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I've always believed there's something terribly wrong with judging a person's worth by the size of his paycheck.
Some people make an impressive living doing very little that's admirable. Others work themselves to exhaustion and still struggle to pay the rent.
And yet we live in a world where an expensive car, a fancy job title, or a big house can make somebody appear more respectable than the person who cleans his office.
I've never understood that.
Maybe that's one reason I've always appreciated Good Times.
James and Florida Evans didn't have much money. In fact, sometimes they barely had enough to get through the week.
But they had something I consider far more important than an impressive bank account.
They had principles.
They believed in working, taking responsibility for their family, treating other people decently, and teaching their children right from wrong.
They weren't perfect. James could be stubborn and short-tempered, Florida could be uncompromising, and their children certainly knew how to create problems.
But what made Good Times special was that the family had real struggles without being portrayed as people who lacked values.
And I think there's something important we can learn from that.
Having little money doesn't mean having little character. And having plenty of money doesn't guarantee having any character at all.
Good Times Was About a Family Trying to Get Ahead
Good Times premiered on CBS on February 8, 1974, and ran until 1979.
Set in a Chicago public housing project, the sitcom followed James Evans, played by John Amos, and his wife, Florida, played by Esther Rolle.
They were raising three children: J.J., played by Jimmie Walker; Thelma, played by Bern Nadette Stanis; and Michael, played by Ralph Carter.
Their friend and neighbor Willona Woods, played by Ja'net DuBois, added plenty of humor and common sense to the household.
The series was created by Eric Monte and Mike Evans and developed for television by Norman Lear.
I've explored Lear's broader television legacy in "What Norman Lear's TV Shows Taught Me About Being a Mensch." What I appreciate about these shows is how they could make audiences laugh while raising questions about the way people treat one another.
And unlike many sitcom families of its time, the Evanses weren't living in a comfortable suburban home where financial problems were something other people experienced.
James often struggled to find steady employment.
Bills piled up.
Rent was a constant concern.
And the family lived with the knowledge that one unexpected expense could create an enormous problem.
But what I appreciated was that the show didn't treat the Evans family as a collection of people who needed to be taught how to behave.
They already knew quite a bit about responsibility.
What they needed were better opportunities.
That's a distinction people sometimes forget.
James Evans Worked Hard, but Hard Work Wasn't Always Enough
One of the most revealing episodes is "Too Old Blues," the very first episode of the series.
James has an opportunity to enter a union apprenticeship program that could lead to better employment.
He's hopeful.
The family is excited.
For once, things appear to be looking up.
Then James discovers that his age disqualifies him from the opportunity.
Just like that, a chance for advancement disappears.
Now, I believe in working hard.
I believe people should show up when they're supposed to, take their responsibilities seriously, and make a genuine effort to improve their circumstances.
But I don't believe every hardworking person automatically gets rewarded.
Real life doesn't operate that way.
People can lose opportunities because of their age, discrimination, lack of connections, family responsibilities, or circumstances beyond their control.
And sometimes an employer simply makes a decision that leaves a perfectly capable person without a job.
It's tempting to look at somebody who's struggling and assume he must not be trying hard enough.
James Evans was a reminder of how unfair that assumption can be.
He wanted to work.
He wanted to provide for his family.
But wanting something badly and being willing to work for it didn't guarantee he'd get the opportunity.
The lesson I'd take from James is that effort deserves respect, even when it doesn't produce the outcome we hoped for.
That doesn't mean giving up or refusing to explore other possibilities.
It means recognizing that a person's financial situation doesn't tell us everything about his work ethic.
And before judging someone for not having a job, perhaps we ought to find out what he's actually been dealing with.
The Rent Was Due, and Good Intentions Weren't Going to Pay It
In "Getting Up the Rent," the Evans family faces eviction because they don't have enough money to pay what they owe.
The episode originally aired February 22, 1974.
James tries to find a way to come up with the money.
J.J. has ideas of his own.
And Florida goes with Willona to seek assistance.
What makes this episode interesting is that everyone understands the problem.
The rent needs to be paid.
The landlord isn't going to accept a heartfelt speech about how nice the Evans family is.
And being hardworking doesn't make the bill disappear.
