User Reviews

Laura is trying to bring black history into curriculum and faces resistance by the racism.

I like this episode. It is not the funniest one and pretty simplistic but it is well done on the topic for the kind of TV show that it is.

The greatest problems one can find with this episode is that we don't see how all the race fights in school developed since it seemed at first that most supported the idea. And the way it ended was unrealistic.

At the same time I loved the scene at Laura's locker where she has a racial profanity written on it. Very strong and not sugar coated. And Estelle telling about her library experience brought tears to my eyes (although this is usually not what i want from a comedy show, lol).

I guess the episode makes me sad because so many years later and black history in high schools is still not doing much better.

One of the most notable things about Family Matters is that it never came across as a "black show." I'm not sure the show deserved points for an episode with a racially-charged theme. The story is engaging, thanks mostly to Laura and Steve. Laura almost made me cry here, and I've had that reaction to her in other episodes. This serious subject is handled in a questionable way. Who were the students that had a problem with a black history course being taught? We don't know, because the perpetrators of the vandalism are never shown. It was a racially mixed school, so whoever would be against a black history course should, logically, have had the same issues with being in that school in the first place. The episode ends without a resolution. The perps are not identified. The tension that had developed between the students starts to fade away, but for unclear reasons. The problem hadn't been solved. Much credit, though, to Jaleel and Kellie (always my main reason for watching).

Now, while this may not be my favorite episode ever of this show, it is (up to this point) the most important one. I believe that this was a good serious episode, with great message, it was not a repeated one (thank god, Familly Matters). And the subject and the way it is handled is magnificent. I think the key that made this episode so good, was the actors they chose to deal with this situation, the main ones being of course: Laura, Carl and in the end Estelle. They are without a doubt the most capable (emotional) actors on the show. The speech Estelle gives to Laura is heartwrenching and very effecting, I was welling up as well. This is a sitcom , so there are funny moments, but they don't ruin any moments, they are placed well, and with taste. A step up for the series, and one of my favorites. "One person can make a difference!" 10/10 *********** Peter Shelby