Lack of Cultural Diversity? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

stella · 10-08-2005, 01:49 AM

My biggest criticism of the show was that the character population was not a true representation of the diverse, ethnic makeup of the city of Toronto and the rest of Canada for that matter. Toronto is a very multicultural and cosmopolitan city with many ethnic races. And yet, the vast majority of the characters were Caucasian. There was little representation from other cultural groups:

1. The best example is the lack of Asians. Aside from Yick Yu, no other character was Asian.

2. Aside from BLT and Scooter, no other character was Black.

3. I don't think there were any Hispanics or Native Aborgines either.

4. I don't think any characters were Jewish either.

kjsa · 12-16-2005, 12:17 PM

Are we even watching the same show??

Lucy - being the most popular character of all!!! was black
Bronco
Paul
Luke
Mr. Garcia
Taby
Suzie (Caitlyn's best friend)
Tim
the girl Wheel's spins around in the hallway once he finds out he graded, these were all black people, there were a lot more then just the 2 you mentioned.

Voula, Alexa and Diana were Greek, Maya I belive was jewish and they mentioned that in one episode.

Patrick was Irish

Also the show only revolved around so many characters, if you look in the background you will see plenty more examples of diverse backgrounds

Ms. Avery was clearly Native

Joey was Italian, Bully who hung out with Dwayne and Taby was Italian

There were many diverse backgrounds, you were just too blind to see them!

I could go on, but I am on lunch and that is all I can remember off the top of my head. Give me a day or two and I will come up with a lot more!!

The Chauffeur · 12-20-2005, 01:11 PM

Actually, my husband who is a Toronto native says that the show was more than reflective of the cultural diversities that was going on in that time.

kjsa · 12-21-2005, 12:32 PM

you got that right!!! At my highschool in the late 80's we had one black student and the rest were all white!!! We had a population of 600 - till this day the ratio is still about the same there . Degrassi covered all backgrounds in my opinion.

Storywriter · 01-02-2006, 01:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kjsa

Are we even watching the same show??

Lucy - being the most popular character of all!!! was black
Bronco
Paul
Luke
Mr. Garcia
Taby
Suzie (Caitlyn's best friend)
Tim
the girl Wheel's spins around in the hallway once he finds out he graded, these were all black people, there were a lot more then just the 2 you mentioned.

Voula, Alexa and Diana were Greek, Maya I belive was jewish and they mentioned that in one episode.

Patrick was Irish

Also the show only revolved around so many characters, if you look in the background you will see plenty more examples of diverse backgrounds

Ms. Avery was clearly Native

Joey was Italian, Bully who hung out with Dwayne and Taby was Italian

There were many diverse backgrounds, you were just too blind to see them!

I could go on, but I am on lunch and that is all I can remember off the top of my head. Give me a day or two and I will come up with a lot more!!

What they said.Some of the characters backrounds weren't mentioned.Liz,Caitlin,The twins, spike and etcetra were white,Black,whatever but they could of been Irish,Italin,Swedish etcetra..

canuckkidd · 12-06-2006, 12:18 AM

I personally think the show did a job representing the cultural ethnic makeup of Toronto. Yes, there was not too many Asians and Blacks etc. compared to the White characters but at least many cultures were represented. At the time not too many shows were like this. Watching some of the episodes although many of the main characters were White, there were some Asian & Black extras throughout each episode.

BTW, The third wheel of Taby and Dwayne's clique was named Nick. Arthur was Polish.

danielle black · 03-15-2008, 05:33 AM

I don't feel the show lacked cultural diversity at all.

stella · 01-27-2009, 04:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danielle black

I don't feel the show lacked cultural diversity at all.

Many of you have disagreed with me. Okay, I agree with some of your points. But still, there is a huge exception in light of the Chinese New Year happening right now.

The city of Toronto has a very large Chinese-Canadian community. But there were no Chinese-Canadian regulars on the show at all. The closest to a Chinese character was Asian-Canadian Yick Yu, but he was Laotian and no Chinese.

Mikado · 01-27-2009, 05:26 AM

Perhaps it had something to do with the cultural diversity of the area of TO that Degrassi was set in. Different parts of TO have different densities "ethnically"* speaking. I thought the show did a great job of cultural diversion....compare it to any US show of the time and it was a least AS diverse, and likely more so.

