Revolution Televised.pdf

Respect Yourself! 119
Corey (Marc Copage). The show denied that racism was a serious
problem in American society; it worked to undermine the contemporary
political and social realities of African American existence.
Julia was a safe black person whom America could embrace. Unlike
Carroll, Julia did not acknowledge, espouse, or approve of Black
Nationalism, so evident in contemporary late-’60s U.S. society.
In the pilot, “Mama’s Man” (March 29, 1968), Julia copes with
moving into a new apartment and looking for a job. Knowing no
one in her neighborhood and being a single mother, Julia must leave
her seven-year-old son, Corey, at home to go on an initial interview.
It is strongly insinuated that the interviewer, Mr. Colton, will not
pass her résumé on to Dr. Chegley (Lloyd Nolan), the head physician,
because she is black.
When she returns home, she finds Corey at a neighbor’s apartment.
Earl J. Waggedorn (Michael Link), a neighbor whom Corey
invited in to play, has accidentally cut himself with a knife. Marie
(Betty Beaird), Earl’s mother, who is initially angry, forgives Julia
almost instantaneously, offering to baby-sit whenever Julia needs
her to. Julia is accepted into the white neighborhood, although she
is a single black mother who has apparently jeopardized the safety
of the children. The boys’ conversation summarizes the atmosphere
of the situation.
earl: That’s your mother? (Corey nods.) You know what?
corey: What?
earl: Your mother’s colored.
corey: Of course—I’m colored too.
earl: You are?
corey: Yeah. (Laughter between the boys)
earl: Oh boy!
Thus, Julia makes an unproblematic transition into the integrated
world. While the show opens with the issue of racist hiring practices,
the gravity of the situation is undermined by Julia’s acceptance into
the neighborhood. The aforementioned scene places the question
of race into the conversation of the children, while the issue is
of no concern to the adult Marie, who embodies the attitudes of
white America as accepting of integration. Considering that as late
as 1974 there were riots as a result of bussing black students into