...so this is some real pedantic shit I'm about to do here, and I apologize in advance, but that's the wrong picture. François Clemmons was on the show between 1968 and 1993. The original episode where they share a pool aired in 1969, and both men were much younger. The picture above is from Clemmons final appearance on the show in 1993, titled "Love," where they again share a foot pool. I know this because my toddler has become Mr. Rogers obsessed and I've seen the 1993 episode 3 dozen times in the last month.

The image misses part of the story. He was a character on the show, officer Clemmons, and wasn't just on this episode. And what's more, he was gay and Fred Rogers knew and accepted him for it at a time that that was uncommon. This image makes it seem like a single random act of impersonal kindness but it was much more than that.

Your reminder that Fox News hated Mister Rogers and everything he believed.

https://youtu.be/29lmR_357rA

"Two dudes chilling in a hot tub, two feet apart cause they're not racist."

Almost exactly 56 years ago when Senators were cutting PBS budgets because they don't understand the importance of childhood education and mental health

https://youtu.be/fKy7ljRr0AA

We need 100,000 more Mr. Rogers in the world. 1,000,000 more.

It really hits different to know that this was only about 56 years ago. Societal change happens extremely slowly.

it's funny. anyone who actually watched Mr Rogers should know what I'm about to say.

he didn't want everybody to be just like him. he wanted to inspire children to be better versions of themselves.

frankly, I'm not a nice person. never want to be, but I do try to be a good person.

And republicans have never forgiven him for this.

Some people just want to watch the world learn...