Content & Trigger Warnings for black-ish (2014)
14 content warnings identified across 2 seasons for this show.
Quick Summary
Yes, black-ish (2014) contains 14 content warnings : Hate crimes (depicted), Homophobia / transphobia (depicted), Racial slurs / racism (depicted), Religious persecution, Death of a parent, Grief / bereavement (major focus), Gaslighting / emotional manipulation, Infidelity, Alcohol abuse (depicted), Drug use (depicted), Domestic violence / intimate partner abuse, Gun violence, Police brutality, Slavery / forced labor.
The most severe warnings are for Racial slurs / racism (depicted) (severity 4/5), Infidelity (severity 4/5).
Check the full breakdown below before you watch.
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Does It Get Worse?
2 series-wide warnings apply across all seasons.
| Warning | Season | Severity | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Identity & Discrimination | ||||
| Hate crimes (depicted) | S1 | 3/5 | Referenced | Episodes directly address police brutality, hate crimes, and systemic racism against Black people |
| Hate crimes (depicted) | S5 | 3/5 | Referenced | Real-world racial injustices and police violence continue to be addressed through the family's lens |
| Homophobia / transphobia (depicted) | S1 | 2/5 | Depicted | Attitudes toward LGBTQ identity examined within Black family and community dynamics |
| Homophobia / transphobia (depicted) | S5 | 3/5 | Depicted | A family member's coming out story confronts generational attitudes toward queerness |
| Racial slurs / racism (depicted) | S1 | 4/5 | Depicted | Frequent exploration of racial slurs, their history, and impact on Black Americans as a central theme |
| Racial slurs / racism (depicted) | S5 | 4/5 | Depicted | Continued sharp commentary on racism, racial profiling, and the Black experience in America |
| Religious persecution | S5 | 2/5 | Referenced | Religious differences and conflicts within the family explored in several episodes |
| Mental Health & Emotional | ||||
| Death of a parent | S1 | 2/5 | Depicted | Loss of a parent and its impact on family dynamics explored |
| Death of a parent | S5 | 3/5 | Depicted | Death and aging of parents becomes a more prominent emotional arc in later seasons |
| Grief / bereavement (major focus) | S1 | 3/5 | Depicted | Family members process loss, cultural displacement, and generational trauma |
| Grief / bereavement (major focus) | S5 | 3/5 | Depicted | Family members deal with divorce, identity crises, and cultural displacement |
| Other | ||||
| Gaslighting / emotional manipulