Franklin Armstrong was a groundbreaking character when he debuted in 1968. Charles Schulz had been hesitant to bring a Black child into the comic strip because he didn't want to come off as "condescending" in the volatile Civil Rights era.
But, after some urging by two fans — a Black schoolteacher and a friend of hers who wanted his children to see someone like themselves in a setting like "Peanuts" — Schulz created Franklin (via Click2Houston).
But, despite Schulz's good intentions, his attempt at integrating the "Peanuts" gang has been seen as lukewarm. Franklin is a bland personality, and his appearances in the TV specials are almost an afterthought.
In "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving," Franklin is invited to Charlie Brown's place by Peppermint Patty. He asks if he should wear a tie, gives a "soul" handshake to Chuck, and that's about all we hear from him. Critics have also noted that, at the backyard holiday feast, Franklin sits by himself on the left side of the table, which could be seen as a type of segregation.
Schulz's widow, Jean, has addressed the controversy by explaining that her husband wasn't involved in the animation process but that there was "no ulterior motive" in showing Franklin sitting apart from his friends (via Yahoo!). "To suggest the show had any other messages than the importance of family, sharing and gratitude is to look for an issue where there is none," she said.
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