When I was a little kid in the 1970s, my parents wouldn’t let me watch Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. I don’t know why. I saw it at a friend’s house and asked to watch at home, but they said no.
In retrospect, considering how abusive, rightwing and authoritarian they were, it makes sense, I guess. It also makes sense why I’d feel drawn to a kind adult who wanted to make children feel loved.
When I got older, 12 or 13, I watched it when they weren’t around. Such a rebel!
I even created a Mr. Rogers fan club with membership cards and a newsletter I made on a manual typewriter. The only members were me and my friend Melanie, but I dedicated a whole summer to writing articles, drawing cartoons and summarizing episodes.
Little wonder I became a writer and journalist later in life.
~ J.L. Hilton
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