Amanda-Leigh Shares the Stage with Optimism

Former television Father star, Conrad Bain, passed away yesterday in his hometown in California. My husband and I watched the NBC Nightly News last night only to see if Brian Williams would highlight Bain’s passing. The report over Bain’s death was very brief and to the point. At least Bain’s passing was reported on the network that aired Diff’rent Strokes for six seasons.

This report was nothing like the uncomfortable setting of Good Morning America when an female African American news anchor tried to express the impact Sherman Hemsley had on African American viewers. The two other male anchors were white. The scene was uncomfortable as much as it was embarrassing. The two male anchors did not fully understand the contribution Sherman Hemsley gave our country. My heart broke for the female news anchor.

I am a white woman living with a physical disability and I appreciate the contributions Conrad Bain and Sherman Hemsley gave American audiences for years. In fact, modern American television can never hold a candle to sitcoms produced prior to the 1990s. I have seen recent commercials aired on NBC that encourage sex, Betty White was featured in a clip with a naked man, and fitness trainers scream at their teams on The Biggest Loser. I must confess that I have never watched any of the new shows featured in commercials. My husband and I did watch one episode of the show featuring Anthony Anderson and Tempest Bledsoe. Again, no show today holds a candle to the shows of yesterday.

For Conrad Bain’s generation, a white man choosing to adopt two small African American boys was unheard of. Diff’rent Strokes was created after child star Gary Coleman played George Jefferson’s (Sherman Hemsley) little nephew who turned out to be one big nightmare. Bain’s role, Mr. Drummond, became successful in the area of construction, and Hemsley’s role, George Jefferson, became an independent dry cleaner owner who proudly owned several stores in the area. Both men were similar. Mr. Drummond was a widow raising a biological daughter named Kimberly (Dana Plato). Jefferson was a married man whose grown son, Lionel (Mike Evans, the first actor, and Damon Evans), married a woman named Jenny and produced a daughter named Jessica.

For once in American history, Sherman Hemsley’s main character was not featured in a degrading role as the leading male character. Reflecting on Good Times, James Evans (John Amos) role as a husband and father gave audiences a negative image of the African American man in society. James always seemed to be angry over something. He came home from work in bad moods and treated his family with hostility. The actor John Amos eventually left the show because of this stereotype. The show’s creator, Norman Lear, was a white man who created several shows portraying African American actors and actresses in this light.

If I could turn back time, I would place myself as an anchor on Good Morning America right beside the female discussing Sherman Hemsley’s passing. There would be no feeling of awkwardness, embarrassment, or even tension. I would want to know how this actor’s role changed this news anchor’s life. Did Hemsley’s strong independent character motivate this news anchor? If not Hemsley, then did Isabella Sanford who played Louise Jefferson or Zara Curry, better known as Mother Jefferson? How did The Jeffersons, What’s Happening! and Good Times change society for African American adults and youth during this time and after?

The Jeffersons and Good Times are mentioned in Toni Morrison’s A Slow Walk of Trees. Morrison does not mention The Cosby Show and Diff’rent Strokes. I am able to understand exactly why Morrison believes Good Times does not promote progression. The character J.J. (played by Jimmie Walker) becomes involved with drugs after James Evans death. Florida (played by Esther Rolle) remarries right after her husband’s death and abandons her children. The show went downhill after Norman Lear decided to write a script on the death of James Evans. The cast was given the script and had to deal with the death on the scene.

The Cosby Show really does not provide an image of realism in the African American family. Not every child is going to want to attend prestigious college the parents attended. Not every child is going to want to play the perfect child role and not misbehave at times. The Huxtable children had to live up to a particular standard in the household and society. When a mother is a prominent lawyer and a father is a doctor, there is no room for rebellion or self-expression. A child’s identity  is what the parents wanted to begin with.

Diff’rent Strokes featured a middle age white man (played by Conrad Bain) who African American maid passed away and willed her two small children to her employer to raise. The transition was not easy at first. Willis Jackson (played by Todd Bridges) at first does not believe Mr. Drummond can handle raising two African American boys. What did Mr. Drummond know about the African American race anyway? He was a white prominent businessman and the mother had provided services in his home. As an adoptive Father, Mr. Drummond continued to let Willis and Arnold (played by Gary Coleman) attend activities in their hometown of Harlem. Mr. Drummond understood the social setting of Harlem was extremely important in their lives and culture. In the Drummond pent house, there was no African American Father for Arnold and Willis to be provided guidance and direction. This was beyond nature’s control. Mr. Drummond did the best he could to love his two adoptive sons.

