'60s vs. '70s Racial Depictions
Remembering Bill Cosby and Robert Culp's comments about I Spy's introduction of an African American Rhodes scholar turned super-spy and Diahann Carroll's discussion of starring as single black mother Julia in the sitcom of the same name, view one of these two late 1960s programs (I Spy or Julia-linked here). Considering the way this show does (or doesn't) signify race or racial discrimination, compare its representations to those in one of Norman Lear's 1970s sitcoms.
Julia was an example of a sitcom attempting to appeal to African American audiences where there was no indication of stereotypical portrayals. Julia was a successful single mother who worked as a nurse among white middle class Americans and befriended them. The show still dealt with comedic racial themes yet portrayed them in a harmless way. Julia's son Corey was arguing with his friend about what color Santa Claus was; brown or orange. This was a harmless and innocent argument about a fictional character's race. It was spun into the debate about why Christmas is celebrated and what it really means. It alludes to the fact that it does not matter what color you are, the reason for Christmas is to celebrate family and what we are grateful for. The message is also depicted again at the end when Julia and Corey pick out a Christmas tree at the end. Julia wants a large, green traditional fern tree but there are only scrawny and bare trees left. Corey is sold on a tree not because of what it looks like but how the sales men pitches the tree's character. It all indicated that people are quick to judge by appearance before getting to know something on a personal leve or being distracted by social norms which guide prejudices in society. Comparing this to All in the Family, gives us another depiction of race and racism that isn't quite as harmless.
ReplyDeleteAll in the Family was one of Norman Lear's most popular sitcoms at the time. This show was very controversial, as it depicted a clearly prejudice and racist father often called a "lovable bigot". This character is juxtaposed by his more liberal daughter and son-in-law. The episode in which Archie is forced to fire a worker on his staff he is swayed by what the majority of his white employees would think if he were to hire the lazy white man who makes everyone laugh, yet gets nothing done, or one of the two ethnic workers who are the most efficient. He overtly says that his employees would be mad if he fired a white man. Karma catches up to Archie in the end and he has to work longer hours to catch up. This is a not-so-subtle message that racism accomplishes nothing and will ultimately hurt you in the end.
This is quite different from the subtle and harmless message that Julia depicts. There is not indication that Julia faces prejudice in her work place yet there is racial awareness. Archie Bunker is bigoted and the show clearly illustrates what reality is for many different races.
Both shows, though it may not be purposeful, signify race or racial discrimination. In Julia, the opening scene of this clip, the two children are arguing over whether Santa is black or white. The white child tells Corey he is wrong for believing Santa to be being black. This causes racial tenseion between the two. Also the constant mention of her being a single mother which displays black men in a negative light. In I spy, Bill Cosby’s character and the mr. Browne are both displayed as violent, a stereotype of black men. For example cosby’s Comments toward Browne and browne’s disposition to the Asian man surrounding him. This compares to the shows in the 70s who brought up these topics and challenged them such as Maude and Good Times.
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