This kid HATED white people Didn't want to go to their schools, take their IQ tests, wanted to worship a black Jesus...and the family respected this and thought it was funny? Archie Bunker,who everyone refers to as the worst bigot,had nothing on this kid. Everyone around Archie hates the way he thinks, but the Evans family encourages Michael's bigotry. Not very funny. "Clean towels? For a WHITE WOMAN?"
shareOk. Taking into account that post was possible trolling, I'll bite anyway...
Michael Evans' "Malcolm X-style" anger represented a *reaction* to oppression. Years of it. Not simply pure, blind hatred of whites.
When white racists (& Archie) unleash their hatred/ bigotry towards blacks, where does *that* come from?
Is *any* of it good? No.
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It's not trolling. I saw an episode yesterday where he was introduced to Thelma's fiance and the first thing he said was, "Why aren't there any black coaches in football?", and naturally the audience laughed and I thought, what a little ahole. Get off the soapbox and STFU already.
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Dont forget, THAT was a BIG cuestión in the USA. There were NO head football coaches and few assistants. Not until Art Shell in the late 80s. Plenty of players, though. 1st baseball manager- Frank Robinson in 75. Basketball- player/coach Bill Russell in the late 60s. Football lagged tremendously and after awhile they were taken to task
shareIt's still a big question today.
I don't hate you.....hate your parents for having you.
I ask questions like that. now when needed. So I agree with you.
I really understood his "militant" stance and thought it made sense for the show for the times. Just my opinion.
@Jackgriffin
Seriously, you have to look at the times this show was made in. The '70's was the first decade in movies and TV where black people were finally able to have shows about them and THEIR issues on TV for a change---that including speaking the truth about racism and how it affected their lives. And,no there were hardly any black coaches in football, let alone some of the other sports back then, so it was a legit question to ask. Remember,this show was made barely a decade after the civil rights movement started. What's racist is that barely a couple of years before this show was made, TV shows about black people were virtually nonexistent on TV because of white folks dominating the business, but in the 70's,they became the norm and black folks could finally talk about the reality of their lives on movies and TV without having to play it down or seem less threatening to white people, and not give a damn what they thought for once.
I grew up watching this show,and I could relate to it a little bit. So get off your soapbox and try to understand where that character was coming from, as opposed to whining about it.
Oh please, this was the 70's and TV went in hard like that. It just wasn't on Good Times either. Political correctness be damnned. At least they calmed him down in later years and I believe he even had a white roommate (something the old Michael would NEVER do)?
Too young to know better, too old to refuse...
My reply - how should I know?
sharei really dont think Archie was a racist per se. I think he just didnt know better ..
share"When white racists (& Archie) unleash their hatred/ bigotry towards blacks, where does *that* come from?"
It's a rational reaction to the never-ending crime, blight, single motherhood, rejection of education, irresponsibility, violence, ignorance, gangsta-worshiping, drug-dealing, rioting, looting, and general stupidity of black ghetto culture.
Was Michael's hated of whites any worse the Archie Bunker's bigotry?
shareI don't think Archie "hated" blacks, as a later episode with him and the Meathead stuck in a basement explained, Archie basically says that's how his dad raised him, and how can a man who worked all his life and put food on the table be wrong? I think Archie was more ignorant than a racist.
shareI always shared your point of view about Archie
shareJack, the problem is you're young and lack historical information.
Black militancy was popular during the the late 60s and early 70s in the African-American community, the Michael character was just a parody of this. Militancy was just as the other poster said, an angry Malcolm-x styled reaction to the oppression that blacks in America had endured up to that time. Given all the racial injustices that white society had afflicted upon blacks in this country, militancy was just an outspoken reaction this oppression.
To compare Michael to Archie Bunker isn't appropriate because there isn't really any such thing as black bigotry. Blacks may had resented whites at that time, but they did so in reaction to the deeds that whites perpetrated.
