‘Black-ish’ copes with Trump win in the most remarkable way in “Lemons”

Watch as the the Johnson family copes with an upsetting Trump election win in the latest thought-provoking episode, ‘Lemons’.

ABC’s Black-ish proved yet again why it is one of the most important shows on television in recent years. This week’s episode, appropriately titled, “Lemons”, followed the Johnson family as they struggle to cope with Trump’s upsetting election win but still managed to make Lemonade out of the situation.

I’d been anticipating an episode like this one for a while and I was delighted when it aired Wednesday night. I love Black-ish, because it’s a show that embraces the controversial issues facing Black Americans with raw honesty and humor. This show is unapologetically black, funny, endearing and offers varying perspectives from all three generations of the Johnson household (as well as Dre’s coworkers). To say that this is a “Black-only” show would diminish it’s value because it’s a show everyone should watch and enjoy.

“Lemons” was written and directed by showrunner, Kenya Barris and highlights the tension between Clinton and Trump supporters. It’s been two months, and Dre’s co-workers are still reeling after the election results. Lucy is the only one of Dre’s coworkers who voted for Trump, and I appreciated her statements on why she chose to vote that way. It was a different perspective for me, and many others who may not have thought about it like her.

"I’m not some crazy right-wing nut you guys. I voted for Obama — twice. I even got my Republican parents to vote for him. He felt different. I believed he was gonna change stuff. But it’s eight years later. My dad’s still out of work. My hometown’s about to go under. And Hillary comes out saying she’s basically going to keep everything the same. I’m sorry, but that doesn’t work for me and my family. – Lucy"

But the shining moment of the night was Dre’s emotional monologue with Nina Simone’s soulful rendition of the song, “Strange Fruit” playing in the background.

"“I love this country even though at times it doesn’t love me back. For my whole life, my parents, my grandparents, me, for most black people, this system has never worked for us. But we still play ball, tried to do our best to live by the rules even though we knew they would never work out in our favor, had to live in neighborhoods that you wouldn’t drive through, send our kids to schools with books so beat up you couldn’t read them, work jobs that you wouldn’t consider in your nightmares.”"

Back at home, we watch as Bow copes with Hillary’s lost. She’s dressed like a posterchild for every non-profit organization, and tries to recruit Zoe to help advocate for the disenfranchised and underserved. But Zoe is busy making lemonade, as an act of love for the school “Healing Rally”.

In an interesting twist, the role of mother and daughter reverse when Zoe soothes Bow’s anger and frustration about the future. She eases Bow’s anxiety with this statement:

"“Our values don’t disappear just because our side lost one election. And in the next one, me and my friends will be voting. We’re gonna pick up right where you left off.”"

Pops enlightens Junior with some added details about MLK’s historic “I Have A Dream” speech when he notices Junior has been seeing the world through rose-colored glasses. Pops teaches him about “reading between the lines” for the truth. Junior’s new realization leads him on a path to anger and bitterness but Pops convinces him to stay positive despite the odds.

This this episode was a powerful statement about progress despite the setbacks we’ve faced in America. The overall theme is hope and creating the change we want to see. It echoes familiar sentiments President Obama has told us for the past 8 years.

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Black-ish airs Wednesdays at 9:30/8:30c on ABC.