Over the past few months, 4alfalfa.com has been corresponding regularly with a gentleman named Quincy Gaines, who has been providing us with some very thought-provoking comment, analysis, and reminiscences about the Little Rascals in general and Alfalfa in particular. We hope to share some of Quincy's thoughts in the near future but we felt that none of his messages to us were more important and insightful than his commentary on certain elements of the Alfalfa episode "Hide and Shriek", and how they contain certain scenes and images which could be perceived as ethnically insensitive. That not all Alfalfa fans will agree with the entire scope of Quincy's analysis is irrelevant; whether or not certain fans deem certain scenes offensive is based on their own perception and experiences.

Quincy Gaines

Since 4alfalfa.com will be rolling out the first phase of its "Censored" section soon, we would like to present Quincy's thoughts on this topic below, and invite other Alfalfa fans and observers to provide us with similar serious analysis and commentary:

"The Little Rascals" and Little Rascals characters © and TM King World Productions, Inc. This website based in part upon a television series distributed by King World Productions and Turner Entertainment Company / MGM.

By Quincy Gaines
Send Quincy an email

I recently noticed another Little Rascals controversy related to the topic of the much-discussed question of racial and ethnic insensitivities within the series. It's unfortunately in my favorite episode "Hide and Shriek." Alfalfa, Buckwheat, and Porky are scared and trying to get out of the haunted house to which they are unwittingly delivered. As Alfalfa points to the door upstairs through which they want to go next, he says, "Buckwheat, try that door to see if we can get out." Buckwheat is too scared to go, so Alfalfa, who claims he isn't scared, takes Porky and tells Buckwheat, "Well we're not [scared]! Come on, Porky. As Alfalfa proceeds with Porky up the stairs and into the next dark room, he tells Buckwheat to "...keep whistlin' so we know where you are."

Buckwheat reacts to an uninvited
friend during "Hide and Shriek"


I had no opinion of this scene until I played it for my mother, who instantly was offended and identified Alfalfa's "You keep whistlin' so we know where you are" line as a racist comment. In my opinion, it was not intended to be offensive, because these are words that were supposed to come from kids who said "the darndest things". My mother's comment on Alfalfa's line: "What's the matter, Alfalfa? Is Buckwheat so black you can't see him in the dark? Give me a break! That's a stereotype! We learned about this in racism class." Incidentally, my mother's comments were significant to me not only because she was my mother: she took a course in racial tolerance and identification a few years ago at a nearby college.

There was an additional stereotype that offended her about this scene. It is in the sequence where Alfalfa tells Buckwheat to go try the next door— why does Buckwheat have to whistle? I view that as a racial stereotype! Not all black people love watermelon, eat fried chicken, wear afros, or whistle. I can't whistle (this has nothing to do with being black), and I don't have an afro (this is because of my mixed genetic background). Not all black people have afros, in any event.

Alfalfa, Buckwheat, and Porky in their fake beards in
"Hide and Shriek". Note the color of Buckwheat's beard.
Whether or not specific images such as these are offensive
depends on your point of view.

Also, why should Buckwheat do what Alfalfa commands him to do in this scene? Why didn't they simply proceed to enter the next room together? Why didn't Alfalfa just go try the door himself, especially if he was "not scared?" During the era of slavery in the nineteenth century, white men could literally "possess" black people and they invariably sent the black man to do their "dirty work", in the process bearing potential torture on their behalf so that no one else would suffer. This was unfair. Again, "Hide and Shriek" was filmed in a time of vaudeville comedy, when racial equality didn't exist, when blacks could be tortured, made fun of, or mocked in the name of "good humor".

In my opinion, the racial problem contained in this film can be easily overlooked unless the viewer examines it thoroughly, and thinks about what has been seen. When I first saw "Hide and Shriek", I did not react to these comments. I did not take offense until my mother pointed it out. Being that neither yourself [4alfalfa.com] nor Maltin and Bann [authors of "The Little Rascals: The Life and Times of Our Gang"] have commented on this, I thought that I'd point it out to you.

Is "Hide and Shriek" still my favorite Rascals film? Other than the insensitive dialogue, and Buckwheat's stereotypical whistling, it is. As Leonard Maltin points out in his Cabin Fever commentary, only a handful of these films contain racial offenses, which were thought to be acceptable forms of humor that reflected the times and comedy of the 1930's. And regardless of the ignorant intent of the show's writers, we must try and look past the offenses of the films, seeing instead what Hal Roach intended for us to focus on: kids being kids, saying and doing what kids normally do (sometimes ignorantly).

One of the most controversial scenes in the entire Little Rascals
series, from "Three Smart Boys". As part of a get-out-of-school
scheme, Alfalfa, Spanky, and Buckwheat apply fake measles to
their faces. As in "Hide and Shriek", Buckwheat's facial disguise
is white to contrast with his black skin; Alfalfa and Spanky's
faux measles are the correct, darker color. Even more offensive
to many viewers is the scene later where Alfalfa and Spanky
think Buckwheat has been changed into a monkey (pictured).


I used to work for an amusement park at a ride that was as dark as the Haunted House should've been. I was a ride operator for the E.T. Adventure at Universal Studios Hollywood. We call what Alfalfa and the two kids did a "serious safety violation", but then again, back in 1938 no one thought about that yet. It's amazing how the power switch Alfalfa turned on suddenly is covered up by the doors that suddenly appear. When the voice on the recording says "Choose!," the doors appear, and the one on Alfalfa's left-hand side swings open as it flies into view. In reality, being that it was "so dark and scary" in the haunted house, Alfalfa would have had to go to the hospital for stitches if he were any closer to that flying door! In the second room with the organ, since they "can't see too well in the dark," One would think that they would've tripped over the organ bench.

*    *    *    *

I'm hoping that my comments encourage people to see these films for themselves. People should arrive at their own conclusions, while understanding the cultural era and times this series was produced. They should let themselves embrace its original content somewhat unconditionally; focusing on the lighthearted feel and uniqueness these comedies are known for, because the good far outweighs the bad.

The negative aspect of the series should be identified, but we must remember that we can't change our past. We should remember the tough times we've gone through, so that we can better appreciate and be grateful for the changes that have come for today, while working to make better achievements tomorrow.

Essay text ©Quincy Gaines, 2003

Note from 4alfalfa.com: Not too long ago, we included as our image of the day a video still of Alfalfa in "The Pinch Singer", appearing in blackface as a means of disguising himself during the gang's auditions to appear in an amateur talent contest. Quincy let us now loud and clear that he didn't think the image deserved its place of prominence on our home page:

"Tom— today's "image of the day" on your site .... I'm sorry, but it has to go! It should go .... in the "Pinch Singer" Alfalfa was quickly dismissed, because the kids didn't like his drag costume and especially his black face performance. On your site, it'll be there for a full day, and the way you have it displayed like that will horribly offend people."

What do you think about this topic? Let us know your thoughts.

Back to top

Back to "Censored" main

Home   •   Episode Commentary   •   An Alfalfa Appreciation
    Alfalfaddendum   •   Alfalfa's Greatest Hits
The Froggy Files   •   Alfography   •   Alfalfa Nation  •  Censored!!
Rascology   •  Dear Alfalfa   •   Alfalfalinks
News/Updates  •   Contact Us

Back to top