MovieChat Forums > All in the Family (1971) Discussion > Mike calling the black repairman's assis...

Mike calling the black repairman's assistant an Uncle Tom

posted 4 years ago by Mister Babadook (2622)
14 replies | jump to latest

Ok Mike came off extremely racist in the episode where they was each telling their own version of the repairmen coming to fix the refrigerator. So apparently in Mike's mind the black repairman's helper was some goofy Uncle Tom behaving like some over the top stereotype. But in realty he was just a normal dude that didn't act like some whipped Uncle Tom.

We expect the racism from Archie but in this episode Mike making the black guy out to be so goofy and calling him an Uncle Tom after we saw the black guy was actually a pretty normal dude that didn't let anyone run over him, it just made Mike look like a liar and a racist.

[–] Keelai (31802) 4 years ago

From Mike's liberal viewpoint, the repairman was submissive and victimized by a hostile and aggressive Archie. Uncle Tom just means a very subservient black man. I didn't think it was racist at all. It just showed how Archie and Mike's different viewpoints gave them different memories of the same event. Archie saw the same repairman as being overly aggressive because that's his image of blacks whereas Mike sees them more as victims of white racism.

[–] Mister Babadook (2622) 4 years ago

The repairman was not an Uncle Tom though, we saw the true events from Edith's story and the black guy was not even close to what someone would call an Uncle Tom, soon as Archie called him a boy he got real mad and stood up for himself. I just don't see how Mike twisted him around and seen him as a subservient goofy stereotype. I get Archie twisting the story and making everything up but its surprising to see that from Mike.

[–] PaladinNJ (20308) 4 years ago

Mike's memory interpreted the events to reflect his point of view in order to win the argument with Archie.
And as Gloria pointed out, that made Mike just as bad as Archie.

[–] Keelai (31802) 4 years ago

That's the point. Neither were able to see the reality because they are blinded by their own perspective.

That's normal human behavior. Our perception is influenced by who we are (race, gender, age, culture class, region, religion, etc.) and our life's experiences, desires, goals and more.

Something similar happened on my job. A coworker thought security should've been called because a man (black) became upset and was crying. Another coworker and myself didn't see him as a threat, just overwhelmed and frustrated.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

Whew, simple stuff just goes over your head

[–] kwestmo (4114) 4 years ago

Mike wasn't a racist. He was a hypocrite, which he was consistently thru the show's run.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

Just like Rob Reiner in real life.

[–] strntz (10790) 4 years ago

I am forced to wonder how much of the bullshit these Hollywood leftists actually believe, or if they're just trying to keep a career alive lest it be blackballed into mothballs.

[–] marktayloruk (2375) 9 months ago

They've got to say these things to save their careers.

[–] raymondoz2007 (2037) a year ago

Reiner should be in jail.

[–] kwestmo (4114) 4 years ago

[deleted]

[–] kenburke (2279) 4 years ago

Mike had his flaws. He labeled the assistant as a sell out because the assistant didn't come across as a militant, Mike also felt Gloria was too feminist because she didn't look upon him as her "boss".

[–] liscarkat (16483) 4 years ago

The Meathead was typical of self-righteous white leftists who think they know what is best for POC and impose their activist outrage in situations where it's not needed or wanted. In the early '70s it was still a joke; today we're being overrun by these idiots.

[–] marktayloruk (2375) 2 years ago

There is nothing more intolerant than a liberal who knows he's right. Their party line is to be pro-black and progressive so what do they do when they meet a black.who isn't?