Writer Allan Sloane used his experiences in raising an autistic son as the basis for this episode.
Writer Arnold Perl won a Writers Guild Award for this episode.
This episode - which confronted issues of poverty, unemployment and racism - caused a storm of controversy, generating hate mail and death threats to the network. Several CBS affiliates in the South - notably Atlanta, Georgia - refused to air it.
Producer David Susskind and writer Millard Lampell won an award from the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith for this episode.
This episode caused a controversy when CBS cut out a scene showing white star George C. Scott dancing with black guest-star Ruby Dee, in order not to offend its affiliates in the South, which was strictly segregated at the time. Scott loudly and publicly blasted CBS for its action, calling the network "cowards".
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