In Season 1, episode 21, titled “Tad”, we find out why Blanche frequents Chattanooga. The Golden Palace also highlights issues of caring for the elderly and mentally disabled. Blanche tells him that the flag was not about hate, just heritage but when one of the women makes a comment about him being a submissive servant for a white woman, Blanche takes Roland’s side and removes the flag. Roland protests that the flag represents racism. In one episode, Roland is upset because Blanche is allowing a Confederate women’s group stay in the hotel and Blanche hangs the Confederate flag at the desk to welcome them. He is a capable businessman and is respected as such.
He is a foster father of an adolescent boy for a few episodes. One way they do this is by featuring minority cast members in a respectful light. The Golden Palace takes this a step further, continuing to tackle groundbreaking topics into the '90s. The Golden Girls was known for introducing groundbreaking themes of the day such as racism, homosexuality, AIDS, poverty and gender inequality.
