He had a little blind girl write to him that she was worried cuz she heard he got a fish but she didn't know if it was being fed, so he starting narrating the act of feeding the fish every day so that one blind child would be happy and know the fish was ok.. that's the kind of man he was
Some notes about how significant this was. 1. Those "uhh, cleaning chemicals" mentioned in the News Cast weren't Windex or Pinesol, it was concentrated bleach. Probably about 2 weeks worth of chlorine for a pool that size. It wasn't an effort to get them to leave, it was a chemical attack. 2. Mr. Rodgers wasn't just sharing a pool to help Officer Clemmons cool off, he was WASHING his feet, an act of great hospitality found several times in the Bible. This was a White Christian Man serving a Black Man with no compensation on a public access children's TV show in the 60's. I can't imagine the amount of hate mail and threats the show received after airing this episode.
After September, 11th, Mr. Rogers came out of retirement to talk about the tragic events that happened in order to calm us down. We Americans needed that because Mr. Rogers can make sense in a senseless world.
And then we attacked the wrong country. Most of the hijackers were from Saudi Arabia, the others were from Egypt, Lebanon and United Arab Emirates. Not a single one was from Iraq or Iran. And we invaded Iraq for a second time under false claims.
An African-American Police Officer played by a gay man in 1969. Mister Rogers was ahead of his time. He was the nicest man to live in the past 2000 years. No question. I might have only seen his show on reruns and only a few episodes at that. But they still leave an impact on you.
Learning the context as an adult this makes me cry. We have come so far but we have so much farther to go. There is an obviously black barber shop close to my house. I'm scared to go there for two reasons. I don't want to be seen as a threat and I've seen the script flipped myself a lot living in Alaska all the racism turns people the other way a lot sadly 😔. being asked what are you doing here whitty and being chased has happened several times just walking down the street. F*ck discrimination in all it's forms. All those racists that came before me ruining my chance to get a haircut.
Mr. Rogers did encourage Clemmens to stay in the closet, but I'm not sure if he really cared one way or the other about that. I think he did realize that the public would not accept an African American who was also gay.
@@andu1854 It was a great disappointment that she never made it to 100. The year leading up to it I remember telling someone that she really deserves that honor.
Mrs Roger's his wife once said in an interview that as an imperfect human, as we all are, Mr. Rogers had to work to be kind. Kindness is not an inherent human quality, not even for Mr. Rogers. I think that is the most significant lesson we adults can learn from him. You must choose kindness and then have the self-discipline to practice kindness. Sounds so simple, but so hard to do in this world that celebrates impatience and snark.
You must be a Christian believing we come from the womb sinful. Unaware Eve came from Adam his daughter, as life comes from us our children. Blaming our Mama's for Adams sin against his own daughter.
Makes total sense. Every day we wake up with that choice, to be kind or to be cruel. We may not have a whole lot, if any control, over vast amounts of our life, but this one we do. It doesn't make it easy and it's not always 100% but every moment we get, do we choose kindness or do we choose cruelty.
That was off the cuff,no script…Mr.Roger’s was incredible,one time his car was stolen from in front of the studio where they filmed,the evening news ran a story on it…the next morning the car was returned with a note saying they didn’t know who’s car it was and that they were very sorry for stealing it.
I grew up in the feral generation. Latch key kids. I watched Mr. Rogers before my parents came home from work. He WAS our parent because he gave us the values many of us have today. Everyone is equal. Everyone is valuable. When things are scary and tough, look for the helpers.... He was the helper. His lessons every day, taught generations of kids how to be better humans.
So you also learned to cook on the stovetop by climbing on the counter so you could reach (even though mom definitely said the stove was off limits)? For those wondering why a 6 year old would try/want to use the stove... we didn't have microwaves. If we wanted our Chef Boy Ardee heated up, the stove was how.
One thing I think gets overlooked when people talk about this scene, is that not only were they sharing the pool, but Mr. Rogers immediately offers to share the towel with him too. There’s something about that, at least to me, is even more of a statement. Mr. Rogers was just such a very special human being and the World was, and still is, better for him.
@ same lol unless its an emergency i guess. I don’t want those dead skin cells on me no matter how clean you were post shower, no offense. It’s about the exfoliation factor for me so the idea of sharing a towel is gross lmao
I actually saw this episode when I was a child. I remember it very clearly because I asked my parents about it. Swimming was my favorite thing and I’d never seen a black person at the pool. I was so young (about 4 yrs old) but I already knew about pool segregation. We lived in the South and I’d heard people talk about it. I lightly mentioned what happened on the show at the dinner table and asked if it was okay to go in a pool with black people. They suddenly got very serious and said of course it was. They told me the story of a time they were swimming at a hotel during a cross-country trip. When a black family entered the pool, many white people got out. They said they were so embarrassed that other white people acted that way. It was clear from their voices that they were very upset (and angry). Of course, my Dad joked that it was nice to suddenly have so much more room to swim. I agreed with him that those people were stupid because they gave up an opportunity to swim. They told me the biggots were ignorant and wrong. It really made an impact on me. It’s the first memory I have of my parents getting so deeply serious. I thank Mr. Rogers for allowing me to learn that lesson at such an early age.
Not to mention, being able to also talk with your parents about it. Mr. Rodgers should be on TV forever....love public broadcasting...too bad it's going to end soon 👽🗿👽
Hats off to your parents for being the kind of people to stand up for what’s right in a polarized environment and to teach their child what’s important and how to be a good human being. We need more people like your family right now. ❤❤❤
I'm so lucky that I grew up with Mr. Rogers in the 1970s. We were so lucky to have him. The world needs Mr. Rogers today. He was a gift to children and the world. ❤
I don't think he was ever broadcast here in the UK but we'd hear references to him in sitcoms, films, even rap music. Now we have the net I finally see who he was and he really is a special one.
Absolutely!! I was one of those children that needed Mr. Rogers kindness and acceptance and am so thankful for him. Growing up white and in the south, I learned the lessons he taught me and abstained from what was being taught by the behaviors and speech around me. He was an absolute blessing to all of us.
💛Actually, what was special about growing up watching Mr. Roger’s and Sesame Street was how NOT impactful all these scenes were. I grew up believing it was simply normal and usual- as it should be, of course. Neither show ignored differences, but valued those differences, which gave all of us permission to be different.💛
Same, it wasn't until adulthood that I learned that many of the skits on Mr. Rogers and Sesame Street were prompted by terrible real life events. I thought, _well yeah, I'd invite my neighbor over to my pool on a hot day, too._
I was born in 1967 and lived in Virginia in the early 70's. My Parents taught us to treat everyone the same. I don't remember specifically seeing this episode. If I had I probably would not have given it much thought. I saw some terrible things happen during that time in Virginia. I never understood people like that. To see that man pouring bleach in the pool reminded me of a lot of "whitewashing n-word" attacks that happened back then. Such a tragedy.
Yes!! This! This is what I've wanted to describe so often but didn't have the words. Thank you. The 70s were beautiful for that reason. Differences were valued and no one was trying to homogenize us.
Mr. Rogers was one of my favorite shows as a child. At 5 years old, doctors realized I was deaf (well my mom figured it out and doctors confirmed it). I was sort of a stubborn kid, and apparently it was because if I wasn’t facing you, I didn’t know what you were saying, as I was actually reading lips. Mr. Rogers made a point to talk straight to the camera clearly and concisely, so I was always able to understand him. I ended up having a surgery that restored the majority of my hearing, but I will always be thankful for Mr. Rogers.
@@ruthhofwolt685 I think he actually said in an interview that it was just important to look directly at a child even if they don't look directly back at you....because eventually they will and you need to be present when they do. I have to say that my wife has hearing issues and appreciates direct face contact to help her communication with others or on a screen. 👽🗿👽
If you pay attention you'll notice the diversity of the cast. He made it OK for us to have friends at school who didn't look like us and the people who lived around us.
What is even better, is that many parents were watching with their kids….they could be taught subtly too. I am in my late 50’s and I loved, loved, loved Mr. Rogers. My father was not a kind man towards me, and Mr. Rogers taught me that men could be kind. I married a kind man, and I often wonder if I hadn’t watched Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood, I wouldn’t know what a nice man is. That is an impact that helped to make for a good choice and a wonderful life.
Mr. Rogers rocked because he didn't try to move the hate and oppression off of one group onto another like people today do. He insisted that kindness is for everyone, and we are all deserving, regardless of anything. He believed in it so much that he spread his word to children, knowing they would be more open to his message than hard-hearted adults. If he couldn't fix his world now, maybe he could help the world to come. So he went out there and worked so hard to teach us that love is always the answer.
When I saw this in the 80s as a young child, I thought nothing of this interaction. And I think that was the point. This was a show mostly watched by toddlers and kindergarteners. This show set the standard for young children before the world could teach them otherwise.
Exactly. Mr Rogers, Sesame Street, Romper Room, 3 2 1 Contact, Reading Rainbow - all of these shows taught us standards and norms of morality and ethics from a very young age.
By the 80’s we were pretty well past segregation. But in 1969 it was prevalent. Did you know that up until the’90’s clubs in Palm beach were “closed”. No blacks, no Jews. It wasn’t until Donald Trump moved there and took action that this was changed.
@@1Nidalegal segregation was over sure, but for many of us who grew up in the south, de facto segregation was still the norm, and continues to be in many places.
%100. Didn’t think it was a big deal as a kid, just two friends. Does anyone remember Zoobalee Zoo?? I may have spelt it wrong, but that was one of my faves too. Lotta people don’t seem to remember it
I was born in 1976. I grew up watching Mr. Rogers. Both of my parents were racist. This was a HUGE moment in many children's lives. I am also gay. So....the realization that officer Clemens was gay as well as having a different skin color, was beyond words. It seriously might have been the moment that I realized that every person is the same...inside....no matter the color of their skin, or who they love, or whatever. Im so thankful for being able to watch this show, while growing up. And I want to give you a sincere thank you for reacting to this.
Well go on and tell us what their reaction was when they found out a black man was sharing a pool with a white man. Did they change at any point in their life?
Lemme start with I'm not trying to get religious or whatever. But I remember where is says that God created all of us in his image. So God didn't cherry pick this one or that one, he made us all; as in all colors, all religions, and especially the LGBTQ (forgive me if I left out a letter) community was ALL in his image. At least that's what I believe.
There’s a certain irony in that Rogers actually required Clemmons to remain closeted while on the show. Now, as you can tell from how Clemmons talks about him, any bad blood from that was clearly resolved long ago, and I truly don’t believe it was from a place of hate on Mr. Rogers’ part. Rather, it was a necessity for keeping the show on the air: at that time, having an openly gay man on a children’s show would have been unthinkable and it would absolutely have torpedoed the entire project.
Ive said this before and im going to say it again. If any modern person deserves to be elevated to sainthood, it is Mr Rogers. That man taught 2 generations how to be right, when our parents were absent.
I love how Mr Rogers looked at the camera. He knew exactly what he was doing and was excited about it. He wasn't just breaking through barriers; he was knocking down whole walls.
If you want to see an amazing Fred Rogers performance, you should look up the video of him defending PBS and getting lifetime funding from the US Congress. What the man says to the congressmen will bring tears to your eyes.
Mr Rogers was not an actor, he was a teacher, a therapist for children, and a national treasure who showed what kindness looks like ❤ Man do we need him now 😢
All that and he was a Presbyterian Minister and his ministry was children's television. Of course, Fred isn't going to preach at the kids, he's going to show them love and compassion.
Mr Rogers was such a compassionate man. Something I noticed, that is so simple that it might go unnoticed: he not only shared his towel with Officer Clements to dry their feet after having their feet in the water. He lets Officer Clements dry his feet FIRST. Meaning he gave the best, dryest use of the towel to him.
Mr. Rogers was and always will be the GOAT. I’m 54, Mr. Rogers was a staple of our childhood. He taught a whole generation of children about kindness and so many other important things. No doubt he affected my generation in a profound way. Thank you for taking time to look at his legacy!
Mr Rogers was the dad I didn't have. Between him and sesame Street they taught me more about being a child and setting up my adulthood than any actual adult in my life did.
i grew up homeless living in motels, shelters, etc. i missed a lot of school and was not properly socialized as a child and had pretty neglectful parents, so i was left alone a lot, too. i watched a lot of pbs as a kid because it was the one thing that was always available no matter where i was living and i genuinely believe fred rogers taught me to be a person. i never saw others different from me because mr. rogers taught me that we were all the same -- we're all neighbors and we should all do our best to help each other, love or, at the very least, respect each other. he was something of a babysitter and one of my favorite people in the world. i am so grateful to have had someone like mr. rogers in my life and so grateful to have been able to grow up with reruns of mr. roger's neighborhood.
I know a woman who lived in his neighbourhood in Pittsburgh.. She said that when he went out and about in the neighboiurhood, he made time for the people who were inevitably going to stop and want to chat with him. He was the same person off camera. Just as gracious and kind and amiable.
When was he in Philadelphia? He mostly lived in Pittsburgh and spent some time in Toronto. My grandmother knew him, a bit, not sure how much. They moved from Toronto to Pittsburgh around the same time.
@hazelmaylebrun6243 he was born and raised in Latrobe Pennsylvania. He is an alumni of Greater Latrobe High School, the school my children attend, and my son will graduate from this spring! My grandpap absolutely loved watching Mr. Roger's Neighborhood with me, and even watched by himself, he absolutely loved Trolley, bc he was a Trolley Driver until the Trolley system went away, then he drove a bus. Their is a great family amusement park in Ligonier PA, ummm, which is 10 minutes or so down the road from the exact street where Mr. Roger's was born. When I was 5 or 6, the park opened a Mr. Roger's Neighborhood ride, it was a Trolley and it took you through these tunnels and out into the world where they had what looked exactly like the set, with the castle, the clock, the tree, and all of the characters interact as you go and invite them to the King Friday's Castle for a Hug and Song party, it was amazing!!!!! My grandpap went to Idlewild opening day of that attraction and was one of the first people to ride it.
I have a confession to make and a secret to share! I watched Mr. Rogers when I was young, and as an adult, I used to watch him on days when I was too sick to go to work. He gave me comfort when I felt terrible. After Mr. Rogers passed away, his wife said something about him that had been kept a secret for all those years. Mr. Rogers absolutely LOVED fart jokes!
Fart jokes never get old. 2 days ago, my 9 year old accidentally let one rip while on my lap. I _acted_ horrified, my husband just giggled like a fellow 9 year old.
Sometimes I watch Mr. Rogers. I find him comforting. He is not just speaking to children. He speaks to adults. He speaks to the child within all of us.
The man was a national treasure. As a gen Xer, the messages he taught along side original sesame street and other shows were so formative. Teaching love and tolerance with effortlessness in a time when people wanted to actually be hateful and ignorant for years.
I feel like the world could really stand to learn those messages again. I hope more people keep finding his stuff and those messages keep being spread.
I know it’s been 3 weeks so you might not even see this, but I hope you do. I’m 40 years old, and what you said at 5:13 is the world I grew up in. “What’s the big deal?” My parents, and people like Mr. Rogers were making the world a new normal for us. So much so, that we now all look back at this simple act and go “So what? There’s nothing weird or special going on at all.” But that world didn’t exist until people like Mr Rogers put their feet into a tub with a black man. Or Star Trek put a black woman on the bridge, and an Asian man as the driver, and a Russian man as one of the helmsmen. They didn’t make those characters be weird, or to act some weird identity thing out. They were just normal people, doing normal things together. And they made it so that we don’t even know the world was anything different before.
Swimming pool desegregation was a daunting issue at that time. Many communities filled in public pools with cement to avoid integration. Families with money installed backyard pools to avoid being in water with people of color. As a result, many Black kids of that era never had the opportunity to learn to swim. Neither my mother, nor my step-mother, ever learned how to swim.
My father didn’t learn to swim until his mid-30s for this reason. I remember going to swimming lessons as a child at the local community center, and while I was in one pool with my classmates and instructor, my mother would take that time to teach my dad in the other pool
When I watch Mr. Roger and he says "I like you just the way you are" I'm overwhelmed just like Clemmins because I know despite him never even meeting me. He meant it. He meant it to me, to you, and everyone who ever sees it. He liked us just the way we are.
