Where to Start? The should should be TV-PG instead of TV-MA. CSM overrated it. Language should be Iffy Instead for Red. Educational series could Be TV-14 but NOT TV-MA.
Black. White.
(Rated TV-MA, Reality TV, Starring Brian Sparks, Bruno Marcotulli, Rose Bloomfield, Where to watch: FX, DVD, Online)
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Daring reality show for older teens, adults.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 16 and Up
The good stuff
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Black. White. was written by Larisa Wiseman
Parents need to know that while this potentially controversial series contains strong language, it explores the issue of racism in such a way that older teens could learn valuable lessons from watching. The show really gets viewers thinking about what it might be like for a white person to have the "black experience" and vice versa.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about racism and how it affects the way we perceive things. Do you think black people interpret white people's actions a certain way because they expect to be discriminated against? Do white people act a certain way around blacks because of stereotypes? Have you ever been discriminated against because of your race? How did it make you feel? Another discussion topic could be how family members treat one another on the show -- whether within each family or across the two families. What are some examples of when they're supportive and understanding? What are some examples of when they're insensitive toward each other? Is any of it racially motivated?
Have you seen it? Review It!
More on Black. White.
What’s the Story?
FX's reality show BLACK. WHITE. takes a black family and a white family, "changes" their race through the use of makeup and hairpieces -- the black family becomes white, and vice versa -- and brings them together to live in the same house. The purpose of the experiment (which is executive produced by rapper/actor Ice Cube, among others) is to get whites and blacks to see the world through each other's eyes and then discuss their experiences with one another. Each family -- the African-American Sparks family and the Caucasian Wurgels -- includes a mother, father, and teenager. As is to be expected, not everyone is enthusiastic about the experiment, which creates some friction right from the start. As the various family members do things like going to a slam poetry group, attending seminars about racial differences, working as a bartender in a white neighborhood, or simply walking down the street in a black neighborhood, they're all in for some stunning revelations.
Is It Any Good?
It's encouraging to finally see a reality show with good intentions and a serious message, as opposed to all the drivel out there meant simply to entertain (or disgust) viewers. The show's conclusions about basic racial differences may not exactly surprise most viewers; what's truly surprising are some of the things the participants had never thought about -- or had always just assumed -- concerning the other race.
Our Members Say
See 4 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
Overrated
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I rate this title iffy and give it
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I rate this title on and give it
Educational Entertainment
Unlike most reality shows, Black White tackles the social issue of racism in a way that really makes you think. The show is creative and thought provoking. My husband and I are compelled to discuss each episode and our views and opinions. It could be used for educational purposes at the high school or college level, as long as the instructor has had some amount of diversity training and is prepared to moderate a potentially firey discussion. Kids and parents may find that they have highly divergent viwes on the issue of racism... prepare yourself for an invigorating discussion!
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I rate this title on and give it
it is a good show
it is about when people change colors to see how the other color lives
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