Black. White.

:

Season 1
  • Network: FX
  • Series Premiere Date: Mar 8, 2006
User Score
6.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 110 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 66 out of 110
  2. Mixed: 18 out of 110
  3. Negative: 26 out of 110

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User Reviews

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  1. ab
    Mar 9, 2006
    0
    i think this show is ridiculous. i know blacks can be discriminated. but so can the handicapped, young, and old. everyone is discriminated at one time or another, all for different reasons. im tired of people complaining about how they are treated. i think blacks are created just as equally as everyone else. if someone discriminates you, whether it be for your color, age, religion, i think this show is ridiculous. i know blacks can be discriminated. but so can the handicapped, young, and old. everyone is discriminated at one time or another, all for different reasons. im tired of people complaining about how they are treated. i think blacks are created just as equally as everyone else. if someone discriminates you, whether it be for your color, age, religion, weight, or sex it is their own stupidity and they are not worth you time. i think the world needs to quit focusing on the negative and look at all of the positive things we have done. maybe if that happened we would have a better place to live.… Expand
  2. E.LouiseL
    Mar 9, 2006
    1
    I changed the channel when the black dad attempted to show the white dad how to "hug like a black man". I found that to be stereotypical and ridiculous. Also, it seems to me that the black mom is way too aggresive...and the white mom is way too passive. It seems very one-sided, as if to say that the blacks have to teach the whites. Their neighborhoods aren't equal. The whites live in I changed the channel when the black dad attempted to show the white dad how to "hug like a black man". I found that to be stereotypical and ridiculous. Also, it seems to me that the black mom is way too aggresive...and the white mom is way too passive. It seems very one-sided, as if to say that the blacks have to teach the whites. Their neighborhoods aren't equal. The whites live in a mostly white neighborhood, and so they haven't had much exposure to being around blacks. On the other hand, the black family's neighborhood includes many people of different races/ethnic groups, and so they have had more exposure to being around white people. The show was an interesting idea, but it needs to have a white family who has at least had some exposure to being around blacks.… Expand
  3. AndrewS
    Mar 16, 2006
    0
    I was very excited about this show at first, and very interested in it, but when I started to watch it I was really disappointed. In my opinion they went about this all in the wrong way. They took two families, from way different environments, one from California which is very diverse, and has very little racism, and then Georgia, which still has some issues. I could tell from there that I was very excited about this show at first, and very interested in it, but when I started to watch it I was really disappointed. In my opinion they went about this all in the wrong way. They took two families, from way different environments, one from California which is very diverse, and has very little racism, and then Georgia, which still has some issues. I could tell from there that the show was going to go down hill but when the people were introduced in the show I could tell that this was going to be one sided. Getting a Caucasian family that doesn't know anything about black people just put them up for failure. Not only do they know nothing about the other culture, but the mother of that family is so ignorant and naive that it makes me sick, all of her views comes from the media, and what she… Expand
  4. jr
    Mar 16, 2006
    1
    I feel the black family from the 3/15 episode never gave the white family a chance.Such as the part where the men were in the white bar and discussing interracial dating. I believe the things the white man was asking was to show the black man that not all whites are racist.There are white racists and black as well .Dont have you mind made up in the beginning..If you are not willing to be I feel the black family from the 3/15 episode never gave the white family a chance.Such as the part where the men were in the white bar and discussing interracial dating. I believe the things the white man was asking was to show the black man that not all whites are racist.There are white racists and black as well .Dont have you mind made up in the beginning..If you are not willing to be open minded and give the other family a chance without immediately down talking them, then dont agree to be on the show!… Expand
  5. dickr
    Mar 20, 2006
    1
    Won't watch again
  6. RoseW
    Mar 29, 2006
    0
    This show in no way does justice to the views and attitudes of greater America. It is a huge gimmick involving two seemingly ignorant families and a predetermined storyline and it does nothing to break through stereotypes.
  7. CathyH
    Mar 31, 2006
    2
    This show is for the birds. This show is more onesided than ever. I have not seen the black family(Mother and Father)interact with any whites to learn the white culture. The black father need to learn from his son that this new generation is more mixed that our generation in the 70's and 80's. After reading some of the reviews, I agree that the families were not carefully This show is for the birds. This show is more onesided than ever. I have not seen the black family(Mother and Father)interact with any whites to learn the white culture. The black father need to learn from his son that this new generation is more mixed that our generation in the 70's and 80's. After reading some of the reviews, I agree that the families were not carefully picked. The white family seem to never been around blacks and the black family came in with a chip on their shoulder about the racism. The producer should have picked families with some simular life styles. The teens to me had their heads on and was willing to learn. I have a stong belief that our child of today can cut the racism if the parent have an open and willing heart. This show only brought out the worst and at the end of it all the parents still had an issue. I pray that Bruno and his wife marriage do not break up over this mess. Their love for each other is more than the racism in this world. Yes I am a black female in her 40.… Expand