I met Mr.(Pastor) Rogers in Pittsburgh (I was attending college). I was both star struck and humbled at just meeting this kind man. He was an example of a true Christian and what I as a Black girl was taught in church.
@@CraftyZanTubHe spoke to the audience regularly in every episode, breaking the 4th wall. This felt normal for the kids, but that specific look he’s giving says “try me,” as if to the network and intolerant parents that might be watching.
51 years old...when I saw this scene as a child I had NO idea of the political statement. Yet the episode always stuck in my memory. Consequently, it left a mark in my mind about our shared humanity. Everyone gets hot. Everyone needs to cool down.
I am from Ukraine and didn’t grow up watching Mr. Rogers. Then a few months ago, I watched a movie about him, called “A beautiful day in the neighborhood” and wow. Then I watched documentary about him and his life. What a beautiful person he was. And he had his own issues, yet that didn’t stop him to be the best person he could be. Love Mr. Rogers. ❤❤❤ Thank you for your video. Imma follow you! ❤❤❤
My cousin has cerebral palsy and growing up in the 70 s/80s the fast cartoons and flashing lights was hard for him to watch and focus. But he was able to watch Mr Rogers and learn valuable lessons and sing along. His late mother was walking by his room when he was in his teens and caught him watching Mr Rogers. When Mr Rogers passed away, she wrote into the newspaper and her story was published in memorial to his impact in children of all conditions. ❤
I watched Mr Rodgers as a child. I am looking at this clip again as a 57 year old woman and it brings me to tears how beautiful it was. That scene was filmed when I was only two years old. I wish I could say the world has changed more than it has. It was groundbreaking. What a kind and gentle soul he was! That show always made me feel peaceful as a child. xx
I was born in 1962 & I grew up with Mr Rogers. I didn’t know it in the moment, but Mr Rogers became the conscience of generations of kids. As a closeted gay kid, to hear Mr Rogers tell Officer Clemmons “I love you just the way you are” moved me beyond words. Just imagine that life-changing moment for Officer Clemmons and the love he no doubt felt multiplied by tens of millions of little kids around the world. Just breath-takingly amazing. It is not hyperbole to say that Mr Rogers saved the world back in the day… We need him so much today. Thank you, Mr Rogers. Thank you, too, Jay for making me cry really REALLY good tears today. 🤗♥️👍
From what I understand, the actor who played Clemmons was a gay man himself. And Mr. Roger's "I love you just the way you are" to him was a nod to that.
@@christopherlawyer4214 that is true but Mister Rogers really meant that, as a sweeping statement to everyone. Especially children. Unfortunately, clemmons did have to hide his sexual orientation while on the show. He was told by mister rogers, that although he personally had no issue with it, he knew it would really affect the show, its budget & reputation if that got out. I do understand. I think it sucks, but I understand the decision at the time. What’s really sad…it’s 2024, and it would STILL be a big deal if a children’s show had a gay actor. In fact, there was the big hoopla with Ms. Rachel’s friend not even a year ago.
"More compassion and more love" is the perfect description of Mr. Rogers. I was a child of the 70s, and we watched him every afternoon. He was a calm and gentle presence in many homes. And, clearly, a voice of reason.
5:31 That's exactly the point. Mr Rogers wanted people to realize how ordinary and normal these sort of things are. He didn't treat the police officer any different because he was black. Also, just the fact that he was a black police officer was a big deal.
I was born in 1979 and watched Mr. Roger's Neighborhood throughout my childhood. Having also grown up watching Sesame Street and Bill Cosby, I began to be disillusioned watching all my childhood heroes turn out to be awful people in real life. Not with Mr. Rogers. He remains pure, good, and a wholesome wonderful memory untainted by scandal or rumor. R.I.P Fred Rogers. He's as close to a perfect human as I've ever seen.
I @@FullmoonPhantom-dn2sr The first episode aired in 1968. Isn't that crazy? It boggles my mind sometimes how things we associate with a decade actually happened at a completely different time.
The war in Vietnam was raging at that time too. For a child of an impressionable age Mr. Rogers provided a safe haven of caring and compassion. He was a role model we needed when so many adults failed us.
It seems simple but there's a LOT to it. Beyond the pool aspect there is also the fact that Fred shares his towel, something very intimate, without flinching and to also hand him the hose to comfort his feet above Fred's were all very intentional moments. Roger's is the host inviting a friend to be his guest. This was groundbreaking at a time so entrenched in bigotry and violence. This was a loving moment between two friends. Race never even had to be mentioned to understand the gravity of everything that was happening. Perfectly written and executed. Also notice Fred just let's speak and then sing, while he listens, never interrupting or injecting anything but kind words. Mr. Rogers was always a show about learning through example. He was the example of what kids should be to each other. He was saying, without saying anything, to love and respect everyone.
We were having a celebration of life gathering after my dad died. Lots of people that knew him, lots of family and friends that felt like family because we had known them out entire lives growing up. I was off to one side, trying to be inconspicuous, and I noticed one of my dad's lifelong friends had come in. He came over to me and gave me the biggest hug I had ever received. It was strong and protective and made me feel loved. It was exactly what I needed at the time and remains one of the most profound moments of my life.
I had something similar. My dad's best friend had two boys. They were my brothers, 100%. When my dad passed, they were there with hugs for me, and I will never forget it.
Mr Rodgers taught us to be kind We need more people like him on TV We have too much trash in our media We need people like Steve Irwin Fred Rodgers Bob Ross Rest In Power to those great kind men
I grew up in the 90’s and watching this show with my great-grandma. I remember she had some old vhs tapes on this show as well. Between either the tapes or the show, I saw the second part of the episode, and she explained to me a child’s version of what went on in world when she was growing up and as an adult, raising my grandma and her sister. I didn’t quite get it because I was young and didn’t know history at the age of 5, but I learned more about it in elementary school, and I understood then. Mr. Rogers has always been a pretty central part of my childhood, but I didn’t appreciate him as much until I grew older.
I don't know about that, even he admitted that sometimes he was weak, and that that was okay. Now, I do whole heatedly believe that he could pull the sword out of the stone, no problem.
Born In the 80s Mr. Rogers was still on and reruns were played in heavy rotation the world still needs Mr. Rogers cause after he stopped making his show with in years old problems came back and the world is just a dark place without Mr. Rogers
One of the things that Mr Rodgers taught me as a child is “don’t judge”. I’m almost 40 now and he literally curated my sense of kindness. He is a legend.
This is why the government asked him to film a message for kids after 9/11. He had such a wonderful way of communicating, comforting even for adults. I still find his messages comforting and helpful.
Mr. Rogers taught us to be better people. We learned that people who looked different (...not white...) were NOT different. All of us feel, love, and hurt the same. Mr. Rogers was the best of us. I wish we (USA) listened to him better.
We need Mr. Roger’s in our lives more than ever right now! Thank you for this! I grew up very near to Mr.Rogers home. My uncle worked as a grounds keeper for him. He and his wife were such kind souls. These times now people don’t realize the impact he had.
Every time I think about Mr. Roger’s I get so emotional bc he was such a pure human being. I grew up watching him in the 80s and 90s and I always admired his simplistic approach to life. If you read about his backstory you’ll understand why he was and still is so respected. Thank you for posting this.
When my family moved to the US from Japan, Mr. Rogers and Sesame Street were great for helping me learn English. I loved how Mr. Rogers was so gentle and kind.
This is one of the best scenes in on television history❤ I WATCHED IT (later, I wasn't born till '75), my mom, the hippie nurse, and I cried with joy. She later married a black dude, in VA in the early 80's. Violence ensued at school. We moved to CT. Violence ensued at school. We moved to L. A., CA. Violence ensued at school. Guess what? Still not a racist. People are dumb everywhere. My mom raised me with this: "Aasholes come in every color, Love. So do nice people. Gravitate towards love.".
