Griffin Speaks

THE AMOS ‘N’ ANDY SHOW

In 1978, I was living with an Italian family in Pistoia, Italy. I was sitting in the family room with the Italian family members when the Amos ‘N’ Andy Show came on the television station that we were watching. I couldn’t understand a word the actors were saying since the show was dubbed in Italian. The Italian family was falling on the floor laughing. My Italian father looked over at me and said, “Its not like that now, is it?” I said, “no.” Even though I didn’t understand the dialog I knew that they were acting like complete fools. I was embarrassed beyond belief!

The Amos ‘n’ Andy Show was a descendant of the radio show that originated on WMAQ in Chicago on March 19, 1928. It would become the longest-running radio program in broadcast history. The show was the creation of Freeman Gosden and Charles Correll. They were white actors who originally portrayed Amos Jones and Andy Brown.

First broadcast on CBS television in June 1951, the show lasted two years before being cancelled because of protest by the black community in 1953. It was syndicated and ran in the 60’s for many years. This was the first television show that had an all-black cast. It was the only all black show to appear on prime time, network television.

On August 15, 1951 the NAACP had the following objections to the show:

1.) IT TENDS TO STRENGTHEN THE CONCLUSION AMONG UNINFORMED AND PREJUDICED PEOPLE THAT NEGROES ARE INFERIOR, LAZY, DUMB AND DISHONEST.

2.) EVERY CHARACTER IN THIS ONE AND ONLY TV SHOW WITH AN ALL NEGRO CAST IS EITHER A CLOWN OR A CROOK.

3.) NEGRO DOCTORS ARE SHOWN AS QUACKS AND THIEVES.

4.) NEGRO LAWYERS ARE SHOWN AS SLIPPERY COWARDS, IGNORANT OF THEIR PROFESSION AND WITHOUT ETHICS.

5.) NEGRO WOMEN ARE SHOWN AS CACKLING, SCREAMING SHREWS, IN BIG MOUTHED CLOSE-UPS, USING STREET SLANG, and JUST SHORT OF VULGARITY.

6.) ALL NEGROES ARE SHOWN AS DODGING WORK OF ANY KIND.

7.) MILLIONS OF WHITE AMERICANS SEE THIS AMOS ‘N’ ANDY PICTURE OF NEGROES AND THINK THE ENTIRE RACE IS THE SAME.

I agree with the NAACP objections. The show should have been cancelled for the reasons that were stated.

The writing was excellent and the cast was very talented. The show was excellent comedy. Unfortunately, because of the lack of portrayal of blacks in other television shows depicting us in a more positive light the shows were too stereotypical.

I loved the Beverly Hillbillies. It was very derogatory of whites; however, no one would think that all whites were like Granny, Jed, Jethro or Ellie Mae. Perhaps with more shows today depicting us in a more positive light we are ready for a return of the Amos ‘n’ Andy show. That is still very debatable.

I sort of miss the antics of Amos Jones, an Uncle Tom, conservative; Andy Brown, his crazy business associate; Kingfish Stevens, a smooth schemer; Lawyer Calhoun, a crook that no one trusted; Lightnin,’ a slow moving janitor; Sapphire Stevens, a loud-mouth, nosey wife from hell; Mama, a domineering mother-in-law, and the unbelievable Madame Queen.

The show is currently on video and widely available. The show is an insult to any intelligent black person, but I must admit it was very funny!

The Grapevine has heard that some white and black community leaders may support a black candidate for mayor in the next mayoral election. The name most mentioned is John Knight. Representative Knight seems to be happy in the legislature and probably won’t accept the invitation; however, he may not be able to turn the offer down if the right folk draft him. The grapevine has also heard that Mayor Bright will probably be impossible to beat, because he is a consummate politician. The black community loves him; however, they love John too!

Greg Griffin is a freelance writer. You can read his previous articles by logging on to his web page at www.greggriffin.com