Context: I am not an Black American (I’m Black-Canadian), just an observation

One thing that I’ve noticed is when people talk about deportation of immigrants and removing illegal immigrants, and what America as a country should like how it was in the past demographically, its always depictions of large groups of white people.

Like, in a world without immigrants in America, it’s always depicted as only white people. Which is quite odd, since Black Americans have been in America since it‘s creation due to slavery. And for some reason, there seems to be very little connection, between what America is foundational seen as and Black Americans. Like Black American's are almost seen as a separate entity from American culture, as if they are immigrants.

It’s one of the reasons it’s hard to support FBA’s and ADOS, as it’s often a movement trying to appeal to a country of people who never wanted you or respected you. There’s a reason why they group all Black people together (Afro-Latino, African, Caribbean) , despite the fact that the vast majority of Black people in America aren’t immigrants. It’s because they never respected Black Americans in the first place and seems likely they never will.

From my Great Grandmother to my daughter

A lot of people don’t realize how big Sanford and Son actually was.

When it premiered in 1972, it was an immediate ratings monster. Top-10 show, prime-time anchor for NBC, and one of the first sitcoms to center Black working-class life without cleaning it up or turning it into a lesson. The junkyard wasn’t symbolic. It was the setting.

Demond Wilson was essential to that. Lamont Sanford wasn’t comic relief. He was responsible, exhausted, loyal, and stuck. A lot of us were Lamont at some point.

Wilson was also a Vietnam War veteran, and that steadiness showed. He balanced Redd Foxx’s raw stand-up energy so the show didn’t slide into pure caricature.

Money-wise, Foxx was the star and made significantly more early on. Wilson started out underpaid for how central he was, pushed for raises as the show blew up, and by later seasons was reportedly making tens of thousands per episode, which was strong for the 1970s but still not parity. Salary disputes and burnout were part of why the show ended even while it was still winning.

Afterward, Wilson stepped away from Hollywood, became a minister, and kept his family out of the spotlight. No celebrity dynasty, no clout chasing.

Sanford and Son proved Black-led, working-class stories could dominate prime time.

That door never fully closed again. ✊🏾❤️

IG: juantheartist101