TV Review: Appearances From Black Royalty like Michelle Obama send ‘black-ish’ off in style   

black-ish season eight has finally come to Disney Plus, after much anticipation fuelled by clips revealing a star-studded cast. Despite perhaps bingeing on these clips via the black-ish instagram, the joys of watching the show are still alive and well. 

The final season shows viewers the big transitions each of the main characters are faced with, and the deeply emotional process that accompanies them. It also ties up as many loose ends as possible so die-hard fans can come to accept the show’s conclusion, and metaphoric passing away. 

Throughout the season there are appearances from several black individuals considered to be African American ‘royalty’ in the black community, all playing themselves of course. Stars range from actress Vivica A Fox, to former professional basketball player Magic Johnson, and the biggest jaw-dropper of all, former First Lady Michelle Obama. The heavyweight appearances are a testament to the quintessential place of black-ish in black TV history. It has been built on the backs of shows like The Cosby Show (controversy aside), Moesha, Sista Sista, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, and so many more.

However, black-ish has also sought to push back on the stereotypes some of these shows enforced. For example, the wife taking second place to the husband by setting up his jokes. This was the power example Tracee Ellis Ross, the mother of the black-ish household Rainbow Johnson, gave in The Hollywood Reporter’s TV Comedy Actress Roundtable. The show created the evolved dynamics of a modern African American family, you could say at times almost presenting aspirational family-life dynamics. 

One of the most phenomenal things about the show is the wealth of black and American history that it teaches viewers, and how it puts that history into context through the lives of the main characters. For example, Andre Johnson Jr, (Marcus Scribner), gets really excited about voting in season seven, only to find out he has been “purged” from the electoral register. His revelation is quickly followed by a sketch in which his father Andre ‘Dre’ Johnson, played by actor Anthony Anderson, is the host of a game show called ‘Democracy in Jeopardy’. The show bears the tagline: “The only game show that combines all the fun of trivia, and all of the unfairness of the American political system”. Junior has a rude awakening to the racism, as well as other isms, affecting the electoral system. 

black-ish has successfully created a plethora of good quality subplots which keep the audience engaged beyond the main storylines. At times they are so interesting, comical and mysterious, that you are more interested in their conclusions than the main stories. For example, there has been a running feud between Diane Johnson, Dre’s youngest daughter (Marsai Martin), and Charlie Telphy (Deon Cole), Dre’s co-worker. Viewers are never told why the feud exists but enjoy watching Diane send shivers down the spine of a fully-grown adult. At Charlie’s wedding, he has a heart-to-heart with Diane in which she nearly reveals the root of their contention. As quickly as the moment begins, it ends and the issue between them forever remains a mystery. 

There are two scenes in season eight that really capture the heart and soul of black-ish. The first is the homegoing ceremony they throw for their house, to mark moving out. The second is the racist reception the incoming new homeowners, of the family’s old house, receive from neighbourhood busy-body Janine (Nichole Sullivan). The former, though a metaphorical burial, is an education on how some African Americans celebrate their dead, particularly in places like New Orleans—the show remains an educator into its final seconds. The latter shows that all the struggles the family have faced due to their race, are a reality not just for them but so many other ethnic minorities in the US. It presents the Johnson family as a microcosm of families fighting to be seen beyond the colour of their skin. 

black-ish season eight is simply epic, and a fantastic way to end a show that has done so much in educating its audience on the current state of the US in regards to: race relations, politics, gender norms, societal pressures, and much more that would take many more words to really do justice to. 

black-ish has earned its spot in the black TV shows of all time hall of fame, and the 21st century black culture time capsule.   

Words by Solape Alatise

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