I grew up with Mr. Rogers. I was young enough to not understand segregation was a thing. I have no doubt that it helped so many to not see “colors”. He was a treasure ❤
I loved watching Mr. Rogers! It‘s one of my childhood favorites. I love the lessons that he taught us and we need more people like Mr. Rogers, especially in today’s world.
This was a children's program. Fred was using simple stories to get great ideas to sink into our minds while we were young enough to actually learn this easily! He was changing the world, one mind at a time.
Mr Rodgers was absolute pure of heart that we will ever see in my lifetime . You can look at all his stuff now and thunk wow how corny but NO ONE ever besides sesame Street helped you understand brotherhood of man than Mr Rodgers. He walked the walk . Rip to this incredible man . We were all so lucky to have him ❤️
Even in the 80s, it was still around. My best friend and I couldn't be hanging out without other kids singing" jungle fever" at us. Its redundancies. We are all human, buttheads. Decades later, we ran into each other and just hugged. It was so awesome seeing him again. I Was pissed as a kid, but as an adult I get they are a product of the parenting. If Fred Rogers was Catholic instead of Presbyterian he differently would be a saint.
As a 45 year old white guy in America it breaks my heart that this is bringing tears to my eyes. This shouldn’t have been a thing. I don’t understand how the world is still so full of xenophobia and hatred.
Although I'm too young to have seen this episode, any American knows what it would have meant in 1969. The air date was almost precisely one year and one month after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, when America was still in deep racial turmoil. By the time the smoke had cleared in the late 70s when I was a kid, we were finally beginning to learn to live with one another, and I watched race relations on a forty-year upward trend. Until about a decade ago, when it all started to go to hell again. But that's a topic for another discussion.
He had a little blind girl write to him that she was worried cuz she heard he got a fish but she didn't know if it was being fed, so he starting narrating the act of feeding the fish every day so that one blind child would be happy and know the fish was ok.. that's the kind of man he was
I love that story💞
I don't know why, but that story just broke me. He was such a special person.
I remember! He would say “here you go fish”.
@@MsJuno he truley was, that story gives me faith, especially cuz its true
@Lovinia1 he litterally did that for that girl, he wanted her to feel happy and safe, imagine if everyone cared that much every day!!!
Don't forget it was Mr Rogers that gave Lavar Burton his shot to make reading Rainbow. Our childhood was better because of him
Lavar Burton is great too
Take a look it's in a book
I did not know that 🥰 that’s amazing we are so lucky to have grown up when we did
I loved reading rainbow so much😢 I wish it never went away
@@spykeex69 Our teenage years, too, on Star Trek Nex Gen.
Some notes about how significant this was.
1. Those "uhh, cleaning chemicals" mentioned in the News Cast weren't Windex or Pinesol, it was concentrated bleach. Probably about 2 weeks worth of chlorine for a pool that size. It wasn't an effort to get them to leave, it was a chemical attack.
2. Mr. Rodgers wasn't just sharing a pool to help Officer Clemmons cool off, he was WASHING his feet, an act of great hospitality found several times in the Bible. This was a White Christian Man serving a Black Man with no compensation on a public access children's TV show in the 60's. I can't imagine the amount of hate mail and threats the show received after airing this episode.
Such important points here!
I hope that manager got white splotches all over his suit jacket! (Not exactly a Mr. Rogers thought, I'm guessing!)
Young blacks think they have it just as bad
Ill think of that the next 1000 times I see a white woman was gunned down n robbed.
Mr Roger’s was worth over 3 million at his death. He absolutely got paid for Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood. His estate is still making money from his name.
After September, 11th, Mr. Rogers came out of retirement to talk about the tragic events that happened in order to calm us down. We Americans needed that because Mr. Rogers can make sense in a senseless world.
It calmed me and made such an impact when I was so lost & feeling like the world was going to pieces.
Kind of like what Steve from Blue's Clues does now.
@patricialake104 yes!!!
And then we attacked the wrong country. Most of the hijackers were from Saudi Arabia, the others were from Egypt, Lebanon and United Arab Emirates. Not a single one was from Iraq or Iran. And we invaded Iraq for a second time under false claims.
Look for the helpers! ❤
An African-American Police Officer played by a gay man in 1969. Mister Rogers was ahead of his time. He was the nicest man to live in the past 2000 years. No question. I might have only seen his show on reruns and only a few episodes at that. But they still leave an impact on you.
I grew up loving Mister Rogers... It's such sad commentary that being a decent human being is considered "ahead of his time."
@ true
Learning the context as an adult this makes me cry. We have come so far but we have so much farther to go. There is an obviously black barber shop close to my house. I'm scared to go there for two reasons. I don't want to be seen as a threat and I've seen the script flipped myself a lot living in Alaska all the racism turns people the other way a lot sadly 😔. being asked what are you doing here whitty and being chased has happened several times just walking down the street. F*ck discrimination in all it's forms. All those racists that came before me ruining my chance to get a haircut.
Nowadays people would say, “go woke, go broke.”
Mr. Rogers did encourage Clemmens to stay in the closet, but I'm not sure if he really cared one way or the other about that. I think he did realize that the public would not accept an African American who was also gay.
Mr Roger's and Betty white had the balls to say hell no to discrimination
As did Marilyn Monroe.
Betty White was a national treasure
@@andu1854 It was a great disappointment that she never made it to 100. The year leading up to it I remember telling someone that she really deserves that honor.
Much respect for their courage!
Frank Sinatra
Dean Martin
Elvis Presley
Many more.
Mrs Roger's his wife once said in an interview that as an imperfect human, as we all are, Mr. Rogers had to work to be kind. Kindness is not an inherent human quality, not even for Mr. Rogers. I think that is the most significant lesson we adults can learn from him. You must choose kindness and then have the self-discipline to practice kindness. Sounds so simple, but so hard to do in this world that celebrates impatience and snark.
In my experience both kindness and cruelty are entirely natural and inherent human traits
I've met plenty of people in my life who've chosen to be unkind. I have never met a person who I felt didn't have kindness in them somewhere.
You must be a Christian believing we come from the womb sinful.
Unaware Eve came from Adam his daughter, as life comes from us our children.
Blaming our Mama's for Adams sin against his own daughter.
Makes total sense. Every day we wake up with that choice, to be kind or to be cruel. We may not have a whole lot, if any control, over vast amounts of our life, but this one we do. It doesn't make it easy and it's not always 100% but every moment we get, do we choose kindness or do we choose cruelty.
@nadja3076 This sounded like a Mr. Rogers quote.
That was off the cuff,no script…Mr.Roger’s was incredible,one time his car was stolen from in front of the studio where they filmed,the evening news ran a story on it…the next morning the car was returned with a note saying they didn’t know who’s car it was and that they were very sorry for stealing it.
Hahaha! Thats awesome!
It was also cleaned and had a full tank of gas.
@ I didn’t know that thanks for sharing
@tokemeout it's one of my favorite parts of that story. Not only did they return it. They made sure it was in better condition then they found it.
Damn, even criminals love and respect Mr. Rogers, thats crazy
I grew up in the feral generation. Latch key kids. I watched Mr. Rogers before my parents came home from work. He WAS our parent because he gave us the values many of us have today. Everyone is equal. Everyone is valuable. When things are scary and tough, look for the helpers.... He was the helper. His lessons every day, taught generations of kids how to be better humans.
So you also learned to cook on the stovetop by climbing on the counter so you could reach (even though mom definitely said the stove was off limits)?
For those wondering why a 6 year old would try/want to use the stove... we didn't have microwaves. If we wanted our Chef Boy Ardee heated up, the stove was how.
@@typewriterTTPD And knowing how to light the pilot, defrost the freezer and turn the tv with pliers.
Fellow latchkey kid here. Mr Rogers is the Dad I needed and the man I wanted to become.
As of just now, I was 32 years old when I learned I was something called a latchkey kid. Feral generation is one of my favorite descriptors now.
Its those same ethics that make me such a staunch supporter of queer rights
One thing I think gets overlooked when people talk about this scene, is that not only were they sharing the pool, but Mr. Rogers immediately offers to share the towel with him too. There’s something about that, at least to me, is even more of a statement. Mr. Rogers was just such a very special human being and the World was, and still is, better for him.
