Bigotry or prejudice? Controversial headlines that will almost certainly catch the attention of someone standing around the water cooler. Although most people find these words offensive, perhaps it is these controversial issues that All in the Family sitcom producers Norman Lear and Alan Yorkin believe could not only gain more viewership on their network, but also spark universal conversations that would spark change. All in the Family was created in the 1970s, with the aim of introducing "shock" programming with realistic and subjective fights. Some have described this decade as a turbulent time when marginalized groups such as gay and lesbian women and African Americans fought for equal opportunities around the world. Others exercised their freedom of speech by expressing contempt for the Vietnam War and President Richard Nixon. Despite the American public's contrasting views on social issues and feelings of disappointment with the government, sitcom producers Lear and Yorking saw All in the Family as the ideal, albeit risky, platform to present such controversial topics. Lear hoped that by putting a face to controversial topics, it would help set the tone among the American public, creating freedom with individual transparency. Lear realized that his intention may or may not be understood or received by his audience. This article will discuss how the television sitcom All in the Family tackled taboo controversial topics through comedy and the precedent the show set in current prime time programming decades later. Everything in the family's story is largely told from the perspective of the family patriarch, Archie Bunker. The Bunker household consisted of his sweet but “crazy” wife Edith, his daughter Gloria and her husband Michael Stivic. Say no to plagiarism. Get a custom essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essay Bunker is a bigoted, hard-working family man from Queens, New York, who, in his right mind, could not make a break in life. Archie is a proud World War II veteran who ignores anyone who disagrees with his worldview; who are conservative and heterosexual. Bunker is upset about how the American society he knew is changing and attributes the progress made by minority groups like blacks, Hispanics and Jews to the sacrifices made by himself and other white people of the lower middle class. Opposing this harsh view was Archie's sweet but "crazy" wife, Edith. Edith usually put up with Archie's ramblings to avoid arguments. This was hardly the case for Archie's liberal son-in-law, Mike Stivic. Both were particularly strong in their beliefs, making Stivic the punching bag for Archie's bigotry. This guaranteed tug-of-war between the two provided the show with its comedic part of the storyline. This storyline depended heavily on Archie being politically conservative and socially flawed, while Mike was equally liberal and understanding of the concerns of the disenfranchised and oppressed. Politics wasn't the only issue All in the Family pushed the boundaries on. When an African-American family of three moves in next door to the Bunkers, racial stereotypes and Archie's bigotry become recurring themes. Over the course of the show, Archie's blatant racism became visible. Archie felt like he was losing control of his 'all-white neighborhood'.