I think that's one of the reasons Good Times felt different.
The family's struggles had consequences.
Sometimes there was no easy answer.
But I also think the episode reveals something about pride, desperation, and asking for help.
I've always admired people who try to handle their responsibilities.
What I don't admire is the idea that needing assistance automatically makes someone less respectable.
There's nothing shameful about asking for legitimate help when you're facing a genuine hardship.
And there is certainly nothing admirable about looking down on someone who's struggling to keep a roof over his family's head.
The episode also raises questions about assistance programs whose eligibility rules can leave families in difficult situations even when their need is obvious.
That doesn't mean every program is perfect or every application should automatically be approved.
It means people shouldn't confuse a bureaucratic decision with a judgment about someone's character.
I'd much rather see a family seek appropriate assistance than resort to dishonest or dangerous choices out of embarrassment.
Responsibility includes knowing when a problem is bigger than what you can handle alone.
And accepting help doesn't erase the effort you've already made.
Florida Evans Understood That Some Money Costs Too Much
If there's one thing I admire about Florida, it's that she was willing to stand up for what she believed was right.
Even when the family desperately needed money.
In "God's Business Is Good Business," James encounters an old friend who's become a wealthy, flashy preacher.
The man offers James a lucrative job.
Naturally, James is interested.
Who wouldn't be tempted by an opportunity to earn decent money after struggling to make ends meet?
But Florida is suspicious of the preacher's methods.
She doesn't like the idea of making a living through something she considers dishonest.
And James eventually has to confront the moral implications of the opportunity himself.
I find that a fascinating situation.
It's easy to announce that you'd never compromise your principles when you have enough money to pay your bills.
It's considerably harder when you're worried about how you'll feed your family.
And I don't think people facing genuine financial hardship deserve casual lectures from those who've never experienced that pressure.
But Florida's concern was worth taking seriously.
Making money isn't automatically the same thing as making an honest living.
There's a difference between working hard to earn a paycheck and knowingly participating in something that deceives people.
I'd rather have a modest income earned honestly than become wealthy by taking advantage of people who trusted me.
Of course, I also believe people deserve fair compensation for honest work. There's no virtue in being exploited.
The important thing is understanding what you're being asked to do, not simply becoming dazzled by the amount of money being offered.
The TV Commercial That Put Florida's Principles to the Test
Another episode that illustrates this beautifully is "The TV Commercial," which aired April 26, 1974.
Florida is offered an opportunity to appear in a commercial for a health tonic called Vita Brite.
The family is thrilled by the prospect of earning money.
And at first, who could blame them?
Here is an opportunity that might relieve some of their financial pressure.
But Florida becomes uncomfortable with the claims she's expected to make about a product she hasn't used.
Then the family discovers the tonic contains a substantial amount of alcohol, and young Michael becomes intoxicated after drinking it.
Florida refuses to promote the product.
I love the underlying principle.
She isn't willing to put her name and reputation behind something she believes is misleading simply because someone is offering her a paycheck.
Now, I don't think every person appearing in an advertisement is making a personal promise that the product will work for everyone.
Acting is acting.
But knowingly misleading people about a product is another matter entirely.
And I think there's a lesson here that applies well beyond television commercials.
If you're selling something, be truthful about what it is.
If you're recommending a product, don't make claims you can't support.
And if you're offered money to promote something questionable, find out exactly what you're agreeing to before accepting.
That's something children should learn, too.
There's nothing wrong with wanting to earn money.
There's something wrong with deciding honesty no longer matters once the price is high enough.
Florida Evans understood the difference.
Pride Is Valuable Until It Stops You From Doing What's Sensible
There's another side to this conversation.
Sometimes people become so determined to prove they can handle everything themselves that they make an already difficult situation worse.
James was a proud man.
He wanted to provide for his family, and he could become frustrated when circumstances prevented him from doing so.
I understand that pride.
Most people want to feel useful and capable.
But I don't believe needing assistance should be treated as a personal failure.
Suppose someone loses a job and needs temporary help with groceries.
Would it make sense to refuse available assistance simply because accepting it feels embarrassing?
I don't think so.
