ABC’s hit comedy Black-ish has never shied away from integrating current political and social issues into the program. Season 4 is no different in that regard, according to the creator Kenya Barris.
During an interview for the TCA press tour, Barris explained that the show will jump into the political and social sphere in the very first episode.
The episode will incorporate musical moments with an “homage to Hamilton” focused on the Juneteenth celebration. Barris said,
“Juneteenth… to be fair, if that was the last day when slavery was officially abolished, isn’t that really Independence Day? How can we have an independence before everyone is independent and everyone’s free.”
He added,
“It came from that notion that we have to own our own stuff, whatever that stuff. You can’t expect someone else to take it seriously until you take it seriously. We wanted to really have a statement to America.”
Barris explained that the new season’s first episode will include the Johnson family discussing slavery and its modern relevance. He said,
“Slavery in this country kind of just ended… there was never really a reset button. There’s never been one prosecutable case against slavery because it was just something that ended… The idea from the people who were the descendants [of slaves] was that there’s never really been a true apology.”
We are so glad that the show does not shy away from current issues. It brings them to light in an interesting and funny way, which is no easy feat when it comes to topics like race and class. It is one of the smartest and funniest shows on TV. And with its success, it has earned a spinoff.
Yara Shahidi will star in Grown-ish (previously College-ish), which will air on Freeform sometime in 2018.
Shahidi was awarded the Young Gifted and Black award at the Black Girls Rock! show in New Jersey. When speaking with Page Six at the awards, Shahidi explained the support she feels for her character and the spin-off. She stated,
“What I . . . appreciate is that people support me, but at the same time they support my character, Zoey, as well. I don’t have to be somebody else for the support and the love.”
The new season of Black-ish airs Tuesday, October 3 at 9 p.m. on ABC. Black Girls Rock! airs Tuesday, August 22 at 8 p.m. on BET.
