BLACK-ISH: THE WORD {SECOND SEASON PREMIERE} (TV)
Summary
The second season premiere in this comedy series about an affluent black family and their attempts to maintain their cultural identity.
In this episode, Jack lands in trouble at school when he sings Kanye West's "Gold Digger" with the n-word uncensored. Dre, who feels the word to be his "birthright," is annoyed to realize that Rainbow was behind the anti-hate speech policy that has ensnared their son. Pops and Ruby share their views on when and when not to use the word and Dre states that his generation "reclaimed it" as a colloquialism after enduring centuries of hateful use. Elsewhere, Junior decides to become an "eco-hero" and pressures his family into adopting more environmentally conscious methods. Dre and his co-workers get into an elaborate debate about the n-word and other antiquated racial terms, and he is dismayed when Jack's principal, who turns out to be black, does not take his side on the matter and expels Jack.
Rainbow desperately rallies support for her son and tries to amend her "no-tolerance" rule about foul language to a "one-tolerance policy." Though Dre begins to reconsider his views, he is outraged to learn that Zoey allows her white friends to casually use the n-word and vows to "defend his tribal call" once and for all. He barges into the school board meeting, where Rainbow is nervously making her case for Jack's un-expulsion. He points out that while America has always had a "schizophrenic" attitude about racial terms and slurs, Jack clearly meant no ill will by singing a popular song and should not be harshly punished for it. Later, the family is relieved to learn that his penalty has been reduced to a suspension. Junior happily reveals that he has won his school's "eco-challenge," though at a cost. Dre tells Jack that he can make his own decision about the n-word once he learns its complex history, and Pops offers him some rare praise. Later, Dre sits Zoey's friends down for a tough lesson. Includes commercials.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: 9:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:28:57
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 124451
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: African-American Collection - Comedy; Comedy; Families; Women's Collection - Comedy
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 2014-2022
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - "Goosebumps" motion picture
- TV - Commercials - "Pan" motion picture
- TV - Commercials - AT&T wireless networks
- TV - Commercials - Bare Minerals BareSkin cosmetics
- TV - Commercials - Cadillac automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Hyundai automobiles
- TV - Commercials - JCPenney stores
- TV - Commercials - Microsoft Windows 10 computers
- TV - Commercials - Old Navy stores
- TV - Commercials - University of Phoenix online college
- TV - Promos - "Blood & Oil"
- TV - Promos - "Dr. Ken"
- TV - Promos - "How to Get Away with Murder"
- TV - Promos - "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"
- TV - Promos - "Last Man Standing"
- TV - Promos - "Nashville"
- TV - Promos - "Quantico"
- TV - Promos - "Scandal"
CREDITS
- Kenya Barris … Executive Producer, Created by, Writer
- Anthony Anderson … Executive Producer
- Helen Sugland … Executive Producer
- Laurence Fishburne … Executive Producer
- Jonathan Groff … Executive Producer
- E. Brian Dobbins … Executive Producer
- Vijal Patel … Co-Executive Producer
- Courtney Lilly … Co-Executive Producer
- Corey Nickerson … Co-Executive Producer
- Gail Lerner … Co-Executive Producer
- Lindsey Shockley … Supervising Producer
- Peter Saji … Supervising Producer
- Jenifer Rice-Genzuk Henry … Supervising Producer
- Hale Rothstein … Supervising Producer
- Michael Petok … Producer
- Tom Ragazzo … Associate Producer
- Yvette Lee Bowser … Consulting Producer
- David Hemingson … Consulting Producer
- Matthew Sohn … Director
- Transcenders … Music by
- Anthony Anderson … Cast, Andre 'Dre' Johnson
- Tracee Ellis Ross … Cast, Rainbow Johnson
- Yara Shahadi … Cast, Zoey Johnson
- Marcus Scribner … Cast, Andre Johnson Jr.
- Miles Brown … Cast, Jack Johnson
- Marsai Martin … Cast, Diane Johnson
- Jeff Meacham … Cast, Josh
- Jenifer Lewis … Cast, Ruby
- Laurence Fishburne … Cast, Pops
- Deon Cole … Cast, Charlie Telphy
- Peter Mackenzie … Cast, Mr. Stevens
- Allen Maldonado … Cast, Curtis
- Nicole Sullivan … Cast, Janine
- Catherine Reitmanc … Cast, Lucy
- Kent Faulcon … Cast, Principal Green
- Jennie Pierson … Cast, Ms. Davis
- Bruce Katzman … Cast, Mr. Scott
- Issac Ryan Brown … Cast, Young Dre
- Lisa Linke … Cast, Ms. Nixon
- Patrick Rafferty … Cast, Mr. Travis
- Marin Miller … Cast, Secretary
- Ava Kolker … Cast, Little Girl