Officer Clemmons

Mister Rogers' Neighborhood was full of notable characters, one of them being Officer Clemmons. Played by François Clemmons, the actor made history as one of the first African Americans to have a recurring role on a children's' TV series and during his 25-year run broke many racial barriers along with host Fred Rogers, including episodes where the two shared a backyard swimming pool. In his memoir, Clemmons recounts his life before the show and the hardships that came from living as a young black gay man in Alabama and Ohio along with his time as a music major at Oberlin College. He also reflects on the chance meeting with Fred Rogers that led to years of friendship and mentorship that followed.