Leave it to Beaver vs. Run's House

Television shows from the 1950s and ones from today vary drastically. An example of this contrast is shown between Leave It to Beaver and Run's House. Leave it to Beaver depicts a typical white American family during the late 1950s and early 1960s whereas Run's House depicts an upper class African American family living in today's society.

One major difference between the two shows is the style of clothes the characters wear. In Leave it to Beaver all the characters are always shown in dressy clothes even in the evenings. In Run's House several of the family members are often shown wearing jeans, t-shirts, and hats. This contrast in apparel shows that times have changed in society and that things are more casual these days.

Another big difference between the two shows is the race of people they are depicting. Leave it to Beaver is based on the lives of a white family with little mention or screen time for African-American people. Run's House is primarily based on an African-American family although it does show white people in several episodes. The fact that Leave it to Beaver barely allows African-Americans on the show just forty years later there are shows such as Run's House based entirely on African-Americans demonstrates the giant leap in civil rights over the past four decades.

A third difference is the technology shown in the shows. Leave it to Beaver shows new kitchen appliances and new models of cars but not nearly the technological advances shown in Run's House. Run's House shows many new gadgets, computers, large televisions, and household gymnasiums among many other new technologies that some middle and most upper class Americans enjoy in today's world.

Another way the shows are different are the occupations of the father in each show. Ward Cleaver in Leave it to Beaver is a typical 50s and 60s white collar, brief case toting professional although his actual job is never revealed in the show. Joseph Simmons perhaps better known as "Reverend Run" is a fashion line executive, minister, and a member of a hip hop group called Run D.M.C.

A similarity between both programs is that they do not accurately depict the lives of Americans as a whole. Leave it to Beaver does show what a typical family was probably like during the 50s and 60s but it fails to illustrate the lives of those who were less or more fortunate than the Cleaver family. Run's House successfully shows how the upper class lives but it does not demonstrate how today's middle and lower classes live out their lives.