DEBUNKING THE MYTH: A thread exposing the truth about one of America’s favorite 70’s T.V. mothers, FLORIDA EVANS.

To celebrate the 45th year anniversary of ‘Good Times,’ I thought it was time to finally expose the matriarch of the show, Florida Evans, for the terrible mother, wife and woman she was. The videos, gifs and descriptions below will highlight examples of her terrible behavior.

To preface, this thread is made purely in jest and for fun. In no way is it meant to offend or disrespect the actress, Esther Rolle; so keep the fake outrage, please.

Though highly revered by most as a strong, black mother figure for 70’s television, behind the thin veil of virtue she hid behind, was a woman who caused nothing but pain and suffering to those around her with her actions. This is Florida Evans.

Florida, the MOTHER.

Here we have a “stressed out” Florida Evans physically abusing her youngest son, Michael. Keep in mind this is woman who hardly ever worked, yet she was stressed. Meanwhile, she had a husband working multiple jobs and never abused his kids.

Next, we have Florida Evans telling her son that Jesus was not black and that only white Jesus should be worshipped. And this was during Black History Month. Only a white supremacist would behave this way.

Here we have Florida Evans cooning for George Washington. Michael calls him a racist for owning slaves, Florida calls him a great man who should be respected. This video demonstrates not only the type of mother Florida Evans was, but also her character as a person.

In Season 4, the Evans were facing eviction. Again. To pay the rent, JJ takes bets on horses and is able to keep a roof over their heads. Instead of being grateful, Florida Evans condemns her oldest son and kicks him out of the house for paying the rent. Mother of the Year!

FLORIDA FUMBLES THE BAG:

Let’s face facts: the Evans would’ve left the projects in Season 1 had it not been for Florida and her holier than thou decisions. Next, are some of the instances in which she squandered opportunities for them to get ahead.

Florida is offered $5,000 to star in a commercial promoting a health tonic. Only she refused to endorse it because she had to say that she drank the tonic everyday, even though she didn’t. Opportunity #1, squandered.

Next up, James is offered $100 a day to tour with Reverend Sam, a reverend who staged fake miracles with his congregation. Though morally wrong, it would’ve got them out the projects for good. Another opportunity gone, another morning of oatmeal instead of Cream of Wheat.

Here we have a famous fumbling of the bag, James is offered a lucrative job to work in Alaska. But being the selfish woman she is, Florida Evans forced James to turn down the job and continue working menial jobs for crumbs. All because SHE didn’t wanna be alone. Opportunity #3.

Probably the dumbest thing Florida Evans has ever done is when she forced James to turn in the $27,000 in cash that he found on the street in Season 2. WHO turns money in they found on the street?! WHO?! This woman didn’t deserve nice things, honestly. Opportunity #4, squandered.

Cousin Raymond comes to town and offers Florida and her family a condo overlooking Lake View Drive. But as you can expect, this was another opportunity squandered by Florida Evans because Raymond played the horses. Opportunity #5, squandered.

Florida: The WIFE/WOMAN

Florida Evans was never supportive and was always negative. No matter what dreams James had for himself and his family, she had to come along and crush them with her pessimism. Florida Evans is why James was always stressed out.

Florida Evans was a devout Christian and always nagged James about not going to church, yet here she marries Carl Dixon, an atheist, less than a year after James’ death. So she gave James all of that grief and stress for nothing. Sad, but expected.

So Florida Evans moves to Arizona with her new husband and leaves her children to rot in the ghetto for a whole year. Forcing WIllona to practically raise them along with her new daughter, Penny. But guess when she chooses to return…

You got that right. When Thelma calls to say she’s gonna marry a rich football player, now she wants piece of the action.

And the fact that she left her new husband in Arizona to come back there on a whim shows you the kind of wife she truly was.

To conclude, Florida Evans was NOT the virtuous woman she claimed to be. Across the five seasons she appeared, you see an unsupportive wife, a domineering mother and a woman of poor decision-making. To honor Good Times' 45th anniversary, honor everyone EXCEPT Florida Evans.