Question
When we think of Peanuts™, enduring images come to mind: down-on-his-luck Charlie Brown; Linus and his blue blanket; and Snoopy, who sleeps atop his doghouse. These and other Peanuts pals have been delighting audiences since 1950. That's when Charles M. Schulz introduced his beloved comic strip. Almost 20 years would pass, however, before another Peanuts pal joined the gang: mild-mannered Franklin, the first Black character to appear in the comic strip. Franklin's character was revolutionary when he joined the Peanuts cast in 1968. And his story continues to inspire awareness, discussion, and progress.
Peanuts and Civil Unrest
In early 1968, Peanuts was at the peak of its popularity. It appeared in thousands of newspapers and had millions of readers. At the same time, however, the United States was plagued by social unrest. Civil rights activists fought to tear down racial barriers. One of them was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Shortly following Dr. King's assassination in April 1968, Charles Schulz received a letter from a schoolteacher in Los Angeles, California.
Harriet Glickman suggested that Schulz add a Black character to the Peanuts cast. She hoped this would inspire the next generation to be more accepting of people's differences. The Peanuts creator obliged. On July 31, 1968, Peanuts' first Black character appeared in newspapers around the country.
"Is This Your Beach Ball?"
These were the first words spoken by Franklin, who met Charlie Brown on a beach and proceeded to help him build a sandcastle. To many, this innocent exchange between a Black child and a White child was upsetting. At the time, segregation on some public beaches persisted.
Some newspaper editors refused to run the strip that introduced Franklin. But rather than appeasing them, Schulz threatened to stop writing the wildly popular comic strip. This decision quieted some of the noise, and Franklin stuck around. Schulz later recalled that, despite some backlash, he received many letters of gratitude.
A Seat at the Table
Franklin's television debut was in 1973 in the animated feature A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. Years later, however, Franklin's seat at that holiday feast ignited debate. Some viewers pointed out that Franklin is seated alone on a long side of the table while his pals sit on the opposite side. This scene, they noted, was suggestive of segregation. Schulz's widow, Jean Schulz (who clarified that her husband was not involved in the animation), expressed a different view: "To suggest the show had any other messages than the importance of family, sharing, and gratitude is to look for an issue where there is none." Yet, some critics maintained that the show failed to properly demonstrate inclusion.
Fast forward to the year 2024, when Apple TV+ released an animated special called Welcome Home, Franklin. This short film aims to flesh out Franklin's origin story and address critics' concerns. The film chronicles Franklin's arrival to a new town and his struggle to fit in. It also re-imagines the controversial dinner table scene from 1973. This time, Franklin is invited to take a seat between his pals at a pizza restaurant. And near the end of the film, he says, "You know you've found your home when you're surrounded by good friends."
Craig Schulz, son of Charles Schulz and co-writer of the film, said a special about Franklin was overdue. Some say it's a fitting tribute to the pioneering Franklin, who was quietly brought to life by Charles Schulz more than 50 years ago.
Think about and discuss these questions:
What evidence from the article supports the idea that some people were unhappy with the addition of Franklin in the Peanuts comic strip?
Why do you think Charles Schulz received many letters of gratitude after adding Franklin to his comic strip?
Video credit: Apple TV+
QUESTION 1
1 / 8
Which of these is most important to include in a summary of this article?
Schulz began delighting readers with his comic strip in 1950.
A film released in 2024 features Franklin's life in a new town.
Activists fought to tear down racial barriers in the United States.
The addition of Franklin's character helped promote progress.
Peanuts and Civil Unrest
In early 1968, Peanuts was at the peak of its popularity. It appeared in thousands of newspapers and had millions of readers. At the same time, however, the United States was plagued by social unrest. Civil rights activists fought to tear down racial barriers. One of them was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Shortly following Dr. King's assassination in April 1968, Charles Schulz received a letter from a schoolteacher in Los Angeles, California.
Harriet Glickman suggested that Schulz add a Black character to the Peanuts cast. She hoped this would inspire the next generation to be more accepting of people's differences. The Peanuts creator obliged. On July 31, 1968, Peanuts' first Black character appeared in newspapers around the country.
"Is This Your Beach Ball?"
These were the first words spoken by Franklin, who met Charlie Brown on a beach and proceeded to help him build a sandcastle. To many, this innocent exchange between a Black child and a White child was upsetting. At the time, segregation on some public beaches persisted.
Some newspaper editors refused to run the strip that introduced Franklin. But rather than appeasing them, Schulz threatened to stop writing the wildly popular comic strip. This decision quieted some of the noise, and Franklin stuck around. Schulz later recalled that, despite some backlash, he received many letters of gratitude.
A Seat at the Table
Franklin's television debut was in 1973 in the animated feature A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. Years later, however, Franklin's seat at that holiday feast ignited debate. Some viewers pointed out that Franklin is seated alone on a long side of the table while his pals sit on the opposite side. This scene, they noted, was suggestive of segregation. Schulz's widow, Jean Schulz (who clarified that her husband was not involved in the animation), expressed a different view: "To suggest the show had any other messages than the importance of family, sharing, and gratitude is to look for an issue where there is none." Yet, some critics maintained that the show failed to properly demonstrate inclusion.
Fast forward to the year 2024, when Apple TV+ released an animated special called Welcome Home, Franklin. This short film aims to flesh out Franklin's origin story and address critics' concerns. The film chronicles Franklin's arrival to a new town and his struggle to fit in. It also re-imagines the controversial dinner table scene from 1973. This time, Franklin is invited to take a seat between his pals at a pizza restaurant. And near the end of the film, he says, "You know you've found your home when you're surrounded by good friends."
Craig Schulz, son of Charles Schulz and co-writer of the film, said a special about Franklin was overdue. Some say it's a fitting tribute to the pioneering Franklin, who was quietly brought to life by Charles Schulz more than 50 years ago.
Think about and discuss these questions:
What evidence from the article supports the idea that some people were unhappy with the addition of Franklin in the Peanuts comic strip?
Why do you think Charles Schulz received many letters of gratitude after adding Franklin to his comic strip?
Video credit: Apple TV+
QUESTION 1
1 / 8
Which of these is most important to include in a summary of this article?
Schulz began delighting readers with his comic strip in 1950.
A film released in 2024 features Franklin's life in a new town.
Activists fought to tear down racial barriers in the United States.
The addition of Franklin's character helped promote progress.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The most important detail to include in a summary of this article is:
**The addition of Franklin's character helped promote progress.**
This statement encapsulates the core idea of the article, which discusses both the significance of introducing Franklin as the first Black character in Peanuts during a time of social unrest and how it contributed to the ongoing conversation around diversity and inclusion.
**The addition of Franklin's character helped promote progress.**
This statement encapsulates the core idea of the article, which discusses both the significance of introducing Franklin as the first Black character in Peanuts during a time of social unrest and how it contributed to the ongoing conversation around diversity and inclusion.