And the symbolism of washing someone’s feet too being the ultimate humility you can show toward someone else basically
When he testified in front of congress, omg, mega-emotional! I recommend you take a listen, if you haven't previously.
@@ebellyfish4256 I’ve definitely seen most of not all of it and you’re 100% correct
I don't even share a towel with my husband! 😂
@ same lol unless its an emergency i guess. I don’t want those dead skin cells on me no matter how clean you were post shower, no offense. It’s about the exfoliation factor for me so the idea of sharing a towel is gross lmao
I actually saw this episode when I was a child. I remember it very clearly because I asked my parents about it. Swimming was my favorite thing and I’d never seen a black person at the pool. I was so young (about 4 yrs old) but I already knew about pool segregation. We lived in the South and I’d heard people talk about it. I lightly mentioned what happened on the show at the dinner table and asked if it was okay to go in a pool with black people. They suddenly got very serious and said of course it was. They told me the story of a time they were swimming at a hotel during a cross-country trip. When a black family entered the pool, many white people got out. They said they were so embarrassed that other white people acted that way. It was clear from their voices that they were very upset (and angry). Of course, my Dad joked that it was nice to suddenly have so much more room to swim. I agreed with him that those people were stupid because they gave up an opportunity to swim. They told me the biggots were ignorant and wrong. It really made an impact on me. It’s the first memory I have of my parents getting so deeply serious. I thank Mr. Rogers for allowing me to learn that lesson at such an early age.
Not to mention, being able to also talk with your parents about it. Mr. Rodgers should be on TV forever....love public broadcasting...too bad it's going to end soon 👽🗿👽
Some of my city’s best swimmers at the pool were black.
It’s awfully funny to me this is a thing 😂
That's what he was there for.
Hats off to your parents for being the kind of people to stand up for what’s right in a polarized environment and to teach their child what’s important and how to be a good human being. We need more people like your family right now. ❤❤❤
I remember that episode too
I'm so lucky that I grew up with Mr. Rogers in the 1970s. We were so lucky to have him. The world needs Mr. Rogers today. He was a gift to children and the world. ❤
We 💯 need another Mr. Rogers for these days. Love your neighbor. "Hello Neighbor!" ❤
Yes.
💯
Same here. Mr. Rogers was as close to sainthood as Mother Theresa.
i was born in 1980. I am so happy that i got to watch this genuine man
Mr Rogers didnt talk down to us kids, but talked to us on our level
He never talked AT us. He always talked TO us.
This is a minor thing that can make a MAJOR difference.
I learned this from him and did the same to my kids.
Beautifully said .
I loved the “field trip” clips we always got to see. Like how they made crayons etc. that was my favorite ❤
Mr Rogers was 30 minutes of kindness and acceptance every day for many children who didn't experience it anywhere else. It was a blessing.💖
I don't think he was ever broadcast here in the UK but we'd hear references to him in sitcoms, films, even rap music. Now we have the net I finally see who he was and he really is a special one.
Absolutely!! I was one of those children that needed Mr. Rogers kindness and acceptance and am so thankful for him. Growing up white and in the south, I learned the lessons he taught me and abstained from what was being taught by the behaviors and speech around me. He was an absolute blessing to all of us.
3:59 "Sometimes just a minute like this will really make a difference".
🤜🤛
🥹
💛Actually, what was special about growing up watching Mr. Roger’s and Sesame Street was how NOT impactful all these scenes were. I grew up believing it was simply normal and usual- as it should be, of course. Neither show ignored differences, but valued those differences, which gave all of us permission to be different.💛
I’m learning from comments that it seemed revolutionary to some. Seemed normal to me because it was less racist here
Same, it wasn't until adulthood that I learned that many of the skits on Mr. Rogers and Sesame Street were prompted by terrible real life events. I thought, _well yeah, I'd invite my neighbor over to my pool on a hot day, too._
I was born in 1967 and lived in Virginia in the early 70's. My Parents taught us to treat everyone the same. I don't remember specifically seeing this episode. If I had I probably would not have given it much thought. I saw some terrible things happen during that time in Virginia. I never understood people like that. To see that man pouring bleach in the pool reminded me of a lot of "whitewashing n-word" attacks that happened back then. Such a tragedy.
Yes!! This! This is what I've wanted to describe so often but didn't have the words. Thank you. The 70s were beautiful for that reason. Differences were valued and no one was trying to homogenize us.
@M_SC Same. It was less racist where I was, too... in North Alabama. We all watched Mr. Rogers, though.
Mr. Rogers was one of my favorite shows as a child. At 5 years old, doctors realized I was deaf (well my mom figured it out and doctors confirmed it). I was sort of a stubborn kid, and apparently it was because if I wasn’t facing you, I didn’t know what you were saying, as I was actually reading lips. Mr. Rogers made a point to talk straight to the camera clearly and concisely, so I was always able to understand him. I ended up having a surgery that restored the majority of my hearing, but I will always be thankful for Mr. Rogers.
He probably did that for people who had hearing impairments. Wouldn’t surprise me.
@@ruthhofwolt685 I think he actually said in an interview that it was just important to look directly at a child even if they don't look directly back at you....because eventually they will and you need to be present when they do. I have to say that my wife has hearing issues and appreciates direct face contact to help her communication with others or on a screen. 👽🗿👽
Mr. Rogers would often narrate what he was doing...he had several blind friends of the show.
Especially when he fed his Goldfish each day.
@@marklar7551wow that’s kind of a beautiful statement.
Oh, what an amazing story! My 3-year-old daughter was born deaf, and your experience touches me. Thank you for sharing!
If you pay attention you'll notice the diversity of the cast. He made it OK for us to have friends at school who didn't look like us and the people who lived around us.
What is even better, is that many parents were watching with their kids….they could be taught subtly too. I am in my late 50’s and I loved, loved, loved Mr. Rogers. My father was not a kind man towards me, and Mr. Rogers taught me that men could be kind. I married a kind man, and I often wonder if I hadn’t watched Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood, I wouldn’t know what a nice man is. That is an impact that helped to make for a good choice and a wonderful life.
Mr. Rogers rocked because he didn't try to move the hate and oppression off of one group onto another like people today do. He insisted that kindness is for everyone, and we are all deserving, regardless of anything. He believed in it so much that he spread his word to children, knowing they would be more open to his message than hard-hearted adults. If he couldn't fix his world now, maybe he could help the world to come. So he went out there and worked so hard to teach us that love is always the answer.
When I saw this in the 80s as a young child, I thought nothing of this interaction. And I think that was the point. This was a show mostly watched by toddlers and kindergarteners. This show set the standard for young children before the world could teach them otherwise.
Exactly. Mr Rogers, Sesame Street, Romper Room, 3 2 1 Contact, Reading Rainbow - all of these shows taught us standards and norms of morality and ethics from a very young age.
@ 321 Contact and the Bloodhound Gang was a favorite of mine. The Bloodhound Gang kicked off a lifetime love of true crime and mysteries.
By the 80’s we were pretty well past segregation. But in 1969 it was prevalent.
Did you know that up until the’90’s clubs in Palm beach were “closed”. No blacks, no Jews. It wasn’t until Donald Trump moved there and took action that this was changed.
@@1Nidalegal segregation was over sure, but for many of us who grew up in the south, de facto segregation was still the norm, and continues to be in many places.
%100. Didn’t think it was a big deal as a kid, just two friends.
Does anyone remember Zoobalee Zoo?? I may have spelt it wrong, but that was one of my faves too. Lotta people don’t seem to remember it
Mr. Rogers was a great stand-in for Jesus washing his neighbors feet. An example for us all, religious or secular.
Was going to post about the humble foot washing in the Bible. Glad you brought it up
This is EXACTLY what he was doing! He was washing the feet of his Black, Gay neighbor.
@@richardcole3800 I was thinking the very same thing!
He was a minister by training, he knew exactly the symbolism of what he was doing.
honestly if i was ever one to belive in a second coming it would have been him I thin
I was born in 1976. I grew up watching Mr. Rogers. Both of my parents were racist. This was a HUGE moment in many children's lives. I am also gay. So....the realization that officer Clemens was gay as well as having a different skin color, was beyond words. It seriously might have been the moment that I realized that every person is the same...inside....no matter the color of their skin, or who they love, or whatever. Im so thankful for being able to watch this show, while growing up. And I want to give you a sincere thank you for reacting to this.
