Was Sanford & Son degrading to blacks this way?

[GARFIELDKOOL]

When Swanny and Hoppy tried to explain something that happened around the Sanfords in a technical way, Fred, Lamont, and any other blacks that were present couldn't understand the terminology. but the token black cop that was around, Smitty or Jonesy had to translate it in street talk so they could understand it. I liked this interaction , but when I think of it, it made it seem like blacks couldn't comprehend the police lingo and were too slow to understand.

[julian bozo]

I personally don't think so. Keep in mind Fred was alot older than them. He
probably didn't understand all the new terms. Hey I'm 26 and I still don't know all these terms my 5 and 8 year old nephews come up with.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by GARFIELDKOOL

When Swanny and Hoppy tried to explain something that happened around the Sanfords in a technical way, Fred, Lamont, and any other blacks that were present couldn't understand the terminology. but the token black cop that was around, Smitty or Jonesy had to translate it in street talk so they could understand it. I liked this interaction , but when I think of it, it made it seem like blacks couldn't comprehend the police lingo and were too slow to understand.

I think the episode I watched last night could have been offensive to blacks when Fred wanted a White Dentist instead of a Black Dentist and said that a Black Guy is ok for a drinking buddy but for his tooth he wants a White Dentist. He assumed that the Black Guy went to a small school to learn how to be a Dentist and that just because the other guy was White he went to Harvard.

[moeee]

Originally Posted by GARFIELDKOOL

When Swanny and Hoppy tried to explain something that happened around the Sanfords in a technical way, Fred, Lamont, and any other blacks that were present couldn't understand the terminology. but the token black cop that was around, Smitty or Jonesy had to translate it in street talk so they could understand it. I liked this interaction , but when I think of it, it made it seem like blacks couldn't comprehend the police lingo and were too slow to understand.

Swanny and Hoppy were talking in police language that only other policeman could understand.

I didnt even understand what Swanny and Hoppy were saying.

So i dont think it was degrading to blacks.

[casualts@cox.net]

It seemed more degrading to whites than blacks at times...(Hoppy)"You know that soul food smells like hammer hocks and black eyed rice"(Smitty)"Thats ham hocks and black eyed peeeeeas!" (Hoppy) "So short" (Smitty) "Thats so loooong!" Cmon now.... they were saying "so long" in Leave it to Beaver! And who doesnt know what ham, or black eyed peas are? If you think about it, just about every white character on the show was made to look stupid, niave, uptight, dishonest, silly, or gay...IMO

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by casualts@cox.net

It seemed more degrading to whites than blacks at times...(Hoppy)"You know that soul food smells like hammer hocks and black eyed rice"(Smitty)"Thats ham hocks and black eyed peeeeeas!" (Hoppy) "So short" (Smitty) "Thats so loooong!" Cmon now.... they were saying "so long" in Leave it to Beaver! And who doesnt know what ham, or black eyed peas are? If you think about it, just about every white character on the show was made to look stupid, niave, uptight, dishonest, silly, or gay...IMO

The only White guy who didn't look stupid that comes to mind was the Older White Guy in the episode about the Mayor Committe

[Janice]

I watched an episode last night with the cops, and the white cop was made out to be a total buffoon. Definitely degrading to whites.

[GARFIELDKOOL]

Originally Posted by Janice

I watched an episode last night with the cops, and the white cop was made out to be a total buffoon. Definitely degrading to whites.

True, but I took it as blacks in the not knowing the definition of technical words.

[casualts@cox.net]

Part of the comedy was Freds prejudice...lets not forget that the show aired in the 70s, and while we all know better now...back then it was funny to run down, and insult people occording to stereotypes(Archie Bunker for example)..we all still laugh now because of that...

[CWDogg]

I thought they were making fun of the police since it takes the police forever to explain a situation when they could just say simple like " We caught the man that robbed five houses last month"

[Ireneparalegal]

Originally Posted by Janice

I watched an episode last night with the cops, and the white cop was made out to be a total buffoon. Definitely degrading to whites.

Just like on Good Times. Man, I haven't seen the word BUFFOON referenced as much as I have seen it used here on SO. But you are so right Janice. Brian Damage has pointed this out as well on Good Times. The whites were portrayed to be BUFFOONS, STUPID, NOT ALL THERE, etc. I can easily say it's simply "whitey's turn" to feel what the minority has been getting all these years in television/early radio. Doesn't make it right though.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

Just like on Good Times. Man, I haven't seen the word BUFFOON referenced as much as I have seen it used here on SO. But you are so right Janice. Brian Damage has pointed this out as well on Good Times. The whites were portrayed to be BUFFOONS, STUPID, NOT ALL THERE, etc. I can easily say it's simply "whitey's turn" to feel what the minority has been getting all these years in television/early radio. Doesn't make it right though.

But their were Black Bufoons Too on Good Times and Sanford and Son. J.J was a Bufoon on Good Times and Grady was a Bufoon on Sanford and Son

[Ireneparalegal]

Originally Posted by TVResearcher

But their were Black Bufoons Too on Good Times and Sanford and Son. J.J was a Bufoon on Good Times and Grady was a Bufoon on Sanford and Son

I know that. But I am not talking abt that. The way that the whites were portrayed were pretty obvious they were made to be totally stupid just for laughs. At least J.J. and Grady had more to offer. I mean, they were on the show continuously. Those white characters were only on the shows once!

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

I know that. But I am not talking abt that. The way that the whites were portrayed were pretty obvious they were made to be totally stupid just for laughs. At least J.J. and Grady had more to offer. I mean, they were on the show continuously. Those white characters were only on the shows once!

Again there were Black guest stars who were buffoons too on both shows. On good times,, that Black guy who was brought back to the APT as a J.J look a like and on S&S that Tall Goofy Boxer who keep bumping into things and appeared to be slow-lol

[Ireneparalegal]

Originally Posted by TVResearcher

Again there were Black guest stars who were buffoons too on both shows. On good times,, that Black guy who was brought back to the APT as a J.J look a like and on S&S that Tall Goofy Boxer who keep bumping into things and appeared to be slow-lol

I remember that. But Janice is referencing something she saw on S&S and so with that post, I responded with the white buffoons that ALSO appeared on GT. Just letting her know how it seemed to be a thing with black shows doing to the white folks what the white folks had been doing to the minorities for years.