FortuneCookie posted... https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/8/7/0/AAdlC_AADqlm.jpg
John Wayne and Sammy Davis Jr. being friends is well-documented too. Davis lamented giving Wayne a hug close to Wayne's passing because of his physical condition at the time. Wayne's son, Patrick, said that he wouldn't have missed that for the world. There is a quote hidden mostly behind paywall articles:
When there was finally a role calling for a [Black] cowboy, John Wayne gave me the hat hed worn in Stagecoach for luck in playing it. He said, I didnt let my kids touch this Stetson. Its very dear to me. But I guess youll be able to find a home for it. The Duke was politically a conservative but he was not a racist. Im proud to have had his friendship. - Sammy Davis, Jr.
With all due respect, I disagree with Sammy Davis Jr. on Wayne not being a racist. John Wayne famously said that he supported white supremacy until the blacks are educated to a point of responsibility." In the same interview, called Native Americans selfish for wanting to keep the land to themselves. But John Wayne was not bigoted to the degree that he couldn't stand to be around someone who was different from himself.
I personally use the term "John Wayne bigotry" to describe someone who holds bigoted attitudes toward a group collectively, but is still willing to befriend or work with members of that group. When it comes to homosexuality, he was friends with Rock Hudson and knew Hudson was gay. (Rock did try to keep the boyfriend away from Wayne though.) He was a bigot and I don't apologize for the attitudes he held. But I also think the record should be straight of what he was and was not guilty of.
I see your point. (And thanks for the info) However, he is known for his take on certain matters. Yes, he was willing to work with certain races, but he still held on to his beliefs about them. (I can imagine what he called them when they wasn't in his presence.)