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| Mr. Hashimoto - a Japanese caveman judo instructor. |
The Flintstones was an animated, prime-time American television show on the air between September 30, 1960 and April 1, 1966 on the ABC Network. The Flintstones was about a modern Stone Age family.
Today’s classic clip is from a December 1960 episode of The Flintstones entitled “The Prowler.” In it, a prowler is on the prowl in Bedrock and to safeguard against this crook, the Flintstone's neighbor Betty Rubble decides to take judo lessons from Japanese caveman and judo-sensei (Teacher) Mr. Hashimoto. Wilma Flintstone wants to join, but her hubby Fred refuses after an initial lesson as the courses cost too much money.
You can watch that part of the judo lesson HERE. The title of the You Tube clip below is Racist Fred Flintstone, but really... that's just white liberal guilt. Fred is simply ignorant of the culture and plays it up for laughs. He doesn't, in my opinion, do anything racist. The fact that he's there to learn judo implies he is, at the very least, open to new experiences.His problem is that he's a cheap bastard like a Scotsman. Now that was racist, and I played it up for sarcasm.
However, Wilma decided to takes them judo lessons anyway, and when Fred finds out, he tries to giver a lesson by dressing up as a prowler. Of course... nothing ever works out perfectly for Fred.
Enjoy the beautiful cartoon and have a laugh and let's nip racism before it becomes ugly.
Anyhow... this cartoon is a perfect example of stereotypes many a generation of people grew up with about what the Japanese were like.
Of course, I did judo as a pre-teen - but maybe not because I watched this Flintstones episode. Or maybe I did. I have no idea. Regardless... there was no Mr. Hashimoto caricature to instruct me in judo. Just some big and strong Scottish guy.
Somewhere with a blue belt,
By Andrew Joseph
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