To the writers of Mad Men:
First let me say what a fan I am of your show. Mad Men has been great at exploring the changing social mores in American society. From gender politics to the nuclear family, you guys have really done an impressive job at examining an important decade in American culture. But I implore you fine people to look beyond your narrow gaze and explore an area you have done very little to shed any light on – race.
May I remind you that no history or cultural study of the 60’s would be complete without a look at the impact of the Civil Rights Movement. From Martin Luther King, to the Civil and Voting Rights Act, to the freedom rides, race was the dominant social and cultural issue of the decade. I’m surprised that it’s taking you guys so long to drive that point across.
I will admit, you acknowledged race in the first season rather brilliantly when Pete Campbell tried to sell one of his accounts on the potential for new revenue from selling ad space in Ebony magazine, to their disapproval of course. I applauded you for your subtle approach to how ad firms became more cognizant of the growing black consumer market.
You also wrote a character named Carla, the Draper’s black nanny. She played somewhat of a background role in the Draper’s world despite her omnipresence in their lives. Still, this was only 1960, and integration wasn’t quite at the forefront as it would be a few years later.
Fast forward to your most recent season. I expected a more integration-friendly Mad Men this year, given the year it takes place (1965). Sadly, you did not impress me with your casting of Naturi Naughton. Not only do you give her maybe four minutes of screen time, you add insult to injury by making her a sexual object for Lane Price?!? The stodgy, British guy with the bifocals? And what was with his casual remark about her being his “little jungle bunny?” You couldn’t have maybe inserted a little backbone in her character? She even seems to enjoy the racist dig. I’m not against pairing up white guys with black women on-screen (even though it seems to be way out of proportion to what’s really going on), but this relationship couldn’t have been more fake and unnecessary. No wonder it only lasted one episode.
I will say you did somewhat redeem yourselves in the finale, when Carla stands up to Betty’s immature behaviour. Another subtle, but effective way of dealing with the shift in race relations
You also made Peggy into a more socially-conscious, dare I say ‘radical’ lefty chick. I see the beginnings of a flower-power hippie in her. But I was a tad disappointed in her awakening to her company’s tolerance of doing business with a racist company. She comes to this realization after meeting and falling for a left-wing writer. Couldn’t you have introduced her to a black civil rights activist? Or was that pushing it too far?
I guess my problem with all the scenarios I’ve described, even the ones I’ve liked, is that they’re all told from a white perspective. Of course you’ll probably say the show’s about white people, what other point-of-view could we show? True, your series is set in a whites-only business at a time when blacks were still using separate toilet facilities, but I find this excuse hollow at best. So far, blacks have played the role of the other, something for the white characters to learn from or about. They’re never allowed to speak for themselves, never the main thrust of the series if you will.
I think this is a wrong way to approach any historical subject. If I learned anything from my university days, it’s that there is no such thing as a single narrative in history. Your show would benefit a great deal if you widened your lens a bit. Don’t focus so narrowly on the confined trappings of the ad agency. You could introduce a black business account next season, or have the firm hire a black ad man. I totally see Idris Elba playing a guy similar to Don Draper. Although that might be too many handsome men for one show.
Look, I’m no screenwriter, or casting agent for that matter. I just love your show, and want to see it improve. And I think you’d be well-served by making integration a bigger part of your show’s narrative than just a peripheral issue from time to time.
Looking forward to next season!
-C.R.
