producer, further illustrate this phenomenon. Ford’s interest in Jane’s sitcom idea about biracial individuals reveals the entertainment industry’s commodification of diverse stories.

Jane’s character is particularly intriguing, as she embodies both the contradictions and the complexities of modern identity politics. Her thoughts and actions often reveal an underlying racial consciousness that is both self-aware and problematic. For instance, her discomfort with interracial relationships and her critical views on white people highlight the novel’s exploration of internalized biases. However, Senna does not provide clear moral judgments on Jane’s perspectives, leaving readers to interpret her motives and beliefs. This ambiguity adds depth to the narrative but can also frustrate those seeking definitive answers.

Beyond its critique of Hollywood and academia, Colored Television offers a nuanced look at the intersection of race, class, and art. By focusing on characters who are deeply invested in their identities yet constrained by societal pressures, Senna challenges readers to consider the limitations and possibilities of contemporary American culture. The novel’s exploration of these themes suggests that true artistic freedom may require confronting and transcending the very systems that seek to define and limit us. As Jane contemplates her future, the reader is left pondering the cost of compromise and the value of staying true to one’s vision in a world that often demands conformity.