What Is The Message Of The Gift Of Hunger

Natida Nivsnanda
MACS 100 I believe the message of Black-ish’s “The Gift of Hunger” is that it is easy to lead a life of ignorance if you are absent from struggles. In the episode, Rainbow and Dre Johnson have given their four children a very fortunate, privileged life. But they soon realize that their children are spoiled when Dre takes his family to an inexpensive restaurant and all they do is whine and complain, expressing no gratitude. At home, Rainbow and Dre come up with a plan to put them to work: the two oldest, Andre Jr. and Zoey working at Dre’s office and the two youngest, Diane and Jack working at their own lemonade stand. Initially they children only expressed defiance and apprehension to work, but in the end, they recognized
These concerns are due to the absence of more pressing problems that are more common in minority groups from Second and Third World nations like poverty, hunger, and other drastic hardships. Stereotypically, white people are better off than black people: growing up in safer, wealthier places and being more successful. Specifically, racial stereotypes encourage the negative, inaccurate assumptions. But Black-ish does a great job in combatting overgeneralizations of this
This can be attributed to the mise-en-se. Director, Victor Nelli, Jr., strategically sets “The Gift of Hunger” in the Johnson’s house, in their neighborhood, and at Dre’s office. More in depth, the Johnson’s home is a spacious, expertly decorated, two-story house with a white picket fence and a connecting garage. It fits the “All American Dream Home” model. In addition, we get to see the predominantly white neighborhood that they reside in. The streets are clean and paved, the neighboring houses are identical in appearance to the Johnson’s and the atmosphere is peaceful and quiet— safe. The third location of Dre’s office is a modern-looking workplace accompanied with glass walls, and important figures roaming the scope. Aside from the surroundings, the clothes that the characters wear is important to note. Everyone in the family wears clothes that fits their standard of living and socioeconomic status: bright sweaters, crisp button-ups, and delicate dresses. These factors go hand-in-hand with the upper middle socioeconomic class that the Johnsons fall under— with wealth and success that the Johnsons have obtained comes the nice luxuries of the environment. But when it comes to race, I find that mise-en-se is not as straightforward as social class can be. The color of their skin is apparent. The director does nothing to hide or cover black culture.