‘Blindspotting’ Recap: ‘N*ggaz and Jesus’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 203 of ‘Blindspotting’. To revisit the Season Two Premiere, click here.

​There are certain aspects of parenting that we as a society believe, are universal in nature. Such as tolerating the terrible twos and the tough talks that parents eventually have to have with their children. The kind that explains the birds and the bees and why bad things happen in the world and there is merit to this line of thinking. For it is the job of a parent to teach their child in order to help them grow and understand the world and understand what is right and wrong within it, and parents do indeed have to take part in such talks along the way. But while there is indeed truth to the understanding that we go through a great deal of similar moments as parents and have similar talks… we do need to acknowledge the hard fact that parenting and the talks had in households, do differ depending upon the color of one’s skin. 
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For in a Caucasian household, there are no discussions regarding how one has to handle themselves when dealing with the police, or why a child will be treated differently because of the color of their skin. For that is white privilege at its finest and it is the accepted mantra of the land and well, we all know that needs to change, and perhaps, showcasing those different conversations and helping people understand that stunning reality about life in Modern America, would help with that. So, folks can understand that the goal we think we’ve achieved still requires some work, and that is why this week’s episode of Blindspotting on STARZ is of note. For ‘N*ggaz and Jesus’ is a story that showcased that and so much more, in a supremely unique manner.

Because this episode, featured the big weekend that Ashley and Sean had been waiting for. Wherein they were headed to San Quentin to spend the weekend in family housing with Miles. Giving all of them much needed family time and well… at one point during their first evening there… Sean felt the need to use the N word and that’s when this powerful exploration got underway. Because this was a chance for Miles and Ashley to explain in detail, all the issues with using that word and why a duality exists for its use and that led to a powerful sequence for certain. One where a mixed family came together to discuss the rich and unfortunate history of Race Relations in the United States of America. Giving Sean incredible perspective and giving us an understanding of how such discussions have to take place because equality hasn’t become the standard yet. 

Which made this a powerful episode for certain, one that finally put that kind of discussion on display and gave the viewer pause in doing so, as did how the rest of the weekend went. Because… this story also explored how hard, time behind bars can be. Because Miles made it clear, in his own way and through a measure of panic… that he was hurting in this place. Hurting without being near his wife and his son and hurting because he could not make memories with them. All he had was routine and hope for moments such as this, and not getting as many precious moments as possible, was clearly banging up his psyche and this too was important to put on display. Because society, tends to treat those behind bars as out of sight, out of mind. But we cannot and should not. Party because… good folks are in there because of a broken system, and they don’t need to be subjected to that life but also because… they are people. People who are working toward reform and a second chance and forgetting them… and their emotional and mental health needs is wrong.

Speaking of those struggles, they weren’t just explored by Miles and Ashley in this tale. For Rainey also found herself pondering upon her son’s situation and she too was scared and frustrated and angry over how things were going. In part because… she knows the clock is ticking on her diagnosis and soon… she may not remember much about her son and she may not recognize him when he gets out, which helped us to understand why she has been so adamant to see Miles during family weekend as well. But also, because… her son wasn’t home. He was locked up on some ridiculous charges and robbed from precious years with her and the next generation of this family, and there’s no easy way for a person to square that, and that’s why she expressed her helplessness and fear over the situation in this tale and well… all of this made for one of the show’s finest episodes to date.

Because this one went hard and dug deep into some real-life stuff that we don’t talk about often if at all. Because those are conversations that have to happen in everyday homes around America, and that shouldn’t be the case in 2023, but it is. Not to mention, there are good men suffering in prison over the dumbest charges imaginable and their families suffer too, and well… this is the kind of slice of real modern Americana we need to see more of in television and film. To start conversations, to encourage reform and to finally have this country start working toward the actual dream it preaches is available to all, and this show deserves a round of applause for making all of this known and truly, it leaves us eager for the next chapter in The Ordeal. So, we can experience more brilliant commentary, and visual poetry, since that visual representation of Black history in America was stunning, from this utterly brilliant series. Until next time.

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