Diff Corrupt Strokes Analysis
Diff’rent Strokes is a television show that previewed in 1978. It was an instant hit when little orphan Arnold said, “Whatchu talkin’ bout Willis?” Mr. Drummond, a widowed millionaire that lives in Manhattan, has adopted two orphan black children. These two children were the kids of his once housekeeper, that has just passed away. Mr. Drummond promised to her that he would take care of the children as she passed away. Mr. Drummond and the two boys, Arnold and Willis, have some growing pains learning about each other, but they have some fun as well. Diff’rent Strokes, in its first season, is a show about normal family issues, and racial acceptance. Arnold and Willis Jackson had been raised by their mother, who was a maid for Mr. Drummond. She
was ill and asked Mr. Drummond to take care of her children when she died. He agreed and the show is about their struggles as family. Arnold and his brother Willis are the stars in this show. Arnold is a mischievous eight year old boy who loves to make people happy and have fun. His brother Willis, at twelve, was the older brother and he was slightly more defiant than his younger brother. Mr. Drummond is the primary money maker of the family. He is the owner of a well known company called Trans-Allied, Inc. He is also white and a widower. He is the primary breadwinner in the family. Mr. Drummond also had a daughter. Her name is Kimberly her mother was Mr. Drummond’s wife. The family also has a maid. Mrs. Garnett was the maid in the first season of the show. She was only the first maid of three during the many years the show ran. The family structure of the show is a single parent structure. There was a father, Mr. Drummond, and three children. Although there was only one parent, the maid was always an authority figure. She represented the mother figure throughout the show. A big theme in the first season of the show was the two boys being accepted in the primarily white society. Two of the three main characters in the show are African American. This did not happen often in the 1970’s. There were not any major societal problems besides the acceptance of African Americans. They make jokes about the racial stereotypes of the time. Included in those stereotypes is the stereotype of a rich white male adopting two black children from Harlem. Another stereotype is Mr. Drummond’s maid black at one point. Diff’rent Strokes was a show that displayed no matter what your skin color, you are important. It displayed how family is important no matter who it is. It also displayed the racial problems of the time. Family struggles and the cultural issues with African Americans at the time was apparent through the television show called Diff’rent Strokes.
was ill and asked Mr. Drummond to take care of her children when she died. He agreed and the show is about their struggles as family. Arnold and his brother Willis are the stars in this show. Arnold is a mischievous eight year old boy who loves to make people happy and have fun. His brother Willis, at twelve, was the older brother and he was slightly more defiant than his younger brother. Mr. Drummond is the primary money maker of the family. He is the owner of a well known company called Trans-Allied, Inc. He is also white and a widower. He is the primary breadwinner in the family. Mr. Drummond also had a daughter. Her name is Kimberly her mother was Mr. Drummond’s wife. The family also has a maid. Mrs. Garnett was the maid in the first season of the show. She was only the first maid of three during the many years the show ran. The family structure of the show is a single parent structure. There was a father, Mr. Drummond, and three children. Although there was only one parent, the maid was always an authority figure. She represented the mother figure throughout the show. A big theme in the first season of the show was the two boys being accepted in the primarily white society. Two of the three main characters in the show are African American. This did not happen often in the 1970’s. There were not any major societal problems besides the acceptance of African Americans. They make jokes about the racial stereotypes of the time. Included in those stereotypes is the stereotype of a rich white male adopting two black children from Harlem. Another stereotype is Mr. Drummond’s maid black at one point. Diff’rent Strokes was a show that displayed no matter what your skin color, you are important. It displayed how family is important no matter who it is. It also displayed the racial problems of the time. Family struggles and the cultural issues with African Americans at the time was apparent through the television show called Diff’rent Strokes.