Amos and Andy:Anatomy of a Controversy

History of the Amos & Andy characters from radio to controversial all black tv cast show cancelled in 1953.

Category:

• Documentary

Starring:

• Jesse Jackson
• Redd Foxx
• Marla Gibbs
• George Kirby

[therealjoebloggs]

@TroyOi I grew up in NYC in the early 1960s and I remember A&A being on in reruns early in the morning. It was off the air by about 1963, contemporaneously with what was going on in the civil-rights movement, mostly because it was felt the show contributed to the belief that blacks (called "Negroes" then) were laughable and couldn't be taken seriously.  Somehow news footage of billy club beatings and fire hosings seemed to trump the fact that A&A were funny in the same way Fred Sanford was.

[TroyOi]

I'm curious as to whether anyone remembers seeing the reruns of this show in the 60's? Did they air during the day or evenings? I grew up in New York in the 60's and never caught a single episode of Amos 'n Andy until YouTube came along. Perhaps they weren't shown in the NY market, I don't know. But one thing's for certain: If I'd seen A&A back then, I'd have remembered. The show truly stood out as great television.

[TroyOi]

@mokadada77 You say it opened doors for African Americans but I question that. What African American shows followed A&A? Frankly, I think there was a long drought of maybe a decade and a half. And I suspect it was because, after receiving (undeserved) criticism for A&A, CBS & the other networks just shied away from doing other black-oriented shows. (And when they finally dared to bring something back - the sitcom "Julia" - it was about as bland and timid as you could get.)

[mokadada77]

This documentary is still relevant today as it was in the late 70s. The television version of Amos and Andy did open doors for African Americans. Childress and the other actors and actresses did a remarkable jobs. If anything, I think the stuff they have on tv in 2011 is the equivalent of minstrel shows. There is so much blatant stereotyping and misogyny in Hollywood. That's why I don't own a television. It's just clutter for the mind.

[doctornoooo]

someone here posted but would this have been so hilarious had the characters been white. Sorry try to come up with a series like that. It plays off Harlem, and ethnic humor which is no more racist than Fiddler on the Roof. Try doing that in the U.S on the farm say. They are funny precisely because they ARE black, and use black dialect which AINt the same thing as racist.

[doctornoooo]

wow, jeepers, these comments are all so right on the peg, varied as they are. Together they ensemble exactly what this show was: the greatest comedy ever on TV period, in black and white and all black about black and white. All that's missing is their doing a show about Kingfish bilking Chief Yellow Wolf , c Chinese masquerading as a lost leader of the Alconquin tribe.strangely in it is mirrored how far we have NOT come in race relations, how stupidly, utterly moronic half of America is yet.

[Mysterwright]

@Mysterwright In essence, oh sure you can go to college. Provided you think our way. Do what we do. How we do it. Be our image of what you should be. The christian thing to do would be as Miss Marla did on here give them the benefit of the doubt what they meant to say. Comedy is Jewish though.

[Mysterwright]

@mistyholiday1987 Blame Bush's family. His Grandfather Prescott Bush was an early supporter of the United Negro College Fund, serving as chairman of the Connecticut branch in 1951.

[Mysterwright]

The stars of Amos and Andy never saw this show as threatening. I've seen a video hosted by one of the stars about the show and apparently it gave people a sense of pride being represented at all in an era when that was essentially unheard of. Its only the children of that, the sellouts from the sixties and all whom became successful and financially comfortable, whom forgot where they come from. They're the black Citizen Kane. Not everyone is ashamed of where they come from. It gives character.

[dalexb98]

Cheech and Chong are funny. Does that mean ALL hispanics are like drug addicts???? No.

Amos and Andy was more funny situations not just that ALL blacks are goofs. Why cant people just laugh.