from "Crash" to Jack Benny in one week

[The Wolf]

On Sunday the 4th the Academy Awards gave Crash the best picture award. It is a great drama showing different levels and types of prejudice. Then one week later I was listening to the Sunday, March 12, 1939 episode of "Jack Benny". In the episode Jack says that Rochester has some family over. Mary asks "What are going to do: start a minstrel show?". Jack's reply is that he will plant cotton in the back to keep them busy.:eusa_doh:

It reminded of times that the golden age makes me squirm. We've talked about these instances before but here was a new example. I love the "Jack Benny Show" but, man, that's a tough pill to swallow.

Sincerely,
The Wolf

 

[20thCenturyTim]

What we must remember in the 21st century...

I have not seen "Crash" yet, but I know what you mean. Like hearing "Amos and Andy." It is very easy to romanticize the past as, "the Good Old Days." The way things are today, I am beginning to think of the 1980's as the "Good Old Days!"

In any case, was Jack Benny a racist? Did he know what he was doing? I do not know. Did the period from 1900 to say the 1950's have a lot to emulate? In style? Oh yes. We would not be at the FL without thinking that way. In how people behaved? More manners, politeness, common decency towards others etc.? Well, on the whole yes. That is what lies under the outside accouterments of the times we like to stylize here. That is true for me anyway.

You just have to remember that no time in history is perfect. It would be easy to condemn Jack Benny as a racist. Hard to do, when you know he was Jewish. I think it is better to learn from that type of stereotyping found in popular culture like that. We know that with today's sensibilities, it was ugly, and it was wrong. And we should not let that sort of thing happen today. We should learn from that and certainly not hide it and pretend that it did not exist. African-Americans lived a largely separate and un-equal life. And we still have a ways to go in creating a more just society for all.

We must always remember what we are doing in the present. How will history judge the America of the early 21st century? If I can take the best from the values of first half of the 20th century, which I learned from my parents and grandparents and act upon them in the present day, I can only hope that the future will be a better place.

 

[The Wolf]

Well said.
However, it seems like you said that Jack Benny couldn't be racist because he was Jewish. I've found any group can be prejudiced of another.
I don't think Jack was necessarily racist but went with the jokes that worked then. It is easy to say "Of course I don't feel that way, I'm just joking" or "You know I'm only kidding".
I still enjoy Benny's program and consider that a part of the times.

You are right we need to endeaver to be better, not just than our parents but our earlier selves.

Best to all,
The Wolf