Do you know the Charlie Brown cartoons better as ''Peanuts" or "Charlie Brown"?

“Peanuts”
Was it called “Charlie Brown” more in its earlier years, or does the name just differ by newspapers that print the comic?

I think it is officially Peanuts but I prefer Charlie Brown.

Wait, why is it even called Peanuts…?
I don’t see what it has to do with Peanuts.
(sorry if that’s a dumb question)

You mean it is not called “Snoopy’s Gang”?!?!

Charlie Brown, both for the newspaper comics and the shows on TV. When I was a kid, this was almost the best part! I would stay up past bedtime to watch!

Always called it Charlie Brown myself.
@Snoopy I know it’s not fair. There would be no Charlie Brown without Snoopy!

@jonsblond (sigh).

@Snoopy lol :)

It originated as a comic strip in the newspaper. The name of the comic strip was “Peanuts.” I believe the term was Charles Schultz’s way of referring to the children. TV specials and other uses of the characters came much later.

@Jeruba

Okay thanks Jeruba. :D

Bleh, I never liked that strip especially not after the blatantly racist one. To answer the question, I know it as Peanuts.

Charlie Brown

@asmonet

Blatantly racist one? when was that? I’d love to see it.

I mostly hear people refer to it as “Snoopy!”.

Peanuts

Charles Schulz was a great man.

I hadn’t really thought about it, but now that I have, I think I use them equally.

@aidje whoo hoo!!!

Peanuts!

@seekingwolf: I see it as racist, although it can be argued that it is a bit ambiguous.

Waa waa waa waa waa waa.
TRANSLATION: I’ve always known the cartoon strip as Peanuts.
But the holiday specials were always Charlie Brown to me.

@asmonet

Wow…thanks for showing that.
It is certainly ambiguous…

I myself don’t consider it racist. (but I can see how it would be seen that ) I think it’s more of a comment on black children and their aspirations to be successful…they found it very difficult to succeed in positions that were mostly dominated by whites. It’s quite sad really. I don’t think it was intended to be funny.

Thank you for posting that.

@seekingwolf: No problem. Because it’s left up to interpretation I think it’s far more likely to be borderline racism at best. I think it’s perfectly acceptable to interpret it the way you did, however I think that’s a rather complicated social commentary to carry out in four panels. If Franklin had asked Patty how many black players there were I think it would change the message to more clearly read as you did. But because Patty the white character, is pointing out how unlikely his dreams are to come true because he was black without any message of hope, or lesson or moral about hard work I can’t help but think it was racism.

I also think the defensive reaction on the part of Charles Schultz reinforces my interpretation. I mean, the kid was fifteen and asking for clarification.

If his aim was social commentary, I think a skilled and experienced cartoonist could have executed it with more clarity. :)

@asmonet

Yes, I agree with you totally.
If it was Schultz’s attempt at social commentary (which I think it was) it was a little iffy. Then again, that’s not really his area of expertise is it?

I found his reaction to be a little strange, but I didn’t quite know what to make of that.

@seekingwolf: Which is exactly why I think he chose not to explain the comic itself but to state facts and never fully explain his reasoning. If you had nothing to hide and no ulterior motive, wouldn’t you just explain it? Besides, like you said, it’s not really his area and it’s a completely inappropriate forum. :-/

Blech.

People don’t like to be confronted by their biases and will get defensive. That’s how I saw Schulz’s reply, especially since when he introduced Franklin, he got in a spot of bother over it and probably thought, “Hey, I’ve done my bit for civil rights!” The Wikipedia article on Franklin has more on his introduction in 1968. I can imagine Schulz thought he was well-meaning with that comic. But he didn’t get that the “punchline” is insulting and condescending.

There’s also the questionable clip from the Thanksgiving special. When Franklin comes over for supper, all the kids move to the other side of the table, and Snoopy too. Sometimes discrimination is so casual we don’t see it until it’s pointed out. I never noticed it myself, and I’ve seen this show almost every year for 30 years!

@aprilsimnel

Omigosh I never noticed that before…how very odd. I can’t believe I didn’t notice that before…then again, it’s very subtle.

I think it was all subconscious though. I don’t think Schultz is a bad person though. It was common thinking during those times. My grandmother (she’s 92) is very racist, but that’s how she was raised. I’m not condoning racism or anything, but I understand that people were raised differently back then. Good thing that things today are changing (slowly but surely).