Desilu

I had always thought that a portrayal of an interracial marriage in the 1950's was almost and impossibility. But sure enough one of the most popular tv shows of all time happens to be one about at Cuban and and all American girl. Desi Arnaz who plays the role of Ricky Ricardo on "I Love Lucy" and is married to his co-star Lucille Ball, is Cuban and part of the Latino family, and Lucille Ball's ancestry can be traced back all the way to the first European settlements in the United States. They were not only married on television but in real life. At the time I am certain that there was much controversy in letting someone like Desi Arnaz, Spanish accent and all, be married to what was considered a very American girl. In the end the show evidently proved to be a success and that was something that could not be ignored, and the show is viewed as one of early television's greatest achievements. I looked up in a forum what people's views were on interracial couples on television during those times. Many were surprised that the show was successful because racism was something that people were not even afraid of outwardly expressing back then. Another person stated that Desi Arnaz was of Spanish decent and that for that reason would just be considered a "white person with and accent," it seemed that the rest of the people that commented were hinting at this as well because they were discussing Desi Arnaz' European heritage. From the episodes that I have seen of the show, Ricky Ricardo, aside from his name, accent, and a few Spanish words when he rants here or there, are what we see from his Cuban heritage. He seems to be lacking in affect which would indicate assimilation because in the United States a lack of affect is considered the norm perhaps hinting at his assimilated nature and that he was in fact American. But at the same time these subtle traits of his Cuban heritage add an exotic flair to the show that is perhaps what makes it so unique. The fact that they were not the average all-American or what is considered all-American couple might be part of the appeal, just because it is something so unique.