Peanuts’ new AppleTV special focuses on black character and FINALLY makes amends for infamous segregation scene from iconic 1973 thanksgiving special

More than four decades after the film first aired, Peanuts executives are making amends for an iconic scene showing segregation as a black character sat away from others from the famous comic strip.

A new Apple TV special, called “Welcome Home, Franklin,” aired on the streaming platform on Friday. It gives Franklin, the first black character introduced in the late 1960s, a spotlight when he befriends Charlie Brown.

The new show comes after the controversial 1973 Thanksgiving special that featured a scene of Franklin sitting alone, across the dinner table from the other characters, including Snoopy, who are white.

Many viewers have suggested that it was discriminatory that Franklin sat alone across from his white counterparts, along with the fact that he was placed in a lawn chair instead of a dining room chair like the others.

In the latest special, the dinner scene was recreated as a way to “rectify” the original shot when Franklin ended up sitting on the same side of the table with the other characters.

‘We use the comic strip as our Bible and build on it. This story was one we all really wanted to tell. Everyone loves Franklin. We just felt he deserved a lot of respect,” said Craig Schulz, the executive producer of the new special.

“This is our chance to kind of put the whole thing right.”

Craig, who is also the son of the original creator, Charles M. Schulz, shared it The everyday beast that he had not realized the reaction associated with the scene until his son Bryan informed him.

The latest special features Franklin as he moves to a new city in search of friends. He soon found the Peanuts gang, but had difficulty joining them.

Franklin then discovered the Soap Box Derby race and connected with Charlie Brown when the two built a car together and became best friends.

Raymond S. Persi, the special’s director, admitted that he was excited to have the opportunity to spotlight Franklin and make him the main character.

“Franklin is a confident kid, but he never had the chance to show anyone who he really is,” Persi said.

“Such a special serves the same purpose as that first introduction of Franklin.”

“It’s hopefully a reminder to people that we have a lot more in common than what we otherwise have, and when we see each other on a personal level, we’ll connect and become friends.”

Persi was also the one who suggested recreating the dining room we saw in the new special, saying it was added to “help people immediately connect to that moment.”

In the scene, Franklin sat alone before Linus told him that the group had reserved a seat for him on their side of the table.

Charles, who died in February 2000, first introduced Franklin to the strip in July 1968, after the murder of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

School teacher Harriet Glickman contacted the creator and asked him to feature the first black character – something that had not yet been done.

Craig recalled that his father was “outraged” about adding Franklin, and the response “really enlightened him about the anger that was in the world.”

‘Newspapers at the time refused to publish those comics with Franklin in them. And my dad said, “If you’re not going to write it, that’s fine with me. I’m just not going to write it,” Craig said.

The Thanksgiving episode, which airs every year on ABC, featured a holiday meal shared between the characters, after Peppermint Patty invited herself and others to Charlie Brown and Sally’s house.

Many viewers subsequently attacked the creators for their decision and even refused to rewatch the hit special because of the scene.

Craig said he tends to think about what his father would have done to solve the problem.

“So when the idea came up for the soapbox derby cars, it can be a lot of fun because it gives you the opportunity to have (Charlie Brown and Franklin) build something together and then capture the essence of two kids’ conversation ‘, Craig said.

The team also made sure to maintain the character’s friendship as much as possible to emphasize the importance of their relationship.

Persi revealed that Franklin and Charlie Brown’s animated car was designed to have a clear sound so that those who might not be paying attention would have a “mental clue” about the race.

Although the creators and animation team have tried to make up for the controversial scene from over forty years ago, they are still aware that this will not completely solve the problem.

“The time in 1968 is similar to the time we have now,” Craig said.

He added that Franklin and Charlie Brown’s relationship in the new special is “a powerful way to show that two people can come together if you just take it to a basic level.”

“There’s a lot of division and a lot of anger in the world,” he said, adding that he hopes families and children will tune in and understand the message they’ve been trying to convey.

‘It’s part of being a child. You just don’t worry about all those external things,” Persi said.