Oprah proves there was at least one black person in Mayberry

Oprah interviews actor Rockne Tarkington, who was the first black actor to have a speaking part on The Andy Griffith Show in 1965.

[@brittneynyah4life248]

That’s my Grandpa Rockne Tarkington. R.I.P Grandpa I love you

[@almari222]

Hi, Brittney. I loved your grandpa in the show Danger Island. I know I don’t know him, but he seemed like a really nice guy. You must be proud. Take care.

[@brittneynyah4life248]

@@almari222 Thank you so much , I appreciate that , & i am very proud I miss him as well . R.I.P Grandpa

[@bOmBAsTiK]

I'm watching "Black Samson" on TCM and went searching for clips of him, as he has such an onscreen presence. Was your grandfather also a pro or college athlete? Was he a theater actor as well? I'm fascinated by that era of Black actors & actresses. Seems he was born too soon to have the kind of Hollywood career he deserved. Same with Ron O'Neal, Fred Williamson and Calvin Lockhart. Like your Grandpa, they were all very talented. May they all rest in power...

[@woodup333]

Black Samson on tmc

[@suburbiajones2268]

Rest in peace. I was so happy to see this episode, I wanted to know one thing? Did your grandfather really play the piano?

[@SteveCanoy]

There was also was an African American standing in the recruitment line when Earnest T Bass attempted to join the Army.

[@tiptip1191]

Steve Canoy yes I was shocked when saw him!!

[@SteveCanoy]

On the episode that Gomer joins the Marines there are also two African American soldiers in his barracks, one occupying the bunk directly underneath Gomer Pyle.

[@KAYKWILL]

@@SteveCanoy I heard it's OK to say "black people" now! 🤣

[@KiddSteely]

we're talking about speaking roles. Also you can just say black, its not really racist

[@monicas.6689]

There was one black lady, no lines...in the the crowd S1 Ep30. Barney accidentally caught an escaped con and was being congratulated by the townsfolk.

[@Eviltopia]

She was in a couple of episodes but she had no lines.

[@bennygreene1421]

Does anyone know her name? I also noticed her in one episode.

[@scotta4837]

Rockne was the ONLY black actor to have a speaking part on "The Andy Griffith Show" and it was in 1967, not 1965. Rockne mentions in the clip it was "about 1965", so the description of the clip shouldn't actually state it was the actual year of 1965 (since it was 1967...understandable though that Rockne didn't fully remember after his long career in Hollywood). The episode was "Opie's Piano Lesson". Rockne also alludes to the early 1960s and roles being rare for black actors at that time. This episode was in 1967 though and well after the pains of making gains in civil rights was known to the TV viewing public. This episode was nearly 4 years after the speech by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. after all. The show's producers and Andy Griffith could have done much more to be inclusive. The show takes place in the South and we're supposed to believe none of the main plot lines or subplots had anything to do with them except for Rockne's appearance? His appearance and speaking role was at least something positive, but they chose an actor with lighter skin and who is only deemed worthy to get any mention because he's a sports star who is there just to entertain the white kids. Anyway, thanks for the video, but please change the year of the episode to 1967 (March 13th, 1967 to be fully accurate).

[@johnrunion5357]

i have read that back in the 60's during the time of the filming of the series that andy. don knotts and sheldon leonard all fought to have black people on the show, but the network would not allow it to take place. just as gomer pyle, usmc never addressed the viet-nam war and supposedly transpired during peace time, the network stated that with the civil rights movement being in the news that they/the network would simply not allow miniorties to appear out of fear as to how some sponsors and some viewers would respond.

[@jamesrivera4947]

Good points. FWIW, though, "Opie's Piano Lessons" did air BEFORE Martin Luther King's assassination in April, 1968 😢

[@GerarddeSouza-yt3fc]

Video came up in my feed because I've been looking up Tarkington after watching an episode of Danger Island. He was leading man quality imho.

[@tajuanadinkins]

AND HE DONT LOOK BLACK

[@bennygreene1421]

In some episodes of Andy Griffith there is a black lady in the crowd. Does anyone know who she might be?

[@julier.1902]

So far I can't find a name. Shucks.

[@MrFloppy131]

This is actually from Mayberry RFD, not the Andy Griffith show which were all black and white

[@BartBoat]

No, this was from an episode of The Andy Griffith Show entitled “Opie’s Piano Lesson” from season 7. The Andy Griffith Show aired for eight seasons (249 episodes) with the last 3 airing in color. The color episodes also coincided with the departure of Don Knotts from the show.

