Social Status in "Blood is Thicker than Mud" from Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

Visual Descriptions (Scenes)

Carlton is pledging to a fraternity at his university campus

Despite working very hard to please the pledges, he is mainly recognized as a misfit. For example, he is seen dancing awkwardly and has a different taste in music

Top Dog and Carlton have a verbal confrontation

Evidence

Towards the end of the episode, senior fraternity brother Top Dog describes Carlton as a “sellout” because his wealth and hobbies are perceived as unacceptable flaws for other black fraternity members (0:25:00:01)

Explanation: Top Dog has a problem with the way Carlon dresses, behaves and what he owns, because he discriminates against people with higher status. He thinks that Carlton does not deserve to be a pledge as a person who did not grow up in a lower income neighbourhood.

Carlton says to Top Dog that all black young men “jump through the same hurdles…if you ask me, you [Top Dog] are the real sellout ” (0:28:00:04)

Explanation: Carlton explains that he does encounter challenges despite his wealth and discredits Top Dog for his discrimination of pledges based on their upbringing.

Characters presented in the video clip

Carlton

Will's wealthy cousin from Bel-Air

Will

Main character in the show; raised in a low-income neighbourhood, but lives in Bel-air with his cousin

Top Dog

Fraternity leader; judgemental of pledges to the fraternity.