Well go on and tell us what their reaction was when they found out a black man was sharing a pool with a white man. Did they change at any point in their life?
Lemme start with I'm not trying to get religious or whatever. But I remember where is says that God created all of us in his image. So God didn't cherry pick this one or that one, he made us all; as in all colors, all religions, and especially the LGBTQ (forgive me if I left out a letter) community was ALL in his image. At least that's what I believe.
🙌🏼🙌🏼
I felt the same way growing up. I'm out and proud because Mr. Rogers told me it was ok to be me.
There’s a certain irony in that Rogers actually required Clemmons to remain closeted while on the show.
Now, as you can tell from how Clemmons talks about him, any bad blood from that was clearly resolved long ago, and I truly don’t believe it was from a place of hate on Mr. Rogers’ part.
Rather, it was a necessity for keeping the show on the air: at that time, having an openly gay man on a children’s show would have been unthinkable and it would absolutely have torpedoed the entire project.
9:14 The look in Mr. Rogers' eyes when he looks at the camera... like he knows that'll be a grand slam. This guy is a legend.
Ive said this before and im going to say it again. If any modern person deserves to be elevated to sainthood, it is Mr Rogers. That man taught 2 generations how to be right, when our parents were absent.
I love how Mr Rogers looked at the camera. He knew exactly what he was doing and was excited about it. He wasn't just breaking through barriers; he was knocking down whole walls.
If you want to see an amazing Fred Rogers performance, you should look up the video of him defending PBS and getting lifetime funding from the US Congress. What the man says to the congressmen will bring tears to your eyes.
Which will be coming to an end soon 🤷♂️🇺🇲👽🗿👽
He watched it already.
@@marklar7551this is the America they wanted. 🤷♀️🇺🇸
Republicans are going after that funding! They are disgusting liars
@@marklar7551😢😢🤦🏻♀️
Mr Rogers was not an actor, he was a teacher, a therapist for children, and a national treasure who showed what kindness looks like ❤ Man do we need him now 😢
All that and he was a Presbyterian Minister and his ministry was children's television. Of course, Fred isn't going to preach at the kids, he's going to show them love and compassion.
Also a Presbyterian Minister. His ministry was very much "show don't tell" what being a good Christian is about. Love thy neighbor.
@@tanuvaziYes, I love the show rather than tell philosophy. I try to remember that. 😊
Mr Rogers was a leader. He lead by example. Not many people do, but Mr Rogers showed how you can.
Fred Rogers's death is the only time that I've cried over the passing of a celebrity. He was undoubtedly one of the best of us.
He was the only celebrity that I cried for when he passed. Because it was then I realized my childhood was over. He was a great man.
Same for me, but also Jim Henson. They both were my childhood, and are still a huge part of my adulthood.
“2 guys in a pool, no big deal”
Gen X, we did our job.
And then those after us have once again destroyed the idea of equality. Sad to see just how divided we have become once again. We were so close :(
No, we didn’t. These little pukes have doubled down-
Racism is strong in TONS of American black women
Sharing a towel too. 😊
You think Mr Rogers is Gen X?
@@daphneglasurus7886 I think he meant that we (Gen Xers that were Mr. Rogers watchers) learned the lesson & kept it alive.
Mr Rogers was such a compassionate man. Something I noticed, that is so simple that it might go unnoticed: he not only shared his towel with Officer Clements to dry their feet after having their feet in the water. He lets Officer Clements dry his feet FIRST. Meaning he gave the best, dryest use of the towel to him.
Mr. Rogers was and always will be the GOAT. I’m 54, Mr. Rogers was a staple of our childhood. He taught a whole generation of children about kindness and so many other important things. No doubt he affected my generation in a profound way. Thank you for taking time to look at his legacy!
Mr. Rogers reruns taught me better than anything my parents did. I'm a millenial
then why did our idiot generation vote for trump a second time, it seems that people forgot the kindness and decent human being part
Mr Rogers was the dad I didn't have. Between him and sesame Street they taught me more about being a child and setting up my adulthood than any actual adult in my life did.
Totally agree! I can still hear the song in my head: "It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood, a beautiful day for a neighbor..."
I’m 42 and my thoughts are the exact same. Generations & generations of children influenced. What a legacy! One of a kind. ❤
i grew up homeless living in motels, shelters, etc. i missed a lot of school and was not properly socialized as a child and had pretty neglectful parents, so i was left alone a lot, too. i watched a lot of pbs as a kid because it was the one thing that was always available no matter where i was living and i genuinely believe fred rogers taught me to be a person. i never saw others different from me because mr. rogers taught me that we were all the same -- we're all neighbors and we should all do our best to help each other, love or, at the very least, respect each other. he was something of a babysitter and one of my favorite people in the world. i am so grateful to have had someone like mr. rogers in my life and so grateful to have been able to grow up with reruns of mr. roger's neighborhood.
Mr. Rogers was an ANGEL. I would watch him EVERY DAY when I was little. He was a SAFE place for me 🙂
I know a woman who lived in his neighbourhood in Pittsburgh.. She said that when he went out and about in the neighboiurhood, he made time for the people who were inevitably going to stop and want to chat with him. He was the same person off camera. Just as gracious and kind and amiable.
When was he in Philadelphia? He mostly lived in Pittsburgh and spent some time in Toronto. My grandmother knew him, a bit, not sure how much. They moved from Toronto to Pittsburgh around the same time.
@alexkilgour1328 Sorry. You're right. I meant Pittsburgh
@@alexkilgour1328and helped give us Mr Dress Up
@hazelmaylebrun6243 he was born and raised in Latrobe Pennsylvania. He is an alumni of Greater Latrobe High School, the school my children attend, and my son will graduate from this spring! My grandpap absolutely loved watching Mr. Roger's Neighborhood with me, and even watched by himself, he absolutely loved Trolley, bc he was a Trolley Driver until the Trolley system went away, then he drove a bus. Their is a great family amusement park in Ligonier PA, ummm, which is 10 minutes or so down the road from the exact street where Mr. Roger's was born. When I was 5 or 6, the park opened a Mr. Roger's Neighborhood ride, it was a Trolley and it took you through these tunnels and out into the world where they had what looked exactly like the set, with the castle, the clock, the tree, and all of the characters interact as you go and invite them to the King Friday's Castle for a Hug and Song party, it was amazing!!!!! My grandpap went to Idlewild opening day of that attraction and was one of the first people to ride it.
I have a confession to make and a secret to share! I watched Mr. Rogers when I was young, and as an adult, I used to watch him on days when I was too sick to go to work. He gave me comfort when I felt terrible. After Mr. Rogers passed away, his wife said something about him that had been kept a secret for all those years. Mr. Rogers absolutely LOVED fart jokes!
Fart jokes never get old. 2 days ago, my 9 year old accidentally let one rip while on my lap. I _acted_ horrified, my husband just giggled like a fellow 9 year old.
He could also fart on cue. Man of many talents lol
Sometimes I watch Mr. Rogers. I find him comforting. He is not just speaking to children. He speaks to adults. He speaks to the child within all of us.
My mom liked watching him as much as I did. He's just so soothing.
@ I recommend the documentary about him. He took a lot of shit for speaking up for people and just being a good human being.
The man was a national treasure. As a gen Xer, the messages he taught along side original sesame street and other shows were so formative. Teaching love and tolerance with effortlessness in a time when people wanted to actually be hateful and ignorant for years.
I feel like the world could really stand to learn those messages again. I hope more people keep finding his stuff and those messages keep being spread.
It wasn't effortless, but like a true master he made it seem effortless because he practiced it more than almost anyone else
I know it’s been 3 weeks so you might not even see this, but I hope you do. I’m 40 years old, and what you said at 5:13 is the world I grew up in. “What’s the big deal?” My parents, and people like Mr. Rogers were making the world a new normal for us. So much so, that we now all look back at this simple act and go “So what? There’s nothing weird or special going on at all.” But that world didn’t exist until people like Mr Rogers put their feet into a tub with a black man. Or Star Trek put a black woman on the bridge, and an Asian man as the driver, and a Russian man as one of the helmsmen. They didn’t make those characters be weird, or to act some weird identity thing out. They were just normal people, doing normal things together. And they made it so that we don’t even know the world was anything different before.
Im 42 and was gonna mention this, but you summed it up beautifully!
Dude Im 42 and Mr. Rogers was so cool because he broke barriers in my generation and the generations before.
Growing up, I never felt alone because of this man. I hope future generations have the same experience.
I really appreciate that the lesson was simply in the action, instead of explaining with words.
That was actually Mr. Rogers plan. Saw a documentary and the original idea was different. The pool clip was brilliant in its simplicity.
Agree
Instead of explaining what was wrong, he demonstrated what was right.
Swimming pool desegregation was a daunting issue at that time. Many communities filled in public pools with cement to avoid integration. Families with money installed backyard pools to avoid being in water with people of color. As a result, many Black kids of that era never had the opportunity to learn to swim. Neither my mother, nor my step-mother, ever learned how to swim.
😢
My father didn’t learn to swim until his mid-30s for this reason. I remember going to swimming lessons as a child at the local community center, and while I was in one pool with my classmates and instructor, my mother would take that time to teach my dad in the other pool
How shameful. :(
The amount of public infrastructure destroyed in the name of virulent racism in America is truly unimaginable and unforgivable
When I watch Mr. Roger and he says "I like you just the way you are" I'm overwhelmed just like Clemmins because I know despite him never even meeting me. He meant it. He meant it to me, to you, and everyone who ever sees it. He liked us just the way we are.
I love that he shared his towel. That alone was so important for children to see.
I met Mr.(Pastor) Rogers in Pittsburgh (I was attending college). I was both star struck and humbled at just meeting this kind man. He was an example of a true Christian and what I as a Black girl was taught in church.
3:30 I love how Mr. Rogers looks right into the camera as if to say "if you have a problem with this, DEAL WITH IT." Defiant! Love it. ❤️
I love that look of his as well. That man knew exactly what he was doing.
That was a break of the fourth wall big time.
@@CraftyZanTubHe spoke to the audience regularly in every episode, breaking the 4th wall. This felt normal for the kids, but that specific look he’s giving says “try me,” as if to the network and intolerant parents that might be watching.
@@courtneyclayton1586 Dispite his 'whimpy' appearance, Mr. Rogers had a pair.
51 years old...when I saw this scene as a child I had NO idea of the political statement.
Yet the episode always stuck in my memory.
Consequently, it left a mark in my mind about our shared humanity.
Everyone gets hot.
Everyone needs to cool down.
Stand together or fall apart
Write on you, sir. That indicates proper upbringing. To a child, it should NOT be a political statement.
Not only a black man in the sixty's but a gay one as well... Absolutely ground breaking
I am from Ukraine and didn’t grow up watching Mr. Rogers. Then a few months ago, I watched a movie about him, called “A beautiful day in the neighborhood” and wow. Then I watched documentary about him and his life. What a beautiful person he was. And he had his own issues, yet that didn’t stop him to be the best person he could be. Love Mr. Rogers. ❤❤❤
Thank you for your video. Imma follow you! ❤❤❤
I was born in ‘81 and watched Mr Rogers religiously growing up. He was a huge impact on my life. I miss him.
My cousin has cerebral palsy and growing up in the 70 s/80s the fast cartoons and flashing lights was hard for him to watch and focus. But he was able to watch Mr Rogers and learn valuable lessons and sing along. His late mother was walking by his room when he was in his teens and caught him watching Mr Rogers. When Mr Rogers passed away, she wrote into the newspaper and her story was published in memorial to his impact in children of all conditions. ❤
I watched Mr Rodgers as a child. I am looking at this clip again as a 57 year old woman and it brings me to tears how beautiful it was. That scene was filmed when I was only two years old. I wish I could say the world has changed more than it has. It was groundbreaking. What a kind and gentle soul he was! That show always made me feel peaceful as a child. xx
I was born in 1962 & I grew up with Mr Rogers. I didn’t know it in the moment, but Mr Rogers became the conscience of generations of kids.
As a closeted gay kid, to hear Mr Rogers tell Officer Clemmons “I love you just the way you are” moved me beyond words.
Just imagine that life-changing moment for Officer Clemmons and the love he no doubt felt multiplied by tens of millions of little kids around the world.
Just breath-takingly amazing.
It is not hyperbole to say that Mr Rogers saved the world back in the day…
We need him so much today.
Thank you, Mr Rogers.
Thank you, too, Jay for making me cry really REALLY good tears today. 🤗♥️👍
From what I understand, the actor who played Clemmons was a gay man himself. And Mr. Roger's "I love you just the way you are" to him was a nod to that.
I ave heard many "different" people say the "I love you just the way you are." at the end of every episode made them feel seen and loved.
@@christopherlawyer4214
that is true but Mister Rogers really meant that, as a sweeping statement to everyone. Especially children.
Unfortunately, clemmons did have to hide his sexual orientation while on the show. He was told by mister rogers, that although he personally had no issue with it, he knew it would really affect the show, its budget & reputation if that got out.
I do understand. I think it sucks, but I understand the decision at the time.
What’s really sad…it’s 2024, and it would STILL be a big deal if a children’s show had a gay actor.
In fact, there was the big hoopla with Ms. Rachel’s friend not even a year ago.
Finding Fred is a podcast where people share stories of how Mr. Rogers affected their lives. It's heartwarming.
"More compassion and more love" is the perfect description of Mr. Rogers. I was a child of the 70s, and we watched him every afternoon. He was a calm and gentle presence in many homes. And, clearly, a voice of reason.
5:31 That's exactly the point. Mr Rogers wanted people to realize how ordinary and normal these sort of things are. He didn't treat the police officer any different because he was black. Also, just the fact that he was a black police officer was a big deal.
I was born in 1979 and watched Mr. Roger's Neighborhood throughout my childhood. Having also grown up watching Sesame Street and Bill Cosby, I began to be disillusioned watching all my childhood heroes turn out to be awful people in real life. Not with Mr. Rogers. He remains pure, good, and a wholesome wonderful memory untainted by scandal or rumor. R.I.P Fred Rogers. He's as close to a perfect human as I've ever seen.
I had no clue Mr. Rodgers, the show, was around at that time and around during such points in history. I thought it was a 90s show.
I @@FullmoonPhantom-dn2sr The first episode aired in 1968. Isn't that crazy? It boggles my mind sometimes how things we associate with a decade actually happened at a completely different time.
Nevermind saw any of these shows because we only had 3 channels and it wasn't on any of them
Don't forget Mr. Wizard 😁
Same here but my kids did and I loved my Rogers too@@windyhawthorn7387
I can’t even watch him with out sobbing. Every time he reaches in and grabs my heart. 💛
The war in Vietnam was raging at that time too. For a child of an impressionable age Mr. Rogers provided a safe haven of caring and compassion. He was a role model we needed when so many adults failed us.
It seems simple but there's a LOT to it. Beyond the pool aspect there is also the fact that Fred shares his towel, something very intimate, without flinching and to also hand him the hose to comfort his feet above Fred's were all very intentional moments. Roger's is the host inviting a friend to be his guest. This was groundbreaking at a time so entrenched in bigotry and violence. This was a loving moment between two friends. Race never even had to be mentioned to understand the gravity of everything that was happening. Perfectly written and executed. Also notice Fred just let's speak and then sing, while he listens, never interrupting or injecting anything but kind words. Mr. Rogers was always a show about learning through example. He was the example of what kids should be to each other. He was saying, without saying anything, to love and respect everyone.
We were having a celebration of life gathering after my dad died. Lots of people that knew him, lots of family and friends that felt like family because we had known them out entire lives growing up. I was off to one side, trying to be inconspicuous, and I noticed one of my dad's lifelong friends had come in. He came over to me and gave me the biggest hug I had ever received. It was strong and protective and made me feel loved. It was exactly what I needed at the time and remains one of the most profound moments of my life.