There's a difference between refusing to take responsibility and recognizing that your present circumstances require help.
And I think we should be careful about confusing independence with stubbornness.
A responsible adult tries to solve problems.
Sometimes that means working harder.
Sometimes it means changing plans.
Sometimes it means asking questions, seeking assistance, or accepting help from someone who genuinely wants to provide it.
You don't become less respectable because life has become difficult.
And I certainly wouldn't want children growing up believing they should hide every problem rather than ask for help when they need it.
Self-respect shouldn't require pretending you're invincible.
Even James Evans needed his family.
And that's nothing to be ashamed of.
The Rent Party Reminded Us That Neighbors Can Make a Difference
One of my favorite examples of everyday decency appears in "The Rent Party," which aired March 2, 1976.
An older neighbor in the housing project is struggling to pay her rent.
Rather than simply expressing sympathy and returning to their own problems, the Evans family helps organize a rent party to raise money.
I like that.
It's a reminder that generosity isn't limited to people who have plenty to spare.
The Evanses were struggling themselves.
They certainly didn't have money lying around.
But they recognized that somebody else needed help.
And they looked for a way to contribute.
Now, I don't believe people are obligated to give away money they need for their own necessities.
Nor do I think helping someone should become an opportunity to take control of that person's decisions.
But there are plenty of ways to show consideration that don't require being wealthy.
You can help someone organize a fundraiser.
Offer practical assistance.
Introduce someone to a useful resource.
Or contribute a small amount when you can reasonably afford it.
And if you're the person receiving the help, you don't owe the entire neighborhood a lifetime of obedience in return.
Assistance should preserve a person's dignity, not become a way to embarrass or control him.
That's the kind of generosity I admire.
Not the kind that requires a photographer, a public announcement, and a lengthy speech about how wonderful the giver is.
Just people helping people.
It shouldn't be such a remarkable concept.
J.J. Wanted More Out of Life, and That Wasn't Wrong
J.J. Evans became one of the most recognizable characters on Good Times.
He was loud, funny, sometimes immature, and endlessly optimistic about his artistic abilities.
His dreams of becoming a successful artist were an important part of his character.
And I appreciated that he had ambitions beyond the circumstances in which he was growing up.
There's nothing wrong with wanting a better life.
I don't believe people should be expected to remain poor simply because their parents were poor.
Nor do I believe ambition is something to apologize for.
But wanting success and developing the habits necessary to pursue it are two different things.
J.J. sometimes looked for shortcuts.
Sometimes he needed to take his education or responsibilities more seriously.
And sometimes his desire to get ahead made him vulnerable to questionable opportunities.
Those are useful lessons for young people.
If you have a talent, develop it.
Learn the skills you need.
Listen to constructive criticism.
And don't assume that wanting success badly enough will automatically make it happen.
At the same time, I'd never tell a young person that having an ordinary job while pursuing a dream makes him a failure.
Plenty of people need to work while developing their abilities.
A job that pays the bills is respectable work.
And honest work shouldn't become embarrassing simply because it's less glamorous than the career someone hopes to have someday.
Ambition is a good thing when it encourages effort. It becomes a problem when it convinces someone that ordinary responsibilities are beneath him.
Florida and James Had Something Important to Teach Their Children
One of the things I admired about the Evans household was that the parents took their children's character seriously.
James and Florida wanted better opportunities for J.J., Thelma, and Michael.
But they also expected them to understand honesty, respect, and responsibility.
And I think that's where parenting and money intersect.
Children notice what adults admire.
That's something I also considered in "The Best TV Dads of the 1960s—and What Made Them Good Fathers." Jed Clampett, in particular, demonstrated that becoming wealthy doesn't automatically mean becoming a better person.
If parents constantly praise people for their expensive possessions, children may begin to associate wealth with personal worth.
If they speak contemptuously about people who work ordinary jobs, children learn that certain kinds of honest labor are beneath them.
And if they repeatedly excuse dishonest behavior because it produces money, children notice that, too.
I'd rather teach a child something simpler.
"It doesn't matter how much money somebody makes. What matters is whether that person behaves decently and takes responsibility for his actions."
If a child asks why a neighbor has a nicer car, there's no need to turn it into a moral judgment about either family.
