Wednesday evenings are now known as “Black Wednesday” in my household. Akin to a national holiday, everything stops in observance of Black-ish. Yes, the television situational comedy (sitcom) Black-ish. At first, I, too, did not appreciate the name of the sitcom. The name alone brought about ideas of Blackface and the minstrel shows depicting Black people as dumb, happy-go-lucky, and dearth of substance. I was wrong. Instead, the sitcom has challenged the perceptions and realities of what it means to be successful, educated, and Black in America. It struggles to reveal the medium of being ‘Black’ within the confines of the (White) power structure. Sadly, our society is conditioned to prefer comedy and laughs to substance and meaning, often times leaving us, as a people, oblivious to the overt racism illustrated on television and other forms of media. It is interesting how most enjoy Scandal, a drama playing into the stereotypical construct of the power structure, but stand in rage when that familiar power structure is challenged through mockery and truth. Allow me to situate the sitcom in this analogy: People enjoy sleeping (not being conscious). Despite the reason, no one appreciates the act of being jarred awake in the midst of his or her precious sleep. This sitcom has jarred people awake (into consciousness about race in America), and most would prefer to remain sleep.

Time to wake up.

As an educator, I often hear, and witness, students’ disconnections regarding present day and the history of racism in America. Oddly, our youth are lead to believe that ‘color’ no longer matters. Meanwhile, young people who resemble them are killed, and the killer is not prosecuted because the color of his skin – color matters. These limited understandings of the history of racism in America leaves students sleep until jarred awake by instances reminiscent of Trayvon and Michael. And even then, they are quickly dismissed with the fading headlines and trending on social media. There was a time when the struggle for advancement and achievement in the Black community was obvious to young and old alike. The true meaning of advancement must come from the elders in the form of instructive implications for the youth. In other words, it is the youth who provide the thrust to ensure the execution of advancement. Today, the struggle is rarely discussed, as the conditioning allows for people to remain sleep in a society that thrives on being awake.

Still sleep? Here is your alarm clock.

The genius that is Black-ish has used each of the four episodes to address persisting issues in the Black community. The pilot demonstrated the struggle to remain ‘Black’ in a society that demands one to assimilate in order to ascend to the executive level. Despite his upbringing, Andre (the father, and one of the leading charters) is charged with trying to instill a sense of culture into his family, regardless of their predominately White community. Although he bows to the pressures of the environment, he discovers a balance: Being Black is a state of being, as opposed to a set of actions. Interestingly, the generational disconnections appear as the grandfather supports the process of trying to teach the children what it means to be ‘Black’, yet struggles with constructing an outcome leaving the positive experiences of the children intact. Every episode since the pilot has wrestled with issues persisting in the Black community: education, positive relationships among ‘hood Black people, sex, fatherhood, motherhood, and the practicality of college.

Time to WAKE UP!!!!

We are conditioned to appreciate what is acceptable to the pallet of the power structure. The message of Black-ish leaves the watcher with an offensive and objectionable feeling, as it challenges people to question what it means to be ‘Black’ in a society where ‘White’ people also dance around the issues of race and privilege. Being conscious requires one to remain awake, despite how many remain sleep. This sitcom came to jar people into witnessing the constant struggle of racism in America – a challenge that should be accepted by both Black and White. Let us stop viewing the sitcom for laughs and comedy. Instead, enjoy the challenge of reflection not often asserted in sitcoms today.

Watch the sitcom without the glasses of simplicity. I dare you!