How Sitcoms Discuss Racism

Love your videos man. Always a good watch 🙂

The best scene in All in the Family is when Archie is talking about "the gays" and how much he disapproves and God is judging them and Edith says to him, " but Archie, he's God, you ain't."

I'm sorry, I just found your channel a few days ago.

I love sitcoms too because of the escapism and just enjoying comedy. One thing I like about 70s comedy is a lot of them tried to tackle issues of racism head-on. One show I'd suggest, if you haven't seen it, is Que Pasa USA. It's about a Cuban family that is living in miami and it tackles a lot of topics such as homosexuality, racism and colorism within the Latin community, and more. If you don't speak spanish you will need someone that does because they switch a lot and there are no subtitles but I think the show was as good as Good Times. I'm glad my friend put me on to it in the 90s.

bummed that this video didnt include gina linetti's racism song

It’s so funny how many people don’t know All in the Family is a remake of Till Death do us Part

Cool

How convenient that you avoided addressing the shows Sanford and Son and The Jefferson’s especially The Jefferson’s which was a spin-off of AB. Both showed how that some blacks are also racist and bigoted.
Until both whites and blacks both decide to call it out no matter who it is instead of pushing their own agenda it will be very difficult to win support from the other.
This video was another example of someone turning a blind eye to black racism and prejudice.
Together we’re better but you just drew another line to separate

i HATE big bang theory mainly for the misogyny. i can't bare to watch the race episode or yet another episode of that god awful sitcom.

This was refreshing for me, an old white lady, thank you.

I remember watching All in the Family as a kid, and even then always feeling like Archie was wrong but also kind of couldn't help it. Like, he didn't have the capacity to confront his own issues, and took it out on those around him.

I dunno though, I was a smart kid. Wish that translated into being a smart adult.

See captain planet villains

I'd love to hear what you think about The Office! From what I remember they seemed to display that Michael, Todd, and others' racist comments were socially unacceptable and attempted a few times to challenge their prejudices, but it was often for nothing but a laugh. They made Michael three dimensional, and his racism was unintentional, but I don't think they ever tackled racism or implicit bias that isn't generally obvious or from someone who isn't unmistakably ignorant

All of your videos are really consistent in quality, with great music and editing, plus you have a calming voice. Instant subscriber time! (You're now one of my go to Tubers for social commentary.)

Have a good day if you happen to read this, and have a good day if you don't.

I think you'd like the youTuber Pop Culture Detective, check him out!

3:40 I hadn't seen the episode, but the scene shows a men trying to get inside a place? Or at least he seems angry? Is the problem that she didn't let him in or other issue, because I would not let some men that I don't personally know get inside in the dark evening/night regardless of what colour their skin is. Maybe they should had show him behaving in other way? Or coming when is still daylight?

One can't forget S12 E1 of It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia. Very introspective to the lower-class white culture, and how it conflicts with lower-class black culture. Uplifting, while ultimately realistic, it's undoubtedly the best episode of the season.

SOUTH PARK was supposed to have killed off "this-couldn't-be-made-today"-ism back in 1997. Time Magazine even did a cover story about the show being an antidote to political correctness.

Married with Children actually can’t even be made today. Acceptable jokes change over time, unfortunately. (Not that I believe jokes should be plain cruel, tho I think that’s Family Guy more so than Fawlty Towers and other 80s sitcoms). All in the Family and Jefferson’s remake bleeped out N word so obv can’t be made today

Archie was created to mock the 70s “alt right”. Norman Lear’s intent was absolutely golden. It wasn’t just racial either, it tackled things like multigenerational households, swinging, black people who sell their own people out, even Edith almost getting raped.

The actor who played Archie Bunker (Carroll O'Connor) was a liberal.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fuQBptAnoY

I know this is late, but I would love your take on Blazing Saddles. It got some backlash at the time, but seems to be coming under fire again by the media. I find this hilarious as a white person from the South for two reasons. First, I looked up reviews specifically from the black community and couldn't find anything worse than a meh rating. Second, the film is designed to make fun of unapologetic white racists and well-meaning white people with subconscious bias. The non-white characters and the sheriff's friend are generally portrayed as good and intelligent people. I think white people are offended because it makes THEM uncomfortable. I consider it a masterpiece of social satire and a more nuanced take on racial issues than most of what gets made today. I think the expression it couldn't be made today is usually a good thing (ex. we don't excuse racist/sexist/homophobic/xenophobic/etc. material). However, sometimes I think it is a sad truth that our increasingly woke culture limits what we can discuss in a meaningful way because it prefers to make-surface level judgements over thoughtful analysis. If you look at Blazing Saddles like that you might say it should be banned for using racial slurs, stereotypes, and not following PC guidelines in general. If you take the time to watch it, not be offended for other people, and ask why you are uncomfortable you might conclude that it questions the validity of racist ideology by subverting stereotypes and addressing still relevant issues on a more nuanced level. It was also meant to satirize the white-washing and glamorization of the old West in 40s-60s Western TV shows. They tended to entirely ignore racism or have that rare goshdarn evil racist antagonist who faces justice by the end of the episode/series. It's a bit interesting considering the West was so diverse in terms of race, ethnicity, country of origin, etc. while unfortunately having culturally ingrained racism. There are so many interesting, but honest, stories yet to be told about that part of history. I also think it couldn't be made today becomes harmful when talking about historical works like Gone With the Wind. It has a lot of issues. Nobody should be able to copy it today without criticism. However, these are windows into our past that can help us answer questions about why white nationalism and enduring racism exists in our society so many decades later. Don't cancel it because it doesn't fit our 2020 cultural values or vision of wokeness. Be honest about the flaws, but talk about why they are flaws. Also, talk about what ideas and topics it covers well and what we can learn from it. I think the greatest part of the book is its first person perspective of being on the losing side of a war. We see our characters struggle to survive war, poverty, loss, and uncertainty. It makes history less black and white, good versus evil. It becomes more human.

i havent started the video yet, but i hope this includes new girl and the episode where winston pranks schmidt into going to get crack by exploiting schmidts racist ideas of black people. i always found the way that show handles race to be interesting, bc it toes the line between not mentioning race at all and making an afterschool special

Loved Archie Bunker and the 70's in general! Didn't have to be all politically correct and watch every damn think you said. Alot of it was just simple entertainment with no particular agenda but to laugh and be entertained.