What I enjoyed most about his programming was how he built his day. Just as classical stage actors were taught to build their characters from the shoes up, Mr. Rogers would do the same — building his day, one shoe at a time. Bit by bit, adding pieces, people, thoughts, small tasks, experiences, lessons, songs, and interactions — until at the end he had a very simple yet complete day. Just as a master chef would add ingredients; understated flavors, nothing too overwhelming, but at the end leave you with a complex and robust taste that was utterly satisfying. The expectations of Mr. Rogers' day were never unrealistic, and his neighborhood — so pleasant. The realities that many of us lived, however, were a stark contrast. That made the show a nice 30-minute long escape: See Mr. Rogers, he'll know what to do, he's a nice man.

Real Neighborhoods

Lack of empathy, fear, and prejudice seem to be timeless topics. Whether you're reading this now or years from the point of this writing, these topics can be just as relevant. It wasn't until 2001, nine years after the LA Riots when I heard Fred Rogers on a segment of This American Life; on "real" neighborhoods, outside of the Neighborhood of Make-Believe.

In the interview, Mr. Rogers was given stories about a neighborhood in Chicago. In one story, a young teen, Hernando, talked about his experiences being considered the "bad" neighbor. He wore baggy jeans, a basketball jersey, and didn't look or sound the part of the blonde, blue-eyed stereotype of America that I had. He was frustrated at being seen as a "thug" and having his neighbors follow him around as if he had already done something wrong; Hernando wanted to be seen as a fellow human, he wanted civil communication. Though Hernando lived in the neighborhood longer than most of his neighbors, they wanted him gone, without ever getting to know him as a person. As tough as Hernando was, that hurt him.

What the neighbors saw were teens who routinely drank alcohol on the street corner, occasionally selling marijuana. They were low-level gangbangers, and there were some rightful concerns.

What Would Mr. Rogers Do