
If there was ever a poster child for black geekdom it would be Jaleel rocking grandma glasses, unnecessary suspenders, and the under-rated accordian. His claim to fame was portraying the Winslow's annoying neighbor, Urkel, on the hit T.V. show Family Matters. Although the hit family show now rests along side other classic sitcoms on day time television Jaleel's works still lives on.

Jaleel was a young budding actor from Pasadena, California starring in commercials and playing guest roles on shows like Charlie and Company, The Jeffersons, and Good Morning, Miss Bliss (Saved by the Bell). One commercial worth noting that White played in was for the world's first handheld gaming system the Atari Lynx. Jaleel would soon land the role of a lifetime as Steve Urkel. With what was suppose to be a one-time appearance turned into a mainstream phenomenon that catapulted Jaleel into stardom.

White was also the voice of Sonic the Hedgehog in most of its cartoon television series. Any real black nerd knows, loves, and sometimes worship (Charles Hamiliton) this blue hedgehog. I myself was lured into a world of sci-fi and collecting thanks to my first video game and my first comic book being Sonic products. Jaleel put life into a pixelated mammal and made being a geek a fashion statement. Although most black kids (as well as himself) hated the Urkle character for the stigma it placed on Afircan Americans who wore glasses but that weight has since been lifted. Jaleel White dawned a career-killing role that in the long run gave black actors a wider spectrum of roles to portray and for that the Stigmalitia salutes you.