* I hate to use words like ethnic and race, but, I couldnt think of another way to put it.

Mikado · 01-27-2009, 05:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stella

the Chinese New Year happening right now.
The city of Toronto has a very large Chinese-Canadian community. But there were no Chinese-Canadian regulars on the show at all. The closest to a Chinese character was Asian-Canadian Yick Yu, but he was Laotian and no Chinese.

Its a bit off topic but, I thought I'd mention that I just love going up to the big city of TO at this time of year, around the Spadina area, to see all the wonderful costumes , dragon dances and such that celebrate the Chinese New Year, whenever I can make it!

10-08-2005, 01:49 AM	#1
stella Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 24, 2003 Posts: 392	Lack of Cultural Diversity? My biggest criticism of the show was that the character population was not a true representation of the diverse, ethnic makeup of the city of Toronto and the rest of Canada for that matter. Toronto is a very multicultural and cosmopolitan city with many ethnic races. And yet, the vast majority of the characters were Caucasian. There was little representation from other cultural groups: 1. The best example is the lack of Asians. Aside from Yick Yu, no other character was Asian. 2. Aside from BLT and Scooter, no other character was Black. 3. I don't think there were any Hispanics or Native Aborgines either. 4. I don't think any characters were Jewish either.

12-16-2005, 12:17 PM	#2
kjsa Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Nov 18, 2005 Posts: 41	Are we even watching the same show?? Lucy - being the most popular character of all!!! was black Bronco Paul Luke Mr. Garcia Taby Suzie (Caitlyn's best friend) Tim the girl Wheel's spins around in the hallway once he finds out he graded, these were all black people, there were a lot more then just the 2 you mentioned. Voula, Alexa and Diana were Greek, Maya I belive was jewish and they mentioned that in one episode. Patrick was Irish Also the show only revolved around so many characters, if you look in the background you will see plenty more examples of diverse backgrounds Ms. Avery was clearly Native Joey was Italian, Bully who hung out with Dwayne and Taby was Italian There were many diverse backgrounds, you were just too blind to see them! I could go on, but I am on lunch and that is all I can remember off the top of my head. Give me a day or two and I will come up with a lot more!!
	Last edited by kjsa; 12-16-2005 at 02:08 PM.

12-20-2005, 01:11 PM	#3
The Chauffeur Good Evening... Senior Member Join Date: Jan 24, 2005 Location: Under the sun Posts: 2,866	Actually, my husband who is a Toronto native says that the show was more than reflective of the cultural diversities that was going on in that time.
	__________________ A.K.A...wynter72 "I got this whole thing worked out on a level that you wouldn't even BEGIN to understand baby. Ya see....This whole thing's a chess game, and this here Xerox machine's the POPE."

03-15-2008, 05:33 AM	#7
danielle black live. today. Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 20, 2002 Location: i'm right at home. Posts: 342	I don't feel the show lacked cultural diversity at all.
	__________________ la vita é bella, ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ danielleblack.com "love and then do what you will." -- st. augustine

12-21-2005, 12:32 PM	#4
kjsa Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Nov 18, 2005 Posts: 41	you got that right!!! At my highschool in the late 80's we had one black student and the rest were all white!!! We had a population of 600 - till this day the ratio is still about the same there . Degrassi covered all backgrounds in my opinion.

12-06-2006, 12:18 AM	#6
canuckkidd :) Senior Member Join Date: Oct 02, 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 1,065	I personally think the show did a job representing the cultural ethnic makeup of Toronto. Yes, there was not too many Asians and Blacks etc. compared to the White characters but at least many cultures were represented. At the time not too many shows were like this. Watching some of the episodes although many of the main characters were White, there were some Asian & Black extras throughout each episode. BTW, The third wheel of Taby and Dwayne's clique was named Nick. Arthur was Polish.

01-27-2009, 05:26 AM	#9
Mikado Main st bridge Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 06, 2005 Posts: 25,880	Perhaps it had something to do with the cultural diversity of the area of TO that Degrassi was set in. Different parts of TO have different densities "ethnically"* speaking. I thought the show did a great job of cultural diversion....compare it to any US show of the time and it was a least AS diverse, and likely more so. * I hate to use words like ethnic and race, but, I couldnt think of another way to put it.