Fred Rogers and Officer Clemmons sharing a pool in 1969
by HumanValuesLife
Fred Rogers and Officer Clemmons sharing a pool in 1969
by HumanValuesLife
7 Comments
Miss you, Uncle Fred.
This was a momentous historical moment.
This is actually from 1993, where they reenacted the scene as a send-off for François Clemmons’ final appearance on the show. In the original 1969 scene, both men were much younger.
For context, the original scene with the two men dipping their feet in a kiddie pool together was in an era when hotel owners would pour bleach on Black guests who dared to “contaminate” pools by going in them, and when communities across the US South were closing public swimming pools rather than open them to Black patrons.
It was an incredibly powerful political statement for “just a kiddie show”.
I could write an essay on this photo and its history by how many times it’s reposted
I am too lazy to post it but look up Fred Rogers testimony in front of congress. A great human being.
https://preview.redd.it/ziekgll5jm2h1.jpeg?width=600&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d99d10d5cf2a292e6746f03644c8a6ef038f0549
This is the correct photo.
It should be obvious.