However, by the end of the 70s militant attitudes among blacks began to wane off as race relations in America improved significantly, and this was manifested in the Michael character on GT.
During the latter years of the series, I recall an episode where J.J. asked Michael if there was a black guy and a white guy on a boat, and he had just one life preserver, who would he give it to: the black guy or white guy? Michael's reply: "Well, J.J., it would depend on whether the black guy is Idi Amin or MLK or whether the white guy is Lester Maddox or Dr Sulk." Michael point of course was that it isn't about skin color. It's about content of character.
Jackgriffin,you can't compare the two because one was a white grown man while the other was a young black child. Blacks have seen oppression through out the years,so at least one can comprehend where Michael was coming from. From my understanding Archie Bunkers racism stemmed from ignorance.. watch Roots and see if you feel the same way.
You better preach!! LOL.....I love it! Keep it coming when needed!
Take a bow! Peace
Season3, Ep.15. Michael Evans - "I cannot get down if my ice cream ain't brown". Audience laughs hysterically. I hate this little racist A##hole.
I don't hate him. But, I find some of his racist remarks off putting. White people were always the bad guys or dumb people in these African American shows as well. That annoyed me.
RIP Ultimate Warrior. You will be missed.
"White people were always the bad guys or dumb people in these African American shows as well. That annoyed me.'
Given that these shows aired during the early 70s, and considering the history of racial injustice blacks in this country has endured up to that time, portraying white as the "bad guys" was understandable. Moreover, imagine how "annoyed" we blacks were by the degrading and racist images that Hollywood had portrayed of black people for so long on the screen.
They could've used black bad guys. It seems everytime something bad happened it was a white guy doing it. On Sanford, the white cop always getting the black slang wrong like an idiot. No need for that.
RIP Ultimate Warrior. You will be missed.
Just like Norman Lear having George Jeffersons on "The Jeffersons" always come off as ignorant, and there was no need for that.
I find it truly amusing how white folks like you complain about about being "victims of discrimination," as if you and your people had to endure a history of racial injustice in America. Totally ludicrous.
Griffin : Get off the soapbox and STFU already.
So what you're really saying, is that black people (regardless of age or how long these social p[roblems have existd) shouldn't speak their minds when it comes to the obvious ways they were kept out of higher levels of various organizations, by the rich and/or powerful (and racist/prejudiced)caucasions ,who 'did' hold control over these very things for decades or even hundredds of years?
Why don't you get off your dirt-mound and stop pitching
up a load of trouble and controversy that doesn't need to be there?
What you;'ve essentially said with that
statement is "Balck people shut up and keep quiet." Shame on you.
I'm not African-America but I honestly beleive they had then (and in many ways) still do now) have a right to speak out about these things.....
and to still do so when someone ANYONE , treats them (and people of
other cultures,sexes and prefrences) with racism, prejudice and total inhumanity & ignorance.
Speaking of ignorance Griffin ...you seem to forget that America was founded as a new country for , ANYONE who wants to speak their mind feely and that includes in vocal or written Protest.
You also seem to completly ignor the fact ,that this TV show was created by a black man Mike Evans who had played Likoenl Jefferson on All In The Family & The Jeffersons.
** Good Times IMDb front page credits > Writers:
Norman Lear (developed by)
Mike Evans (created by) <-------- **
Gee ,a young 11 to 17 year old African American male actor ,speaking about black issues on a show created & produced by an adult African-American actor....go figure!
===========================================================
If anyone here is the racist or prjudiced one it's YOU.
Otherwise ,why would Michael's statements bother you so much? ..and for that matter , ALL of the characters stated many things about what blacks were going through ,so why single out only Michael/Ralph Carter?
Your complaint speaks volumes about your (possible) prejudicees and
discomfort with the issues presented ont the show. So ,in that respect...
why are you watching it?
I'll tell you why. So you can come up on here and run your mouth in print because you (possibly) have nothing better to do in your sad little existence.
Get off the PC ,turn off your TV and
go out yor front door and please...do get a life.
