'Black-ish': See how the ABC sitcom addressed police brutality
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Molly Driscoll Staff writer
The most recent episode of the ABC sitcom 鈥淏lack-ish鈥� centered on parents Dre (Anthony Anderson) and Rainbow (Tracee Ellis Ross) attempting to discuss police brutality with their children and the culturally relevant plotline is drawing praise.
鈥淏lack-ish鈥� also stars Marcus Scribner, Yara Shahidi, Miles Brown, Marsai Martin, and Laurence Fishburne and debuted in 2014.
Series creator Kenya Barris said he was inspired to write the episode after he and his wife discussed such issues with their son.聽
鈥淚t literally kicked off from my son during the Ferguson indictment period,鈥� Barris said in . 鈥淲hen the results were coming out, whether they were going to be indicted or not, my son, Beau 鈥� at the time he was like 6 or 7 鈥� turned around and said, 鈥榃hy are these people so mad?鈥� And it really kicked off a conversation between me and my wife and how to actually answer that question.鈥�
The whole episode occurs in one section of the house as the Johnson family is seeing what will happen with a new case in which a black man was abused by police.聽
The decision to address the topic on a network comedy is being praised by critics, many of whom say those behind the show handled the plotline sensitively.聽
called the episode 鈥渞emarkable.鈥�
鈥淚t was funny but heartbreaking, nuanced but not mealy-mouthed, blunt but not despairing,鈥� Poniewozik wrote. 鈥淚t firmly established 鈥榖lack-ish,鈥� if there was any doubt, as a sitcom that鈥檚 not just timely but up to the challenge of its times鈥� [the episode] proved how sitcoms can still matter; even in a time of fragmented audiences, they can connect."
wrote that the episode was 鈥減owerful,鈥� writing, 鈥溾�橞lack-ish鈥欌�檚 continued presence on the small screen, and ABC鈥檚 willingness to let it talk about more charged issues in depth, is a strong reminder of why network television needs more families that look like the Johnsons on screen,鈥� while found that 鈥渢he storytelling around the children is the strongest, both funny and bright and heartwarming鈥� Ultimately 鈥� no matter how brilliant 鈥楤lack-ish鈥� showrunner Kenya Barris is at weaving difficult topics together with adorable snark 鈥� it鈥檚 heartrending.鈥�
The episode is titled 鈥淗ope鈥� and Barris called the notion 鈥渨hat we wake up for every day.鈥澛�
鈥淲e wake up with a sense of hope, or with a sense聽that things are going to be better for us and even better for our kids,鈥� he told EW.