[@666kinski]

Actually, 1967 when The Show went from Black & White..Rocke was on the Banana Splits and had a busy career..RIP

[@brittneynyah4life248]

For everyone speaking on my Grandpa please speak of what you know . Thank you

[@gregoryhoward7594]

Black people were seen in the original Mayberry, not to be confused with the other version that came afterward. They were background characters though. I remember there was one with Ernestine who was dancing in a hall or office and in the group of men there was a black person. Still black and White version of the original show. A child and maybe a woman in other episodes. The sad part is the reason why. The REAL reason why versus the massaged reason why which is not wanting to be called out as racist because the characters were all clumsy to some degree. So people make the excuse that calls of racism would have erupted had a character like that with faults would have been created. Sad and weak excuses. Andy wasn't the only show. What people fail to realize is white people had no problem with the buffoonery of a character displayed on Andy because they had ALTERNATIVES that were not on the show as well as other show options. The black race did NOT. Why? Because of racism. When America as a whole is honest with itself and addresses racism THEN this country will achieve it's greatness potential. Right now it is going backwards and doom awaits down that chosen path. History proves this.

[@charlespeterson3877]

I remember him from Matt Houston ad "Too Mean"

[@charlespeterson3877]

He was also the first black actor to appear on the Andy Griffith show.

[@cakescakes2482]

This is great to see. I used to date an actor who was good friends with Rockne. Spent a lot of time at Rockne's home during that period. Complete gentleman.

[@ah2552]

Another tib bit. Tarkington was the original Mr. Williams for Enter the Dragon, the Bruce Lee classic. The day before shooting he complained to Jerry Weintraub feeling he was being exploited and he either quit or was let go. Jim Kelly stepped in to the role and history was made.

[@FaithfullyScratchers]

AH where can I find this full episode I was a guest on this episode can u help me

[@elijahgarrison34]

There were some in the background from time to time

[@deesocial-media5027]

Apparently, they didn’t replay this episode much.

[@daviddinkins7009]

There was a back female extra who was on several times.

[@scootergreen3]

There was a black man that played a major role in Mayberry RFD. I think he was a farmer and talked with Sam Jones a lot. The total that I saw was 4 in the Mayberry series.

[@johnnotgalt2697]

They made a point of saying he was the neighbor of the protagonist, Sam Jones (Ken Berry). Also that his son was a schoolmate of Sam's son, Mike. Progressive for the time!

[@scootergreen3]

@Paul Kryder Ha ha! I see my mis-type. LOL Thanks. It's a good laugh for me too. Ha!

[@suburbiajones2268]

Boom

[@monicas.6689]

Man was it turtleneck/jean day? 😄

[@johnrunion5357]

i have read or perhaps i heard that back in the 60's during the time of the filming of the series that andy. don knotts and sheldon leonard all fought to have black people on the show, but the network would not allow it to take place. just as gomer pyle, usmc never addressed the viet-nam war and supposedly transpired during peace time, the network stated that with the civil rights movement being in the news that they/the network would simply not allow miniorties to appear out of fear as to how some sponsors and some viewers would react. .

[@thepreacherswife7301]

There was also a black person in an episode called “Barney’s Replacement”. Season 2 episode 2. A black lady was standing by the car when the horn was stuck on the Squad car.

[@BartBoat]

Yes, but this was the first time a black actor was featured with a speaking role.

[@gmg9010]

Bart Boatwright well that wasn’t racist that is because black people had speaking parts they where just racist parts as far as I know

[@ah2552]

@@gmg9010 what???

[@gmg9010]

AH yeah man I’m reading the comments above mine and mine and trying to make sense of what I was trying to say here

[@TruSoulDj]

I’ve been trying to find her name. She was also in some of Don Knotts’ films.

[@FaithfullyScratchers]

Do anybody know how I can get this entire episode I was a guess on there

[@snake9911]

I remember that Opie's football coach was black. He could play the piano. He convinced Andy that you could do 2 things well at once.

[@Stephanopoulosdion]

It's easier to find Waldo than blk peo in Mayberry.

[@KAYKWILL]

WOW!

[@jamesrivera4947]

I'm sorry, but Ms. Oprah would've had to be deaf, dumb and blind to not notice negro background actors on TAGS. Perhaps she felt it would make for a better lead narrative on her show 🤔 Almost as troubling, btw, is how Opie could forget he was his football team's starting quarterback, which under most circumstances would rule out any other extra curricular activities, such as, say, piano lessons 🤔

[@TheMeJustMe75]

What a dumb topic. Of course there were black people in the show. There was the black man who hung out with the men who gave Barney a hard time. He's shown in the episode "Barney's Sidecar". There was a black lady who showed up in groups of people. They were on several episodes.

[@tajuanadinkins]

Bull crap

[@ForemanFan]

How many of those had speaking roles?

[@AC-kl8gi]

It's not "dumb" to black people. "Inclusion" is the underlying topic.

[@beaugoss4833]

THEY HAD A BLACK LADY WHO PLAYED A RESIDENT THERE. SHE STOOD BEHIND BARNEY FIFE THE DAY HE CAUGHT THE ESCAPED CRIMINAL