http://TwoChairsNoWaiting.com/
Two Chairs No Waiting 119: African-Americans in Mayberry
In this episode we’ll be talking about African-Americans living in
Mayberry. This is a topic that comes up from time to time in The Andy
Griffith Show fan community and since this episode is being recorded on
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the topic came to my mind.
The only primary African-American character to appear on The Andy
Griffith Show was in the 7th season episode “Opie’s Piano Lesson.”
Volunteer football coach Flip Conroy, played by Rockne Tarkington, has
to show Andy that Opie can do two things and do them both well. To
illustrate his point, Conroy, an ex-New York Giant, sits down and plays
a classical work on the piano.
We’ll talk about “extras” walking around Mayberry and the fact that
there are African-Americans in Mayberry. Of course this isn’t the same
as having primary characters but we need to remember that this was a
television show done to entertain, to escape to a better place for 30
minutes. Mayberry wasn’t the “real world” but I believe it did, and
does, represent a world many would like to live in. A world where
everyone, black, white, gypsies….whomever would be treated fairly and
with respect.
I believe that we saw enough of Andy Taylor’s character to know that
whomever was around him would be shown caring respect. Let’s all try and
show each other that same caring and pretend that we do live in
Mayberry. If we do, I think this world would be a better place for us all.
_______________________________________________
WBMUTBB mailing list
[email protected]
http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
