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Listen to this clip of the Amos and Andy Show (from 1950s) and then answer the following: How did the radio show portray African Americans? Can you understand why Blacks were upset or does the charge of racism seem blown out of proportion? How is this show relevant today?The radio show portrays African Americans as illiterate, uneducated, and not proficient in English. Clearly, the narrator is insulting at the logic of the African American individual. In this particular show, this particular individual has a huge southern accent as he says “RE—PUB-LI-CAAN.
” Without a doubt, he fails to understand that Republicans are more conservative whereas the Democrats continue to push for reform. Moreover, the narrator insults the whole essence that African Americans are lethargic and incapable of work. The prejudice and racism that oozes out of this clip is the clear depiction of the same stereotypes that exist today.The Blacks were clearly upset because the whole show depicts that the fact that African Americans are completely illiterate. Amos N Andy the TV series was clearly based on the radio series in which the characters were Whites imitating stereotypical Southern and urban Blacks.
The whole show depicts that Amos is stupid because he never attended school and is a labor worker. In addition, no one would be able to understand the complicated system of democracy that is embedded in America’s society. Clearly, these stereotypes will continue to plague American society unless the younger generation acknowledges the problem and takes the proper solutions to address this issue.This show is relevant todays because stereotypes are still prevalent up to this day. For example, The Cosby’s portray the more elite class of African Americans in the modern century.
However, this show is relevant because it illustrates that the biases and stereotypes continue to be present in modern society. The accent that Amos possessed is a clear indication of how the mass populous views the African American race.
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