The Episode of ‘The Jeffersons’ That Predicted Trump’s America

“Blacks are different. Americans have gotten used to you people.”

Two nights ago, I finally saw Spike Lee’s brilliant BlacKkKlansman. The film was a bracing reminder of the way we were in the early ’70s when it came to race relations in the United States.

The 2017 Charlottesville footage at the end and the clips of President Donald Trump acknowledging the “very fine people” among the white supremacists rallying in Charlottesville and his failure to condemn them outright were bracing reminders of the way we still are.

The following morning, I got into another time machine and traveled back to a vintage 1981 episode of The Jeffersons on YouTube. After spending two hours and 15 minutes in Spike Lee’s disturbingly Trumpian-esque ’70s, I once again ended up in a retro place that felt a lot like 2018.

In “God Bless Americans,” the 11th episode from the sitcom’s seventh season, George Jefferson was trying to impress Jack Pomeroy, the über-patriotic, American flag-worshipping host of a popular TV show, and grab a spot as a guest by flaunting his rah-rah American pride. (Actor Jim Weston played Pomeroy perfectly, with a hammy plastic smile and smarmy superiority, channeling future TV host Megyn Kelly.)

As George gushed red, white, and blue, it didn’t take long for Pomeroy to show his true conservative colors. Although he was initially congenial, when he found out that George was sponsoring Carlos, a Cuban immigrant, to get him released from a detention center in Miami, Pomeroy’s mask dropped and hit the floor with a thud.

“Those damn Cubans are more trouble than they’re worth,” he said when George first broached the subject of Cuban refugees.

He added: “They’re sending us their criminals and their crazies, and what do they expect us to do — take jobs away from Americans and give them to foreigners. I say, ‘America for Americans.’ Don’t you agree, George?”

He turned more aggressive when Hector, the Cuban friend of the detainee showed up and praised George for giving Carlos a job — and a chance.

“I really misread you, Jefferson. I had no idea you condoned giving away the country to……