All in the Family: TV's Role in Confronting Prejudice

Introduction: Television Before All in the Family

Prior to the introduction of the television show All in the Family in 1971, television was primarily just another form of entertainment that shied away from the real-world issues that might possibly offend viewers. All in the Family radically transformed the role of television into a form of social study, examining society's views on race, ethnicity, gender, and social class, as well as a host of other previously taboo political issues such as gun control, homosexuality, and rape. Even so, some debate whether the show truly fostered a more positive view of diversity and multiculturalism. While some believe that comedy was not an appropriate means for addressing serious issues such as prejudice, All in the Family at least brought these issues into the open for the very first time and paved the way for the future use of television to deal with the harsh realities confronting society.

Archie Bunker: A Portrait of Prejudice

All in the Family's lead character was Archie Bunker, an uneducated blue-collar dock worker and an open racist who disliked virtually every minority group imaginable. He left practically no negative stereotype unturned, referring to Black people with a range of slurs, Puerto Ricans as "spics," Chinese as "chinks," Jews as "hebes," Polish people as "polacks," and homosexuals as "fags." To Archie, people who defended these minorities — such as his daughter Gloria and his liberal son-in-law Michael — were outright "pinkos," a derogatory term for Communist sympathizers.

In Archie's world, women were to be seen, not heard. As a response to his wife's opinions, Archie would frequently say, "Stifle yourself, you dingbat!" (cited in St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture on All in the Family). Archie was not one to abandon conservative social traditions. He frequently derided his daughter for marrying a "polack" and for supporting her unemployed husband while he attended school.

The Jeffersons and Generational Conflict

The Bunkers' neighbors were George and Louise Jefferson and their son Lionel. George was just as much a racist and a bigot as Archie, illustrating that these characteristics are not confined to the white community alone. George popularized the disparaging term "honky" for a white person. The son Lionel, along with Gloria and Michael, frequently railed against social injustice to the dismay and contempt of their fathers.

Most of the show centered on arguments between the younger members and Archie. These generational differences in opinion showed how the passage of time was beginning to transform society, with younger people becoming more accepting of minority groups and developing different ideals for social roles. Older Americans, however, were having a difficult time adapting to these new realities.

Archie's Fear of Social Change

This very transformation was what motivated Archie to cling to the stereotypes he believed defined certain social groups. Archie simply could not hide from the transformation of society that he feared and detested, and he longed for a time gone by — a sentiment exemplified by the show's theme song, "Those Were the Days." For example, Archie could not prevent his Black neighbors from moving in next door, nor could he stop his daughter's marriage to a liberal Polish man.

Archie's ire stemmed from his belief that gains by minorities were coming at the expense of hard-working, lower-middle-class white Americans like himself. His nostalgia and anxiety reflected a broader white working-class unease with rapid social change that was widespread in early 1970s America.

Conclusion: A Landmark in Television History

Despite differing points of view about the social merits of the show, practically everyone can agree that All in the Family was the first television program to openly deal with prejudice and that it opened the door for future shows to address real-world social concerns. For this reason alone, All in the Family should be viewed as one of the greatest innovations in television history for advancing diversity and multiculturalism. To this day, it is still considered one of the best television shows of all time.

Bibliography

Firetto, C. and Gaffney, K. (2006, May 15). Race in American literature and popular culture. Raritan Valley Community College, Department of English.

St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture: All in the Family.