Was everyone in the 70's racist?

[CF DolFan]

I grew up in the 70's. It's seems like an odd time to me looking back. It really seems to me that there was so much less hate in the country although I do realize it had it's places. I just have to wonder if political correctness has done more to separate us as a country than move us forward.

I grew up on Sanford and Son, All in the Family, The Jeffersons, Maude and Saturday Night Live. In the political correctness of today's society I don't think any of them could exist in the form they were in. For instance ... do you think this video clip of SNL is funny or racist? It killed in the day but I don't think most would laugh today.

http://www.hulu.com/watch/1477

[Pappy13]

I grew up on Sanford and Son, All in the Family, The Jeffersons, Maude and Saturday Night Live. In the political correctness of today's society I don't think any of them could exist in the form they were in. For instance ... do you think this video clip of SNL is funny or racist? It killed in the day but I don't think most would laugh today.

Quite the opposite. I think it's hilarious and actually it's probably a lot more acceptable today then it was then. Richard Pryor was especially well known for pushing the boundaries of what would be allowed on TV. In it's day this was probably cause for a LOT of discussion. A lot more discussion then it would cause today.

That's just my opinion, I could be wrong.

Showtime is currently running a documentary on Pryor called "Richard Pryor: Omit the logic". I recommend it.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

I grew up in the 70's. It's seems like an odd time to me looking back. It really seems to me that there was so much less hate in the country

If you ignore all the violence over integrating schools

[Spider-Dan]

I grew up in the '80s.  I remember a lot less political strife and world instability than today.

I imagine that's because I was a child.

[CF DolFan]

If you ignore all the violence over integrating schools

I don't remember any issues whatsoever here in Sanford and as I had mentioned several times, I grew up a block away from the projects. I had friends who lived there and spent the night with me. I went to their house but don't remember ever staying ... not that I couldn't of.  I really don't ever remember any racial issues and I had older brothers. I think here in Florida (at least in Sanford) we were ahead of the curve which is funny when I think about it. I was looking at a year book from my high school in the 70's and we had both black students and teachers who were fully integrated. This is what blew so many locals minds as to the Trayvon Martin case turning into a Selma incident. It's just not something that was on the local radar.

These are some pics from the 1971 Seminole High School yearbook. That's Sanford's High School.

http://www.seminolehs.scps.k12.fl.us/Yearbook/assets/1970-79/1971/1971_5.pdf
http://www.seminolehs.scps.k12.fl.us/Yearbook/assets/1970-79/1971/1971_4.pdf
http://www.seminolehs.scps.k12.fl.us/Yearbook/assets/1970-79/1971/1971_11.pdf
http://www.seminolehs.scps.k12.fl.us/Yearbook/assets/1970-79/1971/1971_12.pdf

Our airport in Sanford used to be a Navy base and there was actually a history between the young military men and the local kids. It was probably because of girls and such but either way as a kid I remember curfews that were in place because of it. They didn't enforce them but they were in the books.

[Phishfan]

I was sitting with friends watching some of the Dean Martin roasts the other evening and we were having a very similar discussion. There certainly was a lot less politcal correctness in terms of comedy back in the day. Some people today are too sensitive to recognize between satire and true racism.

[CF DolFan]

I was sitting with friends watching some of the Dean Martin roasts the other evening and we were having a very similar discussion. There certainly was a lot less politcal correctness in terms of comedy back in the day. Some people today are too sensitive to recognize between satire and true racism.

I guess that's the biggest question I have. Does being less politically correct mean racism? I mean we laughed at racism in the 70's where today people are attacked for noticing someone is a different race.

Kate Gossling was attacked for this photo. It's of her wearing a geisha-style headpiece that someone had sent her years ago.
She married an Asian and has 8 bi-racial kids but even if she hadn't ... I don't think it's racist to try and imitate a different race. I certainly don't think it would have been deemed racist in the 70's.

[Dave Gray]

There will always be people that over-react to things in both directions.  It's not being P.C.   It's being overly P.C.

My sister just adopted a Chinese baby and she's now just part of our family, like any other member.  That includes making jokes and stereotypes, because we joke with each other about everything.

Things were not better in regards to race in the 70s...your perception is just skewed, plus you're male and while (and older now).  Historically, you have it pretty easy, by comparison.

[Brian Fein]

Why is Kate Gossling still famous?

[bsfins]

I'm sorry CF, but I have a hard time trying to see your point....I've read this thread over,and over...I just keep thinking times change,get over it...Different time,different era,different standards of what is acceptable,and not...

In the 70's,how did you know if someone was offended by something? They called someone,or wrote a letter,that probably got handled by someone low level and that was the end of it...You're on the Internet today talking about this,talking to people all across america.(world actually).

My point is stories that were blurbs on the back page of a newspaper in your local town in the 1970's,because of the internet become world stories.

People that are offended by something today,even if it's just a few people,can make tons of noise about it.They can let you know they're offended by it...They can take to the internet,,Youtube,Twitter,facebook,tumbler...

[Brian Fein]

People are also more sensitive these days.  Everyone is looking for a reason to get offended.  Not to say that racism is OK - its not.  But racism comes with prejudice and intent, and there's a segment of the population who is always offended by something, regardless of the intent.

I just wonder if we, as a society, need thicker skin sometimes.

[bsfins]

^ I agree but I don't feel political correctness only involves race.... I think you can be too P.C. about most social behavior...not just race...

[Dave Gray]

People are also more sensitive these days.  Everyone is looking for a reason to get offended.

No they're not.  The vast majority (everyone on here and most everyone you know) isn't offended, but everyone now has a sounding board, a 24 hour news cycle and corporate sponsorships.

[CF DolFan]

^ I agree but I don't feel political correctness only involves race.... I think you can be too P.C. about most social behavior...not just race...

I don't disagree with that.

No they're not.  The vast majority (everyone on here and most everyone you know) isn't offended, but everyone now has a sounding board, a 24 hour news cycle and corporate sponsorships.

I do disagree with this to an extent. Even on here I feel like people go overboard about being offended.

I understand what you and B are saying but I do think, like Brian, that people are much quicker to point at something and say "that's offensive" than ever before. I pointed to the racism part because I had seen that video on CNN last night and remembered when I first saw it that I hadn't thought twice about it. Now the first thing I think when I see it is "wow .... I'm betting someone is offended about this!" I don't think I'm more aware of what is offensive and what isn't but I am more sensitive to people overreacting than ever before.

In this day and age a movie like the Jerk or tv shows like I had previously mentioned would go over like a lead balloon. Not because they aren't funny but because the politically correct crowd would sound off.

[Sunstroke]

^^^ People are much quicker to point at something and say "that's offensive" for the exact reason that Dave pointed out...easy access to multiple sounding boards, a 24 hour news cycle and corporate sponsorships.