I am a Nigerian woman and I have read and studied what African Americans went through to get equal rights and end segregation. It especially broke my heart reading about Ruby Bridges, who because of her skin colour, parents withdrew their children from the elementary school, all the teachers except one refused to teach her and she had to be taken to school and taken home every day by four federal marshals for her protection. Therefore I was furious with the President of the fraternity Will and Carlton wanted to join. True, Carlton is sheltered and privileged but he represents how far Civil Rights had gone- how many boys before he was born were allowed to go to a top class prep school? The idea of rising through your humble beginnings and work hard is to make a better life for yourself, not look down on those who have and then call them sell outs. People like Top Dog will blame white people, saying they are the ones holding the black man down, when in fact it's people like him who are guilty of it! A very good episode.
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (TV Series)
Blood Is Thicker Than Mud (1993)
User Reviews
Review this title4 Reviews
'When are we going to stop doing this to each other?'
spywatcher4595 December 2012
Warning: Spoilers
Very entertaining and influential episode of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, kinda reminds me of the episode where Will and Carlton get pulled over for driving Mr. Firth's black Mercedes up to Palm Springs for the weekend and they become the victims of racial profiling. A lot of people have felt that Carlton is too immature and too comfortable with his lavish lifestyle as a rich kid and that would make him a target to the harsh realities of the real world. In this episode, he and Will try to join an all black fraternity known as the Phi Beta Gammas run by Brother Top Dog (Glenn Plummer) who preaches that all 'brothers need to stick together'. However, as Carlton and Will's initiation into the fraternity begins, Top Dog shows what a hypocrite he really is when he takes an instant disliking to Carlton after Carlton reveals what his true lifestyle is like and proceeds to make life hard for him and easy for Will.
The vocal confrontation that Carlton and Top Dog have later in the episode is riveting and it gives a powerful message about the evils of jealousy towards one's own race merely because they've earned their comfortable lifestyle that the so-called 'American Dream' promises to individuals who work hard and don't take short cuts in life. This episode should be shown in classrooms at every school to teach young people that social status should not and does not govern who we are or who we can be 'down' with.
The vocal confrontation that Carlton and Top Dog have later in the episode is riveting and it gives a powerful message about the evils of jealousy towards one's own race merely because they've earned their comfortable lifestyle that the so-called 'American Dream' promises to individuals who work hard and don't take short cuts in life. This episode should be shown in classrooms at every school to teach young people that social status should not and does not govern who we are or who we can be 'down' with.
The Ending of this makes you think and sad
jseph1234-262-61748811 May 2019
The boyz Will and Carlton are pledging and get a chance to go through all of the usual hoops in a fun and hilarious ways that we come to know the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. I love the point that is made in the ending because it is one every African-American such as myself can learn and tell to other AA's. Much love!
Blood Is Thicker Than Mud (#4.8)
ComedyFan201030 April 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Will and Carlton try to join a fraternity but since Carlton is rich the president of it makes him work extra hard and then still doesn't let him in because he is a "sellout".
Great episode. It is funny as it should be. The whole tasks for fraternity were funny. Carlton had some special dancing moments I love so much. And it also had a special story that is a bit more original than other sitcom learning stories. It is how some black people punish others from their race for not being too close to a stereotype and too successful. I loved how Carlton handled it and also how Will stood up for his cousin.
Uncle Phil's biking story was also good. I loved his "I broke my bike" moment,
Great episode. It is funny as it should be. The whole tasks for fraternity were funny. Carlton had some special dancing moments I love so much. And it also had a special story that is a bit more original than other sitcom learning stories. It is how some black people punish others from their race for not being too close to a stereotype and too successful. I loved how Carlton handled it and also how Will stood up for his cousin.
Uncle Phil's biking story was also good. I loved his "I broke my bike" moment,
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