Fri, Mar 1, 1974
Reverend Sam, a flashy televangelist who instead of living the word who uses religion as a hustle, pays a call on his old army buddy James and offers him a job with his entourage that will pay him $700 a week(Sam told James "$100 a day, 7 days a week"). However, Florida, who sees right through Sam's act, is less than thrilled that her husband would want to work with him. James then has a clash of conscience when he sees how Sam's hustle really works and when JJ thinks about following in that path.
Fri, Mar 15, 1974
While cleaning the apartment, Florida finds a notebook titled "Sexual Behavior in the Ghetto" and thinks that its a sex manual. She then accuses JJ of bringing it in the apartment and yells at him for doing so. JJ denies it and when she shows it to James he has a totally different reaction and laughs it off thinking that it is JJ's way of learning about the birds and the bees. However, when James finds out that the book belongs to Thelma, he blows a gasket. Complicating things even more is the fact that she is dating a 21 year old college student.
Fri, Mar 22, 1974
J.J. begins coming home with new art supplies to the point that Florida accuses him of "finding" things. However, he soon reveals that he has a patron who was impressed by his work. However, when J.J. mentions that the man's name is LeRoy Jackson, James Sr. throws a fit because a man with the same name, who was James' best friend, lost all the money they were saving to buy a gas station on a horse. When Jackson arrives at the Evans' apartment, it proves to be the same man and James promptly throws him out. Unfortunately, this doesn't sit well with J.J., who runs away and moves in with Jackson. Now Florida must find a way to bring her son back and reconcile Junior and Senior.
Fri, Apr 5, 1974
Michael writes a letter to the paper complaining about the conditions in their building. However, Florida and James aren't too happy due to the fact that it might get them kicked out of their apartment. To make matters worse, a representative from the housing authority is sent over to discuss the matter and things get really interesting when the man's cab driver runs off to avoid being caught in the middle of a rumble. Now he gets a first hand view of life in the ghetto by having dinner with the Evans family.
Fri, Apr 19, 1974
Florida tries to clean the apartment in order to win first prize for the nicest apartment in the ghetto. Unfortunately, Michael picks the wrong time to show how good a Christian he is by bringing home Ned the Wino. Now, they not only have to clean the apartment, but clean, and disinfect, Ned before the judging committee arrives.
Tue, Sep 17, 1974
J.J. is turning 18 and Florida and James decide to give him some new art supplies as well as a fancy new case. Unfortunately, James is denied credit due to the fact that he was late on a few payments over the years and as a result they have to give J.J. a much cheaper present. Later that night after a small gathering in the Evans' apartment, J.J. gets arrested for allegedly holding up a liquor store. Now the family begin to worry that J.J.'s 18th birthday will wind up with him doing time in prison.
Tue, Sep 24, 1974
After hearing about J.J. getting arrested, the Evanses and Willona head for the police station to learn what happened and, hopefully, post bail. Unfortunately, they can't afford the bail and even consider accepting money from a loan shark. Meanwhile, in his cell, J.J. has a confrontation with a meaner, much larger guy, with very funny results.
Tue, Oct 1, 1974
Michael is selected to be bussed to a school in a more affluent and predominantly white section of Chicago. However, he is against it due to his strong views. James does convince him, in his own way, to get on the bus. However, Michael is nervous that he won't fit in and Florida is afraid that her youngest child might be a target of violence due to the color of his skin.
Tue, Nov 12, 1974
JJ is forced into joining the Satan's Knights street gang. However, he is a less than active member, especially when it comes to getting involved in the gang's ongoing turf war with the Warlords. When he is threatened with physical harm if he doesn't participate in the next rumble, he must find a way to get Florida and James out of the house before the gang's leader, Mad Dog, comes and physically removes him from the house.
Tue, Nov 19, 1974
After getting shot by Mad Dog while trying to save James, JJ comes home and makes like he was critically injured even though it was just a flesh wound. However, on a more serious note, James threatens physical violence on Mad Dog for shooting his oldest son. However, after a court hearing, James has second thoughts on what he wants to do, especially after seeing an incident between Mad Dog and his mother.
Tue, Dec 3, 1974
James comes across a bag containing a claimed $27,000 in stolen money and turns it into the police. The Evanses are quickly hassled by ghetto neighbors, strangers and people they thought were their friends about James' good deed. However that's nothing compared to Florida's reaction when James reveals that the bag actually contained $29,000, and that he kept $2,000 to help his family get out of the slums once and for all.