This episode is called "Guess Who" in some syndication packages.
Arnold is fascinated by his tape recorder, and the episode begins with him hiding the recorder (circa 1980, a much larger device than contemporary times) and taping Willis and Kimberly without their permission. This gets him in trouble with Phillip at first. Meanwhile, Kimberly has met a boy while on a weekend ski trip. Roger is a slightly older boy, and goes to school in Manhattan, near where the Drummond/Jackson kids go to school. Roger calls by phone to invite Kimberly to a school costume party. Kimberly agrees, but Roger sends his sister Emily to visit just before him, as the plan is to invite Willis to the party as Emily's date. Emily visits and warmly greets Kimberly as well as Arnold and Willis. Emily's nonchalance with Willis and Arnold being black informs the plot twist.
When Roger finally shows up, he initially is friendly with Willis and Arnold (though, going out of his way to give elaborate handshakes may be an indicator of something else going on.) At one point, Kimberly, Arnold and Willis excuse themselves to prepare some snacks for their guests: while alone in the boys' bedroom, Roger argues with Emily. He strenuously objects to the possibility of Emily bringing Willis as her date. He forces her to claim that she's sick on the day of the dance. Turns out, Arnold was inadvertently taping everything being said. He eventually reveals this to Phillip, then Willis and Kimberly. Kimberly is upset and plans to confront Roger about this, but the exact way is not revealed at first.
In the climax, Roger shows up to the penthouse to pick up Kimberly to take her to the party. But when Arnold and Willis call for Kimberly, she shows up at the top of the balcony-- she's dressed in a "Maid Marian" outfit (Roger is Robin Hood), but there's a twist: Kimberly has clearly put on dusky-brown makeup on her face and lower arms as well as an afro wig. Kimberly confronts Roger about the possibility of her being black, and calls him out on his bigoted comments.
Roger is embarrassed and leaves. Kimberly is disappointed in confirming his bigotry but is happy about learning the truth, nonetheless.
This episode, like many of the Diff'rent Strokes episodes, has a message about bigotry and tolerance. However, this one hasn't dated that well. Aside from inoffensive one-liner jokes that may not be hilarious for modern audiences, there's the issue of Kimberly's "black disguise". The issue of blackface has become a hot button issue in modern political discussions, including the film and television industries. Some television studios have "pulled" episodes from syndication and streaming services based on white characters putting on "blackface" style makeup to imitate people of African descent.
Putting the Kimberly character in a "black face" outfit, at the time, possibly wasn't considered offensive because her character's intent was to expose the bigotry of Roger. She was not attempting to be a "mammy" nor any other black caricature. (However, during her initial "reintroduction" to Roger, she participates in a brief "sassy strut" alongside Willis and Arnold.) Creatively, this was a bad choice, in retrospect.
This writer will stop short of suggesting that the episode be pulled, but it is an example of how even in the attempt to make a point about bigotry, that institutions (TV producers, writers, directors, networks) can contribute to deeply problematic depictions, regardless of intent.
Arnold is fascinated by his tape recorder, and the episode begins with him hiding the recorder (circa 1980, a much larger device than contemporary times) and taping Willis and Kimberly without their permission. This gets him in trouble with Phillip at first. Meanwhile, Kimberly has met a boy while on a weekend ski trip. Roger is a slightly older boy, and goes to school in Manhattan, near where the Drummond/Jackson kids go to school. Roger calls by phone to invite Kimberly to a school costume party. Kimberly agrees, but Roger sends his sister Emily to visit just before him, as the plan is to invite Willis to the party as Emily's date. Emily visits and warmly greets Kimberly as well as Arnold and Willis. Emily's nonchalance with Willis and Arnold being black informs the plot twist.
When Roger finally shows up, he initially is friendly with Willis and Arnold (though, going out of his way to give elaborate handshakes may be an indicator of something else going on.) At one point, Kimberly, Arnold and Willis excuse themselves to prepare some snacks for their guests: while alone in the boys' bedroom, Roger argues with Emily. He strenuously objects to the possibility of Emily bringing Willis as her date. He forces her to claim that she's sick on the day of the dance. Turns out, Arnold was inadvertently taping everything being said. He eventually reveals this to Phillip, then Willis and Kimberly. Kimberly is upset and plans to confront Roger about this, but the exact way is not revealed at first.
In the climax, Roger shows up to the penthouse to pick up Kimberly to take her to the party. But when Arnold and Willis call for Kimberly, she shows up at the top of the balcony-- she's dressed in a "Maid Marian" outfit (Roger is Robin Hood), but there's a twist: Kimberly has clearly put on dusky-brown makeup on her face and lower arms as well as an afro wig. Kimberly confronts Roger about the possibility of her being black, and calls him out on his bigoted comments.
Roger is embarrassed and leaves. Kimberly is disappointed in confirming his bigotry but is happy about learning the truth, nonetheless.
This episode, like many of the Diff'rent Strokes episodes, has a message about bigotry and tolerance. However, this one hasn't dated that well. Aside from inoffensive one-liner jokes that may not be hilarious for modern audiences, there's the issue of Kimberly's "black disguise". The issue of blackface has become a hot button issue in modern political discussions, including the film and television industries. Some television studios have "pulled" episodes from syndication and streaming services based on white characters putting on "blackface" style makeup to imitate people of African descent.
Putting the Kimberly character in a "black face" outfit, at the time, possibly wasn't considered offensive because her character's intent was to expose the bigotry of Roger. She was not attempting to be a "mammy" nor any other black caricature. (However, during her initial "reintroduction" to Roger, she participates in a brief "sassy strut" alongside Willis and Arnold.) Creatively, this was a bad choice, in retrospect.
This writer will stop short of suggesting that the episode be pulled, but it is an example of how even in the attempt to make a point about bigotry, that institutions (TV producers, writers, directors, networks) can contribute to deeply problematic depictions, regardless of intent.
