'Grown-ish' Provides A Fresh Lens On American Youth
Start writing a post
Entertainment

'Grown-ish' Provides A Fresh Lens On American Youth

Diverse, driven, and disoriented.

718
'Grown-ish' Provides A Fresh Lens On American Youth
grown-ish / Twitter

I would soon discover, that I didn’t know anything.

In the highly anticipated spin-off of ABC’s "Black-ish," the new series "Grown-ish"takes the sentiment of not knowing and normalizes it, amongst other things.

The show compiles a primarily black cast, not unlike its parent show, and for a show examining the college experience, this sort of diversity is the outlier. After years of "Gossip Girl" or "Teen Wolf,"it’s certainly notable to see students of color portrayed onscreen, and to have their individual experiences and struggles made relevant.

Leading lady Yara Shahidi plays Zoey Johnson, a college freshman, who like any other, discovers collegiate independence and opportunity. Every part of her character speaks to a larger idea, from her physicality to her mindset. In an interview with People Magazine, which commends the fashion that is so integral to the show, Shahidi notes that “dressing the characters on 'Grown-ish' is less about fitting the stereotype about what teenagers are expected to look like and more about expressing authenticity in who these characters really are.” Additionally, Zoey wears her hair in varied styles, natural and not, and is further shown sleeping in her headscarf. These are all depictions that subtly “acknowledge the realities of Black girlhood.”

In Zoey and her 'Breakfast Club' band of friends, Shahidi finds the modern image of the American youth. While Zoey battles finding first loves and smoothing rough patches in her relationships, she and another of her friends are Teen Vogue Fellows. She is surrounded by hardworking college athletes, self-proclaimed revolutionaries making the best of online activism, first-generation children of immigrants, and women validating their bisexuality. The narratives here are far truer to the American experience than would be expected of television; young adults are intelligent, capable, and motivated, regardless of how many selfies they take.

The show’s creator, Kenya Barris, is not lost on the honesty of this depiction, being that Zoey mirrors his own daughter, who attends USC. In conversation with Vanity Fair, Barris remarks, “When she was going off to college, the things she was starting to experience and talk about— gender stuff, the ubiquity of drugs, the pervasiveness of culture and race in conversation, relationships— it made me think, ‘Oh my God! There is a show here.’ I feel like there’s never been a generation in history that has more on their shoulders than this one.”

Through the storylines that Barris crafts, actress-activists like Shahidi have the opportunity to present “the imperfect woman of color who still thrives, and the importance of that character.” With this sort of creative direction, it is no wonder that the show achieves the depth it does amidst exaggerated college bonding and lighthearted humor.

"Grown-ish" is, undoubtedly, for and by students of color. Watch representation take center stage, Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on Freeform.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
the beatles
Wikipedia Commons

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

Keep Reading...Show less
Being Invisible The Best Super Power

The best superpower ever? Being invisible of course. Imagine just being able to go from seen to unseen on a dime. Who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to be invisible? Superman and Batman have nothing on being invisible with their superhero abilities. Here are some things that you could do while being invisible, because being invisible can benefit your social life too.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

19 Lessons I'll Never Forget from Growing Up In a Small Town

There have been many lessons learned.

70754
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

132370
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments