I recently saw a new commercial found on late night television. Its an add for health insurance or coverage. I apologize that I don’t see my notes on it right now. You may be familiar with the television commercial, it features a scene from the I Love Lucy program of the 50's. It has Fred and Ethyl Mertz talking together in the home of Ricky and Lucy Ricardo. [Yes I am familiar with the show and have seen many episodes even though I’m not that old to have seen it in first or second run] There are several things I noticed quickly.
First, since they are using footage from a groundbreaking show, owned by Desi Arnaz (real name is Desiderio Alberto Arnaz y de Acha, II) and Lucille Ball. Actually I’ll go back a step for those too young to know the program. It takes place during the 50's. It’s about an interracial couple, a Cuban bandleader and his wife a White American housewife. Interracial couples at that time were quite rare and often shunned. Even harder was the fact that they in real life were married, and highly successful. So much so that they had owned a major television studio that equaled and later was bought by NBC. Mr. Arnaz and Ms. Ball were responsible for so many shows watched on channels like Nick-at-nite, one of the most famous being Star Trek.
Having given some background I will continue. This company [someone remind me of their name] has decided to use 2 of the support characters from the show that are White Americans in a scene in the main characters home. The scenes are in black and white, the voices were redubbed and the only change. The conversation is about Fred getting medical coverage and saving money. They pull back to an actor discussing the benefits of their product and ends with the theme music of the show with the actor stating “If Fred could have done it then he would have.”
Now I must ask, why did they use 2 supporting characters of such a prominent show? The fact that it would cost the same for the rights to use the any portion of the show, why use this part? Ms. Lucille Ball is far more famous than any of the other actors in the show, with the exception perhaps of Mr. Arnaz who is also quite famous especially in Hispanic culture. So why did they do this? Because they did not use the lead characters they have opened themselves to questions. Is it their intent to say that their product is only for White Americans? That minorities or interracial couples are not deserving of this product? Do they mean that Hispanics should not be seen on cable and that the only worthy portion of the show was the White couple?
I just don’t understand. It doesn’t make sense. Are they saying that the only people who have an interest in health and finances related to it are white? I as a Hispanic African American am offended. Mr. Desi Arnaz deserves better than that. He created DesiLu, which was a giant at its peak. He was also a solid actor, shunned in Hollywood because of his color. Even without the support of casting or directors he still got several roles and did them well. In a nation that ignored the ability of non-whites [this is a predominant fact of the 50's which is why there was segregation and the resulting Civil Rights activities in the 60's as I understand it] at the time, to ignore their contributions and breakthroughs is mean and vile. They were the first interracial couple on television as far as I know. Perhaps someone can explain it to me. I just find it a subtle but definite slap in the face to all minorities especially Hispanic Americans. Or am I seeing more than what is there?
This is what I think, what do you think?
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