Ralph the Doorman (played by Ned Wertimer), from The Jeffersons passed away on January second of this year. When I watch The Jeffersons and see Ralph do everything in his power to get a tip, I am laughing. This is the best con man of the ages! Anything – almost – Ralph would do for a tip. As the episodes pass, the guest stars become integrated in the show as regulars. The same is true for Ralph. We learn that Ralph is a single white man surviving as a slave to the building’s corporate owner. This can be said to be a powerful role played by a white actor during the show’s time period. This is why I find Ralph’s role on The Jefferson to be significant.

In the beginning of The Jeffersons, Louise plays the role of a maid for a wealthy white woman. in the end, Louise becomes a wealthy African American woman who has a maid named Florence (played by Marla Gibbs). This was also an important part of television history. As I watch Louise boss Florence around, I am not comfortable with the role. I am not comfortable with anybody being superior to anybody else. I remember how hard Louise worked as a maid. She came home tired and George Jefferson believed in himself enough to change things so his wife would never have to work another day in her life. And, in later episodes, Florence does not have anybody to rescue her from this role. Florence never becomes independent of oppression the way Louise does. This is a little disturbing to me.

Only Todd Bridges is the surviving son from Diff’rent Strokes and Damon Evans, Marla Gibbs, and Berlinda Tolbert (Jenny Willis Jefferson) are the remaining cast members from The Jeffersons. Watching Diff’rent Strokes last night was not easy. Neither is reading graphic scenes from literature involving death. I wanted to curl up under the safety of my blankets and not watch. If I did not watch, I would not have been able to watch a great show that still provides me with optimism that our world will change. Unlike Toni Morrison, I believe this change begins with every person, not only our youth. In order for a change to happen, our thinking must grow as well as our insight. Our hearts must change.

In loving Memory of the Casts of Diff'rent Strokes and The Jeffersons, and Esther Rolle: 

Conrad Bain is best known for his roles in Maude and Diff'rent Strokes. Bain is survived by his identical twin brother, Bonar Bain.

Diff'rent Strokes

Todd Bridges played Willis Jackson. He is the only surviving cast member. Mr. Drmmond: Conrad Bain (February 4, 1923 – January 14, 2013),

Kimberly Drummond: Dana Plato (November 7, 1964 - May 8, 1999)
Arnold Jackson: Gary Coleman (February 8, 1968 – May 28, 2010)

The Jeffersons

 

 Marla Gibbs: Florence Johnston the maid; Tom Willis: Franklin Cover (November 20, 1928 – February 5, 2006),   Helen Willis: Roxie Roker (August 28, 1929 – December 2, 1995)

George Jefferson: Sherman Hemsley (February 1, 1938 – July 24, 2012)
Louise Jefferson: Isabella Sanford (August 29, 1917 – July 9, 2004) Ralph Hart: Ned Wertimer: passed away on January 2, 2012
 Mr. Harry Bentley: Paul Benedict (September 17, 1938 – December 1, 2008); and the one and only Mother Jefferson: Zara Cully (January 26, 1892 – February 28, 1978)

The first Lionel Jefferson: Mike Evans (November 3, 1949 – December 14, 2006)

Good Times

Florida Evans: Eather Rolle (November 8, 1920 – November 17, 1998) with James Evans: John Amos

I thank each of you for changing our world through your devotion to the field of acting. May each of you rest in that big mansion in the sky knowing you made a difference in our history. I close with prayers for the family members of our beloved cast members. These cast member's family members gave encouragement and support to the dedicated men and women who acted on our television screens.

Amanda-Leigh's YoutubeVideo for This Morning:

The Jefferson's Original Theme Song:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYcqToQzzGY

A Segment of the Death of Sherman Hemsley from The View

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ep4arW7Ka8Y

Amanda-Leigh's Favorite Quote for This Morning:
"Whatcha talking about, Willis?" - Arnold, played by Gary Coleman