TV’s ‘Miss Daisy’

Howard Rosenberg misses the larger issue in his Aug. 26 column “ ‘Miss D.’ Meets the PC Crowd.”

Yes, “tailoring Hoke to 1992” is dishonest. But why are the only television shows dealing seriously with race relations (and I’m including “Driving Miss Daisy” with “I’ll Fly Away” here) set in the 1950s? Isn’t it a secret subtext of these shows (and of the film version of “Daisy”) that the 1950s were simpler and better times--when African-Americans “knew their place” and didn’t listen to rap music and “fine white folks” could exercise liberal paternalism and feel really good about themselves?

These shows make it easy and safe for viewers to sit back and condemn the racism of 40 years ago. Much more challenging would be a confrontation with the face of contemporary bigotry--only television executives are too timid to give it a try.

Such a shame. Wouldn’t TV be an exciting medium if such people as Spike Lee, John Singleton, Edward James Olmos and Gus Van Sant were creating programming?

TERRY BORST

Santa Clarita