Episode Writer, Deborah Pratt, has said the depiction and social message regarding a mixed race romance was inspired by her own interracial romance and subsequent marriage to series Creator/Producer Donald P Bellisario.
The character of Mama Harper (the mother of Scott Bakula's character, Ray) was played by CCH Pounder. She later went on to work with Scott Bakula in NCIS: New Orleans (2014), as Coroner Loretta Wade.
Sam actually helps Al figure out what he is there to do in that episode
Though they never shared any scenes together, Scott Bakula (Dr. Sam Beckett), Marc Alaimo (Police Captain Paul Brewster), and Ron Taylor (Papa David Harper) would all become part of the popular Star Trek franchise. Bakula would star as Capt. Jonathan Archer/Cmdr. Jonathan Archer in Star Trek: Enterprise (2001). Alaimo would go on to appear as several different characters in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) and as the well known Cardassian Gul Dukat in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993). Taylor would go on to portray a Klingon in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993).
This episode takes place in Watts, Los Angeles, California from August 11 to August 12, 1965.