Sorry for your loss💔 Thanks for sharing that, wow❤️
I had something similar. My dad's best friend had two boys. They were my brothers, 100%. When my dad passed, they were there with hugs for me, and I will never forget it.
Mr Rodgers taught us to be kind
We need more people like him on TV
We have too much trash in our media
We need people like Steve Irwin Fred Rodgers Bob Ross
Rest In Power to those great kind men
That’s my kind of masculinity right there! 👏👏👏
I talked to my students about Steve Irwin and how he inspired my love of animals and kindness towards them.
Mr. Rogers was an amazing voice for children's moral compass. He was such a wonderful person.
I grew up in the 90’s and watching this show with my great-grandma. I remember she had some old vhs tapes on this show as well. Between either the tapes or the show, I saw the second part of the episode, and she explained to me a child’s version of what went on in world when she was growing up and as an adult, raising my grandma and her sister.
I didn’t quite get it because I was young and didn’t know history at the age of 5, but I learned more about it in elementary school, and I understood then.
Mr. Rogers has always been a pretty central part of my childhood, but I didn’t appreciate him as much until I grew older.
💛 This was so wonderful to see. Being British, I didn’t grow up with Mr Rodgers so it’s lovely to learn about him and his kindness and compassion.
Fred Rogers can lift Thor's hammer. Prove me wrong.
Mjolnir humbly bows before Mr Rogers.
I am now imagining the scene in Endgame where the hammer lifts and instead of panning up to Captain America, it's Mr. Rogers😊.
@@caseyclausen2627 can you say "Can o' Whoop-Ass? I knew you could"
Either way, its still Mr Rogers.
I don't know about that, even he admitted that sometimes he was weak, and that that was okay. Now, I do whole heatedly believe that he could pull the sword out of the stone, no problem.
@lamario admitting your weakness is how you become worthy of Thor's hammer
Born In the 80s Mr. Rogers was still on and reruns were played in heavy rotation the world still needs Mr. Rogers cause after he stopped making his show with in years old problems came back and the world is just a dark place without Mr. Rogers
I think about this a lot, actually. It's absolutely true. He really did make us better people, as a society, and now we've lost that message.
I was born in 90 and remember Mr Rodger’s being on tv in the 90’s
@roadrash2005 he was on in the 90s over 30 years he was on but age catches us all
@@Raven5150 new shows were still being produced into the 90s.
There was original programming for 4 decades! Amazing, isn’t it?
@SimbaRobyn yes i know what i said was there were reruns for us to watch aswell pbs once was amazing mr. Rogers, joy of painting were basicly my life
RIP Mr. Rogers. He was the kindest.
Your big smile during the pool clip says it all! Mr Rogers is timeless
Fred Rogers was such a kind, compassionate, good man. We were so fortunate to have him. He was genuine. Wish there were more people like him
Mr Rodgers was ahead of his time. He taught us to respect each other.
One of the things that Mr Rodgers taught me as a child is “don’t judge”. I’m almost 40 now and he literally curated my sense of kindness. He is a legend.
My Rogers talked about a lot of tough topics. But he always explained it perfectly without sounding scary.
This is why the government asked him to film a message for kids after 9/11. He had such a wonderful way of communicating, comforting even for adults. I still find his messages comforting and helpful.
Mr. Rogers taught us to be better people. We learned that people who looked different (...not white...) were NOT different. All of us feel, love, and hurt the same. Mr. Rogers was the best of us. I wish we (USA) listened to him better.
This country (and the world) needs Mr. Rogers right now. Can you imagine how much better we would be if all of our kids watched shows like this?
Growing up in the 70's, it was Seseme Street, Mr Rogers, Electric Company on PBS. I was a nice time for TV for kindness., as it should be.
Mr Rodgers did soo much good for this country and the world!
We need Mr. Roger’s in our lives more than ever right now! Thank you for this! I grew up very near to Mr.Rogers home. My uncle worked as a grounds keeper for him. He and his wife were such kind souls. These times now people don’t realize the impact he had.
Every time I think about Mr. Roger’s I get so emotional bc he was such a pure human being. I grew up watching him in the 80s and 90s and I always admired his simplistic approach to life. If you read about his backstory you’ll understand why he was and still is so respected. Thank you for posting this.
A large portion of Gen X grew up with Mr. Rogers. It's a big reason why skin doesn't matter to us. Goodness comes in all sizes, shapes and colors.
When my family moved to the US from Japan, Mr. Rogers and Sesame Street were great for helping me learn English. I loved how Mr. Rogers was so gentle and kind.
This is one of the best scenes in on television history❤ I WATCHED IT (later, I wasn't born till '75), my mom, the hippie nurse, and I cried with joy. She later married a black dude, in VA in the early 80's. Violence ensued at school. We moved to CT. Violence ensued at school. We moved to L. A., CA. Violence ensued at school. Guess what? Still not a racist. People are dumb everywhere.
My mom raised me with this: "Aasholes come in every color, Love. So do nice people. Gravitate towards love.".
I grew up with Mr. Rogers. I was young enough to not understand segregation was a thing. I have no doubt that it helped so many to not see “colors”. He was a treasure ❤
My daughters and I watched Mr Rogers twice daily for several years. We love him. I have his books and I have the documentaries about him.
I loved watching Mr. Rogers! It‘s one of my childhood favorites. I love the lessons that he taught us and we need more people like Mr. Rogers, especially in today’s world.
This was a children's program. Fred was using simple stories to get great ideas to sink into our minds while we were young enough to actually learn this easily! He was changing the world, one mind at a time.
Growing up in Gen X, Mr. Rogers was a staple. He taught respect and equality to our young receptive minds. I really miss him.
I’m 49, and I grew up on Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood. I didn’t realize how the lessons he taught us have stuck with me until he passed away.
Bro, I still shed tears of happy remembrance when I watch his old videos. Mr Rogers made an ENORMOUS impact on a multiple generations of people.
The documentary is really incredible! I cried like a little baby! Mister Rogers was the best 🤲💖
You and your sister are good people. Your presence does make a difference. Keep being awesome.
He was displaying the agape love of Jesus. Jesus washed many feet. Beautiful kindness and love.
Mr. Rogers was magic and I'm so glad I got to grow up with him
Mr Rodgers was absolute pure of heart that we will ever see in my lifetime . You can look at all his stuff now and thunk wow how corny but NO ONE ever besides sesame Street helped you understand brotherhood of man than Mr Rodgers. He walked the walk . Rip to this incredible man
. We were all so lucky to have him ❤️
“Blessed are the pure of heart.”
Thank you for sharing this very touching scene and the beautiful discussion of it by the actor who played the policeman.
As a 90s kid, with a 70s sister, she would always put mr. Roger’s on to keep me occupied. I still love it ❤️
Even in the 80s, it was still around. My best friend and I couldn't be hanging out without other kids singing" jungle fever" at us. Its redundancies. We are all human, buttheads. Decades later, we ran into each other and just hugged. It was so awesome seeing him again. I Was pissed as a kid, but as an adult I get they are a product of the parenting. If Fred Rogers was Catholic instead of Presbyterian he differently would be a saint.
*definitely
It didn't matter your denomination, everyone in Pittsburgh considered the man a saint.
How much could we use Mr Rogers right now? Myself and my kids saw and heard him on the daily. Love that dude!❤
As a 45 year old white guy in America it breaks my heart that this is bringing tears to my eyes. This shouldn’t have been a thing. I don’t understand how the world is still so full of xenophobia and hatred.
I loved watching Mr.Rogers growing up in the late 80s early 90s.
Although I'm too young to have seen this episode, any American knows what it would have meant in 1969. The air date was almost precisely one year and one month after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, when America was still in deep racial turmoil. By the time the smoke had cleared in the late 70s when I was a kid, we were finally beginning to learn to live with one another, and I watched race relations on a forty-year upward trend.
Until about a decade ago, when it all started to go to hell again. But that's a topic for another discussion.
We stand together or we fall apart.
@@marklar7551 Favorite Fred Rogers quote- "Look for the helpers". My addendum is "If you don't see any, BE the helper"