Go for it or just be a gopher!
(MR.) happipuppi13 🐕 *arf,man!*
Well said "Happi."
It's d--heads like this Griffin who probably say that the black guy in South Carolina who was shot in the back eight times by that policeman brought his death on his self.
I guess a lot of you have forgotten Michael was the same guy who was about to move in with a white girl, and who called Florida out about possibly being racist when she objected to the idea.
shareBut, Lionel and Weezy were not ignorant. George didn't like whitey. Lol. He objected to Lionel being with that mixed girl. He didn't went them i the apartment. He wad ignorant.
RIP Ultimate Warrior. You will be missed.
I guess a lot of you have forgotten Michael was the same guy who was about to move in with a white girl, and who called Florida out about possibly being racist when she objected to the idea.
By this time, the late 70s, black militancy had become passe so the "Militant Midget" had out grown black nationalism, like much of black America.
True. Good point.
shareit's hard not to think that way when all your father does is yell about the white man who took his job because he was better qualified, had a high education, had more experience, had a good temperament, listens well to directions and asks questions when confused.
all james did was bitch and moan about how little or badly his family had it.
and he blamed it on the white man.
but meanwhile, I don't hold him responsible, either. why did they not have at least one white person on the show in some sort of locality? why did EVERYONE have to be black?? why not have a white young man live where willona lived and take it from there? maybe every once in a while have james come in and have him rant about not getting a job about because of the white man, and then have their white neighbor [who james loves dearly and doesn't even see as being white] say, 'hey, so ALL WHITE MEN take jobs away from all black men??' make james realize that many times it is not the color of their skin that make white men get the jobs, it is other factors.
and the fact that he blows his top every 9 seconds is a factor as to why james does NOT get the job.
OH THANK YOU GOD! THANK YOU SO BLOODY MUCH!!! Basil Fawlty
What show are you watching? I never heard James complain about not getting a job because of whitey. Just because he doesn't have the proper education, or is over qualified or under qualified, or w/e. Michael was always talking about not wanting to ride the school bus with the white kids, or the Lord should be black, and "boy" anytime someone said it is a "white racist term." James called him "the militant midget."
Robin Williams RIP. Most recent movies seen: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 8/10 stars. Expendables 3
This kid HATED white people Didn't want to go to their schools, take their IQ tests, wanted to worship a black Jesus...
That wasn't us, though.
Robin Williams RIP. Most recent movies seen: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 8/10 stars. Expendables 3
Keep in mind he was a little kid and the way he reacted to things can be contributed to just being immature. As he got older, he realized he could help black people better by learning to work with the system and get along with "whitey".
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1667199406
I didn't think Michael was a racist, just a "militant midget".
shareMichael Evans was supposed to be focused on and they called him the militant midget because Ralph Carter was the cute kid and could get away with what he says. After JJ became the breakout character and Michael got older they made him into a singer.
shareI saw an album a few months back with Carter's "Young And In Love" on it
...the seller wanted waaaaaay too much $$ for it! $100! Yeah ...ain't happening.
Anyway, thanks for backing me up some of you. i was worried some would bash me.
I only want to say that even if James did B. & moan ,he'd
be in league with millions of other balck men and women back then.
Also, it's easy to say that "it's not us" (today) who are
belittling or causing verbal or emotional harm to African Americans.
...but inlight of that "frat chant video" incident ,it;s clear that there are (eiother) still parents who teach their kids that caucasions are the superiors to other cultures 7 backgrounds
or, those boys haven;t been taught ONE thing about brotherhood, humanity or equality.
It really sucks to say that racism, sexism and other types of prejudices still exist. Not only just over 35 years afte rtheend of Good Times but also that it exists in the 21st Century at all.
Seems like ,even with a black President ,we (as a country) have learned very little.
Go for it or just be a gopher!
(MR.) happipuppi13 🐕 *arf,man!*
Shows like Good Times and All in the Family can't be made today because of the political correctness of today.
share