In 1969, at a time when racial segregation still prevented black Americans from swimming alongside whites, Fred Rogers made a groundbreaking gesture on his show, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.
He invited Officer François Clemmons, an African American character, to join him in cooling their feet together in a small pool. This simple yet powerful act broke a well-known color barrier on national television, symbolizing unity and challenging societal norms of the time. Through this moment, Mr. Rogers used his platform to promote racial harmony and equality.