Lebanese 80s TV series features dark skinned migrant: No racism back then?

Al Mouaallima Wal Oustaz (The teacher and the professor) is a popular Lebanese TV series made during the 80s, Starring Ibrahim Meraachli, Hind Abi-Llama and Layla Karam.
Wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Mouaallima_Wal_Oustaz_(The_teacher_and_the_professor)
I was surprise (almost shocked) to see that they had on the front row of the class a dark skinned migrant. Albeit in a silent role. I doubt that, if they were producing this series today, they would they have kept the dark skinned migrant in the series at all. The evolution of the Lebanese mind is really puzzles me.