I was getting a picture framed (on Mon) and I was having a chat with the older woman at the check out area. I happened to mention something about older TV releases and there we got talking. We seemed to share many faves and then I mentioned AITF and there it pretty much ended. She wrinkled up her nose and said "Uh, never liked that one. Never liked Archie Bigot."

Strange b/c when I think of Archie I don't think of a bigot. I think deep down we all "pull for our own kind" to a degree, and Archie just magnified those feelings. YES, he preffered whites and had many off color jokes but deep down, and I mean DEEP down, he had a heart of gold, that's what I take away from him. I feel sorry for those that just see the surface. I couldn't, in fact wouldn't watch this show if all it did was pick on the "minororities."

Anyone with me on this?

He had a good side as well as a bad side just like most everyone has. I liked
him & the show, its one of my favorites. But I do think alot of people misunderstood him.

I think Lynol summed it up perfectly in an episode one time.


"he doesn't know better"


My guess considering the generation Archie had intolerant parents.

well it was later in the series that we found out why he acted the way he did toward minorities and that was because of his father

well it was later in the series that we found out why he acted the way he did toward minorities and that was because of his father

Down deep though, I don't think Archie really hated people of color and "minororities" I think he just misunderstood or feared them. As seasons progressed, Archie softened quite a bit. He allowed a hispanic (I think her name was Teresa - I loved the way he'd grimace when she'd call him "Mr. Bonkers.") to live with them for a time and later, after Edith died, had a black housekeeper who was a surrogate mom to Stephanie.

Could anyone imagine the first season Archie hiring a black woman to work in his house?? He even defended her against some bigoted remarks on Archie Bunker's Place as I recall.

Archie has a good side