Jefferson Pierce is nicknamed Black Jesus, so it was inevitable he’d get arrested by murderous enemies during Passover. Let’s dive in:
1. Kara
Following on from last week’s stunning reveal, Jefferson’s own vice-principal Kara was tasked with orchestrating his arrest and capture by the ASA. We didn’t get in any insight into Kara’s backstory this week, but Skye P. Marshall did a great job at silently conveying the doubts and regrets her character may have about the path she’s embarked upon. Still, maybe I shouldn’t feel too sorry for her: she was all too eager to buy into Anissa and Gambi’s ploy so Jefferson Pierce wouldn’t die, when she’s still ready to condemn Black Lightning.
2. Anger
This episode left me furious at times at Jefferson’s treatment, and I guess by extension the many people wrongfully incarcerated in the US that he symbolizes, who have wrongfully lost years of their lives (similar also to the dying metahumans the ASA have locked up). That cavity search scene, as sensitively as it was filmed, was absolutely wince-inducing. The scenes where Jefferson had to convince Jennifer and Tavon to stand down lest they be brutalized (or worse) by the authorities was similarly heartbreaking, and a powerful reminder of the way black people are always perceived as threatening for being forthright.
3. Henderson
One of the scenes that left me seething was when Cayman no-so-subtly threatened Henderson. I’ve found Henderson a bit blank and boring until now, but I was pretty much rooting from him after the brazenly racist signal he received, and it made his final triumph and promotion all the more sweeter. I actually start to become frustrated that Jefferson wouldn’t tell him his secret, which brings me to my next point…
4. Secret identity
I felt Jennifer’s pain at her dad’s imprisonment, and similarly wondered why he couldn’t just bust out and reveal his true identity, thereby exposing and casting a harsh spotlight on the ASA. I know his secret identity keeps his family safe, but has it really protected them so far this season?
Anyway, I felt the hologram Anissa uses could’ve been foreshadowed better, but it was a fun, stirring scene, and I love the recurring joke now of bystanders complimenting her while unaware she’s gay.
5. Redemption
Jefferson still has his doubts about Gambi despite him almost dying to protect him last week. Remembering Rodney King asking “can we all get along? Can we get along?,” he’s still hesitant to forgive him, and I suppose, there is a white privilege to Gambi that he can expect forgiveness from the audience when his victims are still comatose in an ASA lab somewhere.
Still, Gambi is working his way there in spectacular fashion. He is no way, to quote Martin Luther King (who died 50 years ago today), “the white moderate who is more devoted to order than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice.” On that note, I’d like to add it was nice the episode showed white students standing up to the police arresting Jefferson with black ones as well, hopefully it should inspire some young viewers that it’s not enough to not be just a non-racist, but to help fight it wherever you see it.
Bonus thoughts:
– The ASA still have access to Jefferson’s DNA after his exam right?
– Of course the media emphasizes that doddering old white woman’s thoughts over the other two black talking heads.
– Jefferson looked really puzzled by that bottle at the end there.
Next week: Tobias is finally back.
