White People

[Brian Damage]

In almost all the episodes that had a white person in it, they were nothing but goofy and/or stupid.

[Mikado]

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

In almost all the episodes that had a white person in it, they were nothing but goofy and/or stupid.

Perhaps, but then,for how many years were blacks portrayed as goofy and stupid in all forms of entertainment; didnt you think it was time for a role-reversal? ( ps, Im not black! )

[Brian Damage]

I understand all that, but at least have one white person with an IQ over 2!

[Mikado]

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

I understand all that, but at least have one white person with an IQ over 2!

They did, producer Norman Lear

[Ireneparalegal]

I was just thinking the same thing Brian...thanx for bringing that up. I hated that. Just because it was done to "them" means they have to do it to the "whites"? Or was that the only way the blacks could get an applause??? you hit the nail on the head with this topic.

[Brian Damage]

I mean, I understand it was a "black" show, but they really made almost every white person dumb.

[Mikado]

Well, since the producer was "white", and probably the writers too, it becomes a great irony, doesnt it?

[TripperFan]

I agree - I also noticed the same trend with the Cosby Show in the 80s - any white neighbour or visitor was portrayed as a real dork.


I also noticed during last week's marathon, when Thelma was accepted to a better school (referred to as a "white" school) Florida said something about her acting selfish - and Michael says, "See - she's already acting white!"

Could you imagine a show today (or even then) where a white character were to refer to a black person like that? The backlash would be incredible.

[Brian Damage]

Originally Posted by TripperFan

I agree - I also noticed the same trend with the Cosby Show in the 80s - any white neighbour or visitor was portrayed as a real dork.


I also noticed during last week's marathon, when Thelma was accepted to a better school (referred to as a "white" school) Florida said something about her acting selfish - and Michael says, "See - she's already acting white!"

Could you imagine a show today (or even then) where a white character were to refer to a black person like that? The backlash would be incredible.

I know that racism existed in the 70's (and still does) but they made almost all the white characters racist and if they weren't racist, they were trying to "act black" which made them look like fools or were just plain dumb.

[TJL]

The trend continues today. In many "family" sitcoms, the husband is portrayed as an idiot who screws up everything while the wife (who is younger, thinner and usually hot) knows everything.

[Brian Damage]

CBS seems to be the main culprit of this with shows like Everybody Loves Raymond, King of Queens and Still Standing.

[Zions Mother]

I have to disagree. The Cosby's had very intelligent white friends and peers portrayed on their show.

As far as then, the shows portrayed exactly what poverty level or lower class families felt about the opposite race, i.e., "Archie Bunker"

Unfortunately in respects to the Evans Family, any time a white person had to go to their area for any reason, whoever sent the representatives, they would intentionally send a person who was aloof. That is how it was in real life. The only black families who would come in contact with middle/upper middle class whites, were those who were in the same financial, geographical and educational bracket. In real life, if an intelligent white person did come to the projects, out of fear, they would at times act stupid or say stupid things.

The projects where Tony Dorsett grew up, you couldn't get a white establishment to deliver pizza in that area in the 70's and even today, they still won't.

[Brian Damage]

I see what you are saying, but the white characters didn't really come off as real. More like cartoon characters than anything else.

[Ireneparalegal]

I hate to say it but the peers, friends etc. on Cosby were black in color but had this "white" thing going on. I wanted to see more "black" teens on this show. It made it appear as if only "black" teens were seen in lower/lower middle class. All those kids talked like they never had been around any black people at all. They seemed to have perfect English. Teens will talk like teens regardless of their families income.

[Zions Mother]

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

I hate to say it but the peers, friends etc. on Cosby were black in color but had this "white" thing going on. I wanted to see more "black" teens on this show. It made it appear as if only "black" teens were seen in lower/lower middle class. All those kids talked like they never had been around any black people at all. They seemed to have perfect English. Teens will talk like teens regardless of their families income.

Keep watching Cosby and you will see some white intelligent friends. And I don't know what you mean by the "white thing going on". I think I know what you mean but I'll reserve my comment for now. Teens will talk like teens regardless of their families income, but it's not just income that reflects your dialect, it is also the family household. I know plenty of lower class families who had perfect English. You can't generalize, you not only had to live it, but observe while living it.

My family was upper middle class but I associated with all groups, primarily the kids from the projects. With many teachers in my family, my language was corrected frequently, but that does not mean that I could not use slang. My parents grew up lower class, but the discipline in their household made a difference in how they spoke in comparison to their friends.