ABC’s Black-ish is known for taking on cultural issues — from the n-word to guns to the nod, the show has dedicated airtime to topics that a black family might face while trying to raise informed children. The show will continue its pattern of taking on challenging topics on February 24, when an episode about police brutality will premiere.
The episode, called ‘Hope’, will feature the adults debating when they should talk with the four children (ages 16, 14 and twins age 7) about police brutality, as they watch a fictional, televised case about an African-American teenager’s encounter with police.
Much like the episode about guns released earlier this season, the adults’ opinions on the topic vary.
Where Andre (played by Anthony Anderson) would like to address police brutality with the children (perhaps partially as result of his own difficult childhood,) Rainbow (played by Tracee Ellis Ross) would rather avoid the topic in order to protect the children from life’s difficulties as long as she can. Andre’s parents (played by Laurence Fishburne and Jenifer Lewis) are likely to side with Andre, but their reasons differ.
Police brutality is a tough topic to take on, and the episode will definitely spark conversation. I admire the show, and its creator Kenya Barris, for this bold choice. People weren’t sure there was a need for the show when it began, yet it’s become a huge success. Black-ish usually does a good job of detailing the kinds of obstacles a family might face living, working and trying to succeed in an upper middle class neighborhood. It tackles issues that not only black families may deal with, but ones that all families can relate to. It seems reasonable that the Johnson’s would have to confront these issues as more and more cases of police brutality are publicized in the media.
It’s particularly important that the show has chosen to address this issue because the family has two teenagers who are beginning to go out and do things on their own. It will be great to see the parents and grandparents navigate telling the kids what to do and how to protect themselves should they encounter police.
It’ll be interesting to see how Black-ish discusses such a serious topic while remaining true to the light-hearted, sitcom format.
What do you think of Black-ish taking on police brutality? Let us know in the comments!