People have different circumstances, priorities, incomes, and obligations.
If a child wants something expensive, it's reasonable to discuss the difference between wanting something and needing it.
And if the family can't afford it, I wouldn't pretend otherwise or make promises I couldn't keep.
I'd explain the situation in an age-appropriate way without making the child responsible for solving the household's financial problems.
Children can learn the value of money without being burdened by adult financial worries.
And they can learn to appreciate what they have without being taught to look down on people who have less.
That's the kind of upbringing I admire.
Good Times Didn't Always Get Everything Right
I wouldn't pretend the series was perfect.
Over time, more attention was devoted to J.J.'s exaggerated antics and catchphrases.
Some of the show's more serious family stories received less attention.
Both Esther Rolle and John Amos publicly expressed concern about the direction of the series, particularly the way J.J. was portrayed.
And I think their concerns deserve recognition.
One of the strengths of the original premise was that viewers saw a hardworking family with intelligent, capable children confronting difficult circumstances.
They weren't supposed to be defined entirely by jokes about their situation.
There's nothing wrong with comedy.
I certainly don't want television to become one long sermon.
But there's a difference between laughing with characters and reducing them to caricatures.
The strongest episodes of Good Times managed to be funny while treating the Evans family as people with aspirations, frustrations, and genuine problems.
That's what I find worth revisiting.
And it's why I think the series has something important to teach us beyond its most memorable jokes.
What I'd Actually Take From the Evans Family
If there's one practical lesson I'd want readers to remember, it's to stop making assumptions about people based on money.
The next time you encounter someone working an ordinary, physically demanding, or poorly paid job, treat that person with respect.
Don't talk down to the cashier because you're the customer.
Don't act as though the person cleaning the building is invisible.
And don't assume someone with an impressive title automatically deserves greater consideration than everyone else.
Courtesy shouldn't depend on income.
I'd also encourage parents to discuss money with their children in a way that teaches values instead of shame.
Ask questions such as:
"Why do you think it's important to keep your word when you promise to pay for something?"
"What should you do if you've made a commitment and realize you can't fulfill it?"
"Why shouldn't we judge somebody by the kind of job he has?"
These conversations don't require a complicated lesson plan.
They require adults who are willing to explain their values and demonstrate them.
And if you're considering a way to earn money that makes you uncomfortable, ask yourself whether the work requires you to mislead or take advantage of someone.
A paycheck matters.
So does being able to respect your own decisions.
Finally, remember what the Evans family demonstrated in "The Rent Party."
You don't need to be wealthy to be helpful.
You just need to recognize when another person could use some consideration—and do what you reasonably can.
Money Can Make Life Easier. It Can't Make You a Mensch.
There's something I don't want us to misunderstand about Good Times.
I don't think poverty should be romanticized.
There's nothing charming about worrying whether you'll be able to pay the rent.
There's nothing character-building about being denied a fair opportunity to work.
And there's no reason to pretend that constantly struggling to afford necessities is somehow better than having financial security.
I'd have been delighted to see the Evans family enjoy a little more peace and comfort.
They deserved it.
But I also don't believe their financial difficulties diminished their worth.
James wanted to work.
Florida cared deeply about honesty.
Their children had different talents, opinions, and ambitions.
And despite their own struggles, the family could still recognize when someone else needed help.
That's what made them memorable to me.
Not that they were poor.
Not that they endured hardship.
But that they were people whose lives involved far more than their financial circumstances.
And that's something I think we should remember when looking at the people around us.
You can have money and be generous.
You can have money and be selfish.
You can struggle financially and be a wonderful human being.
You can also struggle financially and behave badly.
One doesn't automatically determine the other.
What matters is how you conduct yourself, how you treat people, and what you're willing to do when nobody is watching.
That's what James and Florida Evans tried to teach their children.
And it's a lesson I'd happily put ahead of any advice about becoming rich.
Because making a good living and being a good person are not the same accomplishment.
Ideally, we'd manage both.
But if someone asks me what makes a person respectable, I'm not going to ask for his bank statement.
I'm going to look at his character.
That's what I call having dignity.
And that's what I call being a mensch.
Sources and Further Reading
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