Never any people of race on LITB?

[sami dg]

Someone was asking me about this a while back. He said that there were never any black people or any other ethnic groups in Mayfield. I can only recall one episode of LITB that had a black woman on it. It was the episode where Wally and Eddie park cars at the party. There was a black lady in the kitchen, I believe she was a maid. She didnt have but one speaking line. I guess it just goes to show how far we have came in this country in the matter of about 50 years.

[Parisite]

I believe that is the only Beaver episode with a black person in the cast. Of course, she was a domestic.

[HaskellGirl]

"People of race" Caucasian's aren't a race???? Sorry, that just sounded funny to me.

I did notice in one episode that the Cleavers had a cookie jar that was in shape of a African-American housekeeper or slave. I thought that was odd. But apparently the creators of Leave it to Beaver used to write "black-face" comedy or something.

[LeaveItToBeaverFan]

Originally posted by sami dg
I guess it just goes to show how far we have came in this country in the matter of about 50 years.

We also had an episode where Beaver's friend chewy (not sure of the spelling) comes over to visit. He only speaks Spanish and Eddie Haskell has plays a trick on him by teaching Beaver to tell him he has a face like a pig in Spanish without the Beave's knowledge.

As to how far we've come in this country. Yes of course, just look at how well mannered the young people in our schools are now! The language spoken in the corridors of our schools now would make any of the Beave's teachers cringe in fear. Ah yes, all of the positive influences on our youngsters with no one home to teach them................

[sami dg]

my comment of how far we have come in this country was meant as the advances of people of color have made. Fifty years ago the only roles available for black people were mainly that of domestics, in that regards yes, sir we have come a long way. As far as my quote of people of race, I meant people of color, meaning people other than that of caucasian, no need to read to much into it.

[HaskellGirl]

It still sounded funny.:lol:

[sami dg]

whatever.:confused:

[HaskellGirl]

It just sounds funny to me because ALL people have a race. I know you meant people other than caucasions, but just the phrase "people of race" sounds funny to me. That's all. Its like if someone talked about people on LITB speaking languages. They might mean OTHER languages, but if its not specified, it would be funny because of course they speak English on the show, which is a language. I guess I have a strange, litteral sense of humor.:D

[UncleBilly]

Concerning the cookie jar that was seen in the Cleavers kitchen. I never saw that myself but it wouldnt surprise me at all from that time period. In the 50's a very popular lawn ornament was a statue of a black boy holding a lantern. To look at stuff like that in today's standards it is demeaning ( as well it should be) but 50 years ago was a whole other world when it came to race relations. We have come along way in matters like that. I only wish we hadnt gone so far in other ways like the comment about how the kids act today. And the fact that mothers cant always stay home with the kids because of financial reasons.The world would be a whole lot better if families could be families again like they were in LITB's time.

[BrandonS]

Yes, that's one of the main attractions of LITB - that it takes place in an ideal world, where almost all families are nuclear families, a simple, old fashioned morality is firmly in control, and children are raised to have clear moral standards.

[frani]

This lack of blacks and hispanics, etc. is very, very true of the 50's and 60's. White people generally did not socialize with blacks or hispanics. I remember being told I could not be friends with the Puerto Rican girl who had moved in next door.

This is why shows like Julia with Dianne Carroll was so groundbreaking. Also, Sidney Poitier movies are all about the inequality that Blacks received.

You really have to realize that the 50's and 60's were a different time. Things we take for granted were just not true then. June was actually the norm. A woman who stayed at home and lived to just raise her family was what most women did, or else they were teachers, nurses or secretaries. Actually, Mrs. Rayburn is a very progressive character - a womanin charge of a school. She is a stern, older woman, but not without a soft side.

All this to just explain why it wasn't so much a consideration to not use black actors, but it just would never have been a consideration in the first place.