MovieChat Forums > Boy Meets World (1993) Discussion > BMW and Racism.

BMW and Racism.

posted 9 years ago by CranberryNoVodka
16 replies | jump to latest

Did this show ever tackle racism? I remember it briefly tackling anti-Semitism in Teacher's Bet, which was excellent.Whenever I watch reruns, I'm always impressed by the wide range of topics the show covers, like drinking, sex, sexism, rumors, popularity, and so much more. It's such a well-rounded show, and it always disappoints me when I try to watch Girl Meets World and recognize the large gap between the two. Maybe racism was a bit too touchy for a sitcom like this one. Just curious.

A bit of the old ultraviolence...

[–] tyshimah3 9 years ago

Not that I remember. Just in that episode.
That is my one gripe with BMW that it didn't address racism as they got older, especially when Angela became a part of the group. BUT! I can appreciate that if the writers didn't feel well-versed on the subject, that they left it alone. Although that's why people do research and such.

"Do you even remember what you came here to find?"

[–] SexyDirtyTalk 9 years ago

"I can appreciate that if the writers didn't feel well-versed on the subject, that they left it alone. Although that's why people do research and such. "

Racism affects everyone, racism isn't some foreign concept; racism is so ingrained in our culture. I'm actually watching the episode the OP referenced right now and Eric's date/girlfriend is called an anti-Asian slur.

To answer the OP, one it's a Disney show and they probably didn't want to go there but Angela would comment about being surrounded by all white people. I think a lot of TV shows ignore racism or simplify racism (the writers are usually white). Unfortunately the media also encourages racism and racist attitudes.

[–] CranberryNoVodka 9 years ago

Oh really? Interesting. I'll have to find the episode. That's a shame. I know Boy Meets World was an ABC show, so that's why I'm a tiny bit surprised that they only touched on anti-Semitism. As for Girl Meets World, the show is very light so I get it; like you said, it's a Disney show.
I remember when Angela jokingly said that she needed more black friends when they were playing a game where you create a soap opera name using part of your address and middle name I think.
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[–] tyshimah3 8 years ago

I totally agree. They should have dug a little deeper. As a Black (child/teen), now woman watching the show. It's still really, really good, but it could have been great touching on a subject like race.

"Do you even remember what you came here to find?"

[–] deem_bastille 9 years ago

They dabbled... an earlier season episode Eric is dating this really cute Asian American girl and the girl had hit it off with little Morgan. when they came back from the mall and the girl was upset morgan was wondering why and Amy said that someone at the mall was saying not-so-nice things to her.

[shi7. the cute Asian girl was LINDSAY PRICE aka: The Dragon from Beverly hills 90210. shi7shi7doubleshi7]

any racism I saw was lightly done by -- [yeah I am gonna say it] -- Angela. she said quite a few racial things, either poking fun of someone else's 'lack of color' or her own. and then saying: damn, I gotta get some black friends. why does a black person have to live on martin luther king boulevard? only blacks can live there?

and why does racism have to pop up everywhere? why can't a place - [gasp!] accept someone else?

Oh God. Fortune vomits on my eiderdown once more.

[–] CranberryNoVodka 9 years ago

The MLK Boulevard thing is somewhat real. I've seen it in lots of stand-up routines, The Boondocks (satirical but valid), movies, and even in real life. Places that have MLK Boulevard are known for being dangerous. I forget who said it, but someone once said that if you see MLK Boulevard then you know you're in the hood or you better be careful.
I don't live in the hood, but there's one that is about 15-20 minutes away from me (Camden, NJ) that has an MLK Boulevard. It's not someplace that most people want to be.

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[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

The whole MLK in black/ghetto areas of a town makes sense. The reality is people that care about who MLK was are not going to be white or hispanic they are going to be blacks. So what sense would it make to rename the street MLK Avenue if it was in Chinatown or run through the posh white part of town - it wouldn't. So MLK being used in the black part of town makes sense.

[–] pypsqweek 8 years ago

Racism is written because it exists. To choose not to discuss on a public forum and to kids would mean that it be living in denial. Besides BMW did discuss racism as well as other social issues. Racism is a social issue. At times so is being the only black or minority in a group or even one of the few black or minority kid within a neighborhood or school. Sometimes you feel l I'll ke the odd one out. Thats true to all racez or genders.

[–] maddieivy91 8 years ago

Disney did tackle racism in That's So Raven. BMW will always stand out to me because they chose to tackle imperfect family issues. These days, Disney only portrays the ideal perfect families. BMW showed real issues of families having their differences and poor relationships. Maybe they didn't tackle every social issue but they still covered the meaty stuff that most everyone has to deal with.

[–] CranberryNoVodka 8 years ago

I know Disney did it multiple times in their early shows and some of the movies, but BMW wasn't a Disney show...

A bit of the old ultraviolence...

[–] SexyDirtyTalk 8 years ago

When I wrote BMW is a Disney show, I meant it's because Disney owns ABC. That's why reruns appeared on Disney Channel and people think BMW is apart of Disney.

[–] 8 years ago

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[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

Problem with that theory is that Disney didn't purchase ABC until sometime in 1996... BMW started in 1993... so it was already established and the writings was estaablished before Disney would have had any influence. And even though Disney bought ABC in 1996 it would be several years before they would start putting their stamp on it. Any major network will have lots of long term contracts that are already in place when someone buys them and those contracts aren't going to get cancelled or changed because of new owners they will just let them play out.

[–] TMC-4 (20181) 5 years ago

Boy Meets World was none the less, produced by Touchstone Television, which is now ABC Studios. So it has always been a Disney show regardless of when Disney themselves started owning ABC.

[–] redban (6318) 5 years ago

Outside of the episode in season one where Eric’s girl cried over a racial slur, Boy Meets World didn’t tackle racism.

They had a good opportunity to tackle racism with Shawn and Angela’s interracial relationship. But they never went there deeply. They treated Shawn’s dating Angela the way they’d treat Shawn’s dating any Caucasian girl.

[–] PaladinNJ (21528) 5 years ago

maybe what they were trying to say is that's how the relationship should be treated. No big deal because it should be considered perfectly normal.