  8. bb
    Mar 9, 2006
    0
    stupid. get over it already. A socially wrong experiment! WHat a ridiculous Idea gone horribly sour!
  9. Jesi
    Mar 9, 2006
    2
    I can honestly see both sides of the show. I'm white but I have some black friends. I can see that my friend and I can be treated differently but I don't know if it's just because we act weird, expect it, or not. Both black and white people need to see that they both treat each other differently. I think that it's in how you act on it is the point people cross everyday I can honestly see both sides of the show. I'm white but I have some black friends. I can see that my friend and I can be treated differently but I don't know if it's just because we act weird, expect it, or not. Both black and white people need to see that they both treat each other differently. I think that it's in how you act on it is the point people cross everyday and don't let it run your lives.… Expand
  10. HeinrichB
    May 4, 2006
    0
    This is all I want to say on the subject. It is a quote from an Ice Cube rap song.
  11. DanaH
    Mar 12, 2006
    0
    This show is racially Biased. The outcome is unquestionable. Dress the Sparks Family up as white and move them into a all black neighborhood. Racism is rampant on both sides. Admit it whites are not the only racist.
  12. RogerB
    Mar 13, 2006
    1
    did nothing but promote Black, belittle White, and attempt to put more devision between the two races for the benefit of creating an issue or inflaming an issue.
  13. hollys
    Mar 15, 2006
    1
    i think this show makes all white people look racist and they arent. the true black family on here makes the true white family look like a bunch of jerks. i think the true black people on the show are the ones who are racists.
  14. RickL
    Mar 15, 2006
    1
    Just as I expected, Black White is incredibly biased against whites. All throughout the show we are shown how racist whites are while blacks are portrayed as being accepting. They've even gone as far as setting up situations and editing the film to make things look worse than they are. For instance, when the black man in white make up goes to a bar to get a job, the manager skips the Just as I expected, Black White is incredibly biased against whites. All throughout the show we are shown how racist whites are while blacks are portrayed as being accepting. They've even gone as far as setting up situations and editing the film to make things look worse than they are. For instance, when the black man in white make up goes to a bar to get a job, the manager skips the background check on him and is incredibly nice. It looks as though he recieved preferential treatment because he was white but what they don't tell you is that they had already made previous arrangements to give him the job. This is why it looked so easy but they fail to mention this, just to make it look bad. Then they intentionally set up a all-black poetry group to send Rose, the white daughter in black make up, into. Ahead of time, they let a couple of the black members know about this and they act as mediators to make things work out for her. Overall, everything in the whole show is to make whites look bad. Everything, including the selection of cast members. They chose a well to do black family that already lives in a diverse neighborhood and interacts with whites on a daily basis. The white family not only isn't married, they rarely interact with blacks by their own admission and are about as naive and ignorant of racial issues as you can find. I simply cannot believe that this wasn't intentional. I would've loved to have seen the white family in black make up go to an inner city barbershop or something like that and bring up some racial issues and see what comes out. Of course, we're not going to see that because the whole purpose of this show is to portray whites as all being racists while blacks are the oppressed minority who only wants to work together and have peace. Show the truth, FX. Racism exists everywhere from all races.… Expand
  15. JayK
    Mar 25, 2006
    0
    Should be called Black & Whacked. Could anybody as rediculous as Carmen be real ?
  16. BillO'Reilly
    Mar 25, 2006
    0
    This show is terrible!!! Mr. Sparks is a f@#$ing P@#$y. He bitches all the time about how hard he has it because he is black. F@#k him! He's got a great family and a great life. Some white towns don't want black people in them. Some black towns...excuse me... all black towns don't want white people in them. Granted the black towns are poor as hell, so they have a reason to This show is terrible!!! Mr. Sparks is a f@#$ing P@#$y. He bitches all the time about how hard he has it because he is black. F@#k him! He's got a great family and a great life. Some white towns don't want black people in them. Some black towns...excuse me... all black towns don't want white people in them. Granted the black towns are poor as hell, so they have a reason to be angry... but you think all poor people are black or all black people are poor? If a rich black man walked into that town and spoke properly, you know what? There would be prejidice against him too. He wouldn't be "black enough" to be there. If you want to segregate yourselves, fine. then don't expect me to want to support you with my tax money.… Expand
  17. BrianH
    Mar 14, 2006
    0
    This may be the most foolish attempt to uncover the realities of black and white cultures in the history of mankind . In this show there is an asumption that all blacks speak, talk and act a certain way. That is not true. There is no lession in this show. It only perpetuates false and ignorant stereotypes. So much so that certain blacks start to believe them. I am black and this show offends me.
  18. AprilN.
    Mar 15, 2006
    0
    I don't believe this show even begins to scratch the surface of racial issues. What it does is reinforce stereotypes for both races. There is no profound study here. Where does the true examination of race come in? What I witnessed were two families in makeup trying desperately to play roles so trite and stereotyped that it was shameful. I was especially angered by the whole lesson I don't believe this show even begins to scratch the surface of racial issues. What it does is reinforce stereotypes for both races. There is no profound study here. Where does the true examination of race come in? What I witnessed were two families in makeup trying desperately to play roles so trite and stereotyped that it was shameful. I was especially angered by the whole lesson on how to be black. It's always been a puzzlement to me how race is taught or acted. The type of racism experienced today cannot be captured on camera, especially in an 8 episode mini series. Why not follow REAL black people on REAL job interviews and compare their hire rate to their white counterparts? Compare the academia and condition of an all black school to a predominantly white one. Follow a group of young black men around on a Saturday night and document their scrutiny by the police. Racism is so subtle and profound that it's almost impossible to prove let alone display for the world to see. What Bruno is expecting is a huge Jim Crow, sit in the back of the bus event to happen to confirm for him that racism exists and I believe many white people feel the same way he does. Just because blacks aren't being forced to sit in separate waiting rooms anymore, or drink from separate water fountains doesn't mean the idea and practice of racism has vanished. Modern racism is the practice of exclusion. It's keeping what's white, white and what's not white as far away as possible. Unless this show is able to truly look at racism for what it is, it may actually be doing more to bolster racism than it does to examine it.… Expand
  19. JillianS
    Mar 15, 2006
    1
    This show is stupid. It does nothing to show what it is really like. I am a bi-racial woman. I know what it's like to be hated by both sides. And, because I am mixed, most people think that I am hispanic, demonstrating more racism. It's time for blacks and whites to get off their high horses and see that they are not the only two races in the world. Racism is not only a two way This show is stupid. It does nothing to show what it is really like. I am a bi-racial woman. I know what it's like to be hated by both sides. And, because I am mixed, most people think that I am hispanic, demonstrating more racism. It's time for blacks and whites to get off their high horses and see that they are not the only two races in the world. Racism is not only a two way street....it's much more than that. The world is not black and white....deal with it. I am angered by this show.… Expand
  20. Kim
    Mar 17, 2006
    0
    I'm very disappointed in the path this show seems to be taking. I really hoped it might be something that would open people
  21. PonR
    Mar 19, 2006
    3
    It's true that there's more racism than we'd like to admit in today's society. It's not always apparent, in fact it's usually quite subtle. But this show doesn't care about any of that. It just wants to put white people in makeup that makes them look like they have bad tans and black people in makeup that makes them look like Mariah Carey impersonators. It's true that there's more racism than we'd like to admit in today's society. It's not always apparent, in fact it's usually quite subtle. But this show doesn't care about any of that. It just wants to put white people in makeup that makes them look like they have bad tans and black people in makeup that makes them look like Mariah Carey impersonators. What's being accomplished? They each make stereotypes about one another and even about themselves. This show had potential, but all it does is legitimize racism instead of question it. It's awkward and dumb. That's all.… Expand
  22. DamarcusW
    Mar 24, 2006
    3
    For all the good this project attempts it still manages to shoot itself in the foot. By putting the two families together has, at best, marginally helped in their mutual understanding. However, the overall misunderstanding is significantly greater because each family represents their entire race. The ONLY saving grace of the families is Rose and sadly her voice hasn't so far been For all the good this project attempts it still manages to shoot itself in the foot. By putting the two families together has, at best, marginally helped in their mutual understanding. However, the overall misunderstanding is significantly greater because each family represents their entire race. The ONLY saving grace of the families is Rose and sadly her voice hasn't so far been strong enough to make a difference with the families and possibly with the viewers. Racism exists. Newsflash. But there is a such thing as personal accountability and rarely is that shown by any of the participants on this show. One side blindly rattles off incidents of victimization while the other counters with knee-jerk defenses. Where is there any understanding? It's early in the series but I really hope there comes a turning point in the show; it has potential. As the project continues I hope it becomes apparent that putting on makeup isn't actually walking a mile in someone else's shoes.… Expand
  23. jill
    Mar 29, 2006
    1
    I think this show could be really good,, but it is portrayed the wrong way completely. There is no point being proven on either side except they are all idiots. If you had the white girl go in a store then a black girl to the same one and she was treated different ok.

Awards & Rankings

42
#42 Best TV Season of 2006
22
#22 Most Discussed TV Season of 2006

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
62

Generally favorable reviews - based on 22 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 22
  3. Negative: 2 out of 22
  1. San Jose Mercury News/Contra Costa Times
    Reviewed by: Charlie McCollum
    60
    What I've seen suggests an intriguing show, although there's something so contrived about the series that it makes me more than a bit uneasy.
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  2. TV Guide Magazine
    Reviewed by: Matt Roush
    80
    An endlessly curious and unexpectedly intelligent social experiment.
  3. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Joy Press
    70
    Black.White takes the reality subgenre to a whole new level, shining a beacon on American's most excruciating blind spot.
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