Why Did George Jefferson Make Racial Remarks About Tom?

[JamesG]

Why did George make racial remarks about Tom Willis calling him honk*y and yankee-boy; but he did not make them about the other white characters? He never made a racial remark about Mr. Bentley or the white door-man.

My understanding is that it was because Mrs. Willis (a black woman) married Tom and George didn't like it; especially when their mixed-race daughter was dating his son Lionel. Was that the reason?

[MikeLutton]

proably i know tom never took him seriousley he laugh it off n continue talking they became friends later on which is good

later on mr sherman hemesly got tired of callng him honkey and raciel names and he had it taken off the show but fat jokes remained it was part of his charry n the show

[GARFIELDKOOL]

George at first didn't like whites, he just put up with them. He saw Tom as a pushover and wouldn't fire back.

[MickeyMac]

The first few seasons of the show, George racially insulted anybody who was white. Later he calmed down.

[Dr. Thong]

Originally Posted by MikeL

proably i know tom never took him seriousley he laugh it off n continue talking they became friends later on which is good

later on mr sherman hemesly got tired of callng him honkey and raciel names and he had it taken off the show but fat jokes remained it was part of his charry n the show

Right. I did read the interview where Sherman Hemsley said he felt uncomfortable with Jefferson hurling the racial epithets at Willis because it was obvious that the two were friends.

[TVFactFan]

Because Tom was married to a black woman

[ThomasE]

I didn't like it and sometimes it was hard for me to sit through the first six seasons of the show. I like the later ones better.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by ThomasE

I didn't like it and sometimes it was hard for me to sit through the first six seasons of the show. I like the later ones better.

I did laugh today when George was talking about a drink called a "white Mule" and Tom asked George what it was and he said

"A HONKEY DONKEY"


LOL-LMAO-LOL

[ThomasE]

I saw that. There are times in which I wanted Tom to knock George somewhere. He looked like he could too.

[GARFIELDKOOL]

Originally Posted by ThomasE

I saw that. There are times in which I wanted Tom to knock George somewhere. He looked like he could too.

There was one episode where George called Tom a honkey, and Tom said, "Don't call me honkey! How would you like it if I called you n*igger!" Everybody including the audience was stunned. I think that's the only time when Tom almost stood up to George.

[ThomasE]

Originally Posted by GARFIELDKOOL

There was one episode where George called Tom a honkey, and Tom said, "Don't call me honkey! How would you like it if I called you n*igger!" Everybody including the audience was stunned. I think that's the only time when Tom almost stood up to George.

There are other times where Tom stoop to George like the time Tom told George that the only things that George's legs should be good for would be in a bucket at Colnel Sanders.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by ThomasE

There are other times where Tom stoop to George like the time Tom told George that the only things that George's legs should be good for would be in a bucket at Colnel Sanders.

Yeah that didn't start until the 80's