As a seasoned educator with over three decades under my belt, I must say this episode was quite the rollercoaster! It seems like every character is grappling with their own unique challenges, much like the students I’ve had over the years.
Since its debut, “Abbott Elementary” has masterfully depicted a facet of culture that’s been under-represented on mainstream television. Many shows tend to misfire when attempting to portray their interpretation of Blackness, as they overexplain cultural references, resulting in an unnatural stereotype of the culture they intend to showcase. Instead, “Abbott” manages to present its characters naturally without turning everyday situations into a contrived ethnographic display. The topic of race is only brought up when it’s essential for a joke or specific plotline. On the other hand, the writing in “Abbott” exudes an “If You Know You Know” (IYKYK) vibe by using wide brushstrokes to depict Black experiences in a way that doesn’t isolate viewers of diverse backgrounds but still contains subtle, distinctive elements – for example, tonight’s episode where Ava and Mr. Johnson rapping together is funny regardless of whether you recognize the song, but it’s even funnier if you notice they’re rapping lyrics from “Throw Some D’s.
In my childhood, many Black friends’ parents followed an approach known as “don’t instigate fights, and you won’t receive them” when it came to playground skirmishes. My parents made it clear that I would only face trouble for physical altercations if I was the one who started them; defending myself, however, was not just allowed but anticipated. As I grew older and attended more predominantly white schools, I observed a shift in white adults’ responses, as they frequently emphasized Martin Luther King Jr.’s quotes on nonviolence, even in situations where self-defense might have been justified. Let me clarify that this doesn’t imply fighting back is exclusive to Black people or that white individuals never defend themselves. In the spirit of “Abbott,” humorously portrayed in the show, those from similar backgrounds can relate to the deeply ingrained sentiments within our community regarding these matters.
Tonight, Gregory displays his impulse towards playground skirmishes (or lack thereof) when a discontented father named Darnell provokes him into a fight, feeling threatened by the bond between Gregory and his son Jabari. Jabari admires Gregory, something Lisa, Jabari’s mother, acknowledges one day as she collects him. She praises having Jabari with a positive male role model in his life, mentioning that “his dad is somewhat…” (she implies). Gregory feels honored by the praise and takes pride in connecting with his student, but Darnell disapproves of another man influencing his son. The following day, Darnell arrives for pick-up and grills Gregory about a pencil he lent Jabari. He questions their daily conversations — Gregory explains it’s more about teaching than casual chat — and expresses concerns, stating he’s trying to “figure things out.
Gregory wants to postpone the discussion until Jabari isn’t around, but Darnell insists on arguing. This happens while they’re watching “Power”, and Darnell seems to think that when Gregory suggests another show, he’s implying Darnell is a bad father. He tells Gregory to stop making small talk and stops giving him pens as gifts. When Gregory mentions they just met, Darnell thinks he’s being called a deadbeat dad. Darnell gets angrier and proposes a “parent-teacher fight night”, though not that same evening because he needs a haircut first. Ava remarks that a freshly cut Black man can be particularly dangerous.
When other teachers learn about a potential altercation between Gregory and Darnell, they jump in with their unwanted suggestions, hinting that they don’t think Gregory has a chance to win. Jacob is taken aback because this situation reminds him of the start of “The Fresh Prince,” and Gregory doesn’t have the means for Bel Air. However, Gregory remains firm in his conviction that fighting would be uncalled-for as he considers himself far from an uncivilized ruffian. The following day, Gregory attempts to approach Jabari’s mother, asking if she might have casually mentioned him around Darnell, aiming to stir up jealousy. Lisa responds by saying she barely interacts with Darnell except for when she praises Jabari’s affection towards Gregory and suggests that he could be a positive influence not just for their son but for Darnell as well, subtly criticizing her co-parent. She dismisses the threat of physical violence as typical behavior from Darnell, but before leaving, she assures him that Darnell will indeed follow through on his threats and Gregory should stay vigilant.
Tariq (who has a student in Gregory’s class), Jacob, and Janine discuss ways to help a coworker who is having trouble with Darnell. Jacob suggests setting up a pretend altercation where he acts as the instigator while Gregory defends himself, scaring off Darnell. Instead, Janine recommends Gregory leave school early for the rest of the year to avoid the issue. Running out of options, Gregory seeks his father’s advice on handling the situation, hoping for someone who would consider fighting a parent inappropriate. When he believes he has found that person, his dad advises against a fight but adds “Men don’t fight…but we do stand up for ourselves,” telling his son that if Darnell attacks first, “it’s fair game” and exclaiming “Down goes Frazier!” just like my father would.
In the midst of Gregory pondering his approach towards Darnell, Janine fails to persuade Barbara to repay a $5 loan that’s two weeks overdue, and Melissa encounters her own challenge when a fall leaves her injured. Instead of seeking medical help, Melissa endures the pain by hobbling around school and flinching at any strenuous activity. The hurt is intense enough that she can’t move swiftly to place bets on Gregory and Darnell’s fight, so she listens from afar in the hallway. To mask her discomfort, Melissa resorts to using Jacob’s ten-year-old painkillers from his wisdom teeth removal, arriving at school the next day without pain but high on expired pills. To demonstrate her lack of pain, she ascends a ladder to reach the special coffee sweeteners, revealing her still swollen and bruised ankle that clearly requires medical attention. Despite her colleagues urging her to visit the school nurse, Melissa refuses until her back spasms as she tries to stand up, almost causing her to miss Gregory’s potential fight. Eventually, she visits a doctor when her back gives out.
As the day ends, teachers gather to witness an impending confrontation between Darnell and Gregory. True to his word, Darnell arrives while Gregory agrees to abide by Jacob’s plan. Jacob suddenly appears, dressed like a detective from a ’90s TV movie, in black flannel, sunglasses, and one rolled-up sweatpant. He pushes the boundaries with a comment about Gregory supposedly speaking ill of LGBTQ+ people. This remark intensifies Darnell’s desire to fight Gregory even more, especially considering his cousin’s cousin might be gay, making it personal for him, Jabari, his cousin, and apparently, Frank Ocean. Darnell removes his jacket and prepares to fight, but Gregory responds sensibly and logically by offering that if Darnell wants to hit him, he can, but they are both on Team Jabari, and fighting would disappoint the exceptional student who is excelling academically. Tugging at Darnell’s heartstrings works, and he relents, but not without a warning: If Jabari’s grades drop, the fight will resume. The episode concludes with Melissa returning to school the following day on crutches and in a cast, and Lisa praises Gregory for defusing Darnell’s aggressive act. It turns out that Jabari’s previous teacher wasn’t so composed and ended up punching Darnell instead. Thankfully, Janine abandoned her efforts to recover her money – Barbara has the ability to handle it!
Teacher’s Notes
I enjoy observing the dynamic between Gregory and Tariq, now that Gregory’s relationship with Janine has solidified. It’s amusing how Tariq is trying to rekindle his friendship with Gregory while also navigating his new role as “father.
• Finally, the funniest lines of the episode:
“When you visit the doctor with a painful back, it can feel like you’re walking out in a body bag, accompanied by a bill.
Jacob: “Nothing gets me more fired up than nonviolent conflict resolution.”
Ava, after hearing Gregory claim he’s not a barbarian: “Why do you have to phrase things that way? Such language makes others consider giving you a good punch.
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2024-11-07 07:54