Ep 19. Richard Youngsta
- TV14
- March 29, 2017
- 21 min
-
5.9 (280)
In season 3, episode 19 of the hit television series Black-ish, we are introduced to Richard Youngsta, a rapper who is known for his controversial lyrics and controversial behavior. The episode begins with Dre, the patriarch of the Johnson family, excitedly awaiting the arrival of a prestigious award for his advertising agency. However, his excitement is quickly dampened when he discovers that the award is being presented by none other than Richard Youngsta.
As the day of the award ceremony approaches, Dre's apprehension about meeting Youngsta grows. This is due to his fear that his blackness is not "black enough," and that he may not be accepted by Youngsta and his fans. This fear is amplified when he discovers that his colleague, Stevens, who is white, is an avid Richard Youngsta fan.
Dre's family tries to support him by telling him that he is "black enough" and should not worry about what others think of him. However, Dre remains unconvinced, especially after seeing the raucous nature of a Richard Youngsta concert that Stevens attends.
During the award ceremony, Dre and Youngsta finally meet. The rapper is surprisingly friendly, and even offers to take a picture with Dre and his wife. However, Dre's demeanor changes when he sees that his son, Junior, appears to idolize Youngsta's controversial behavior. Dre tries to dissuade Junior from following in Youngsta's footsteps, but Junior is dismissive of his father's advice.
As the episode comes to a close, Dre realizes that his fear of not being "black enough" was unwarranted, and that he should be proud of who he is. Additionally, the family comes to the conclusion that Junior needs to decide for himself what type of person he wants to be, regardless of who his idols are.
Overall, Black-ish season 3 episode 19 is an episode about the importance of self-acceptance and not allowing oneself to be defined by others. It also touches on the impact that celebrities can have on their impressionable fans, and the responsibility that comes with being a role model.
