When the Ingalls family came down with malaria, they were treated by Doctor George A. Tann, who may have saved their lives.
Forget all about him. In "Little House of the Prairie", the Ingalls very, very kindly help the son of a former slave named Solomon find refuge and an education. Did that make you feel kind-hearted and virtuous? I'll bet it did. I'll bet you thought-- those wonderful Ingalls-- so progressive!
How would it have struck you if the African American had been the doctor who came to their house and actually lived with them for a time while treating their malaria? You would have thought-- come on! IN 1870! Are you mad?
For those of you who can't understand why some people just can't love "wholesome" television or movie programs, this is why: TV refused to show you that Dr. George A. Tann was an African American doctor who treated the Ingall's for malaria. It would have been disturbing in some way to a large portion of the audience. It would have been disturbing to a large number of potential customers of Wonder Bread to think that perhaps their attitudes towards race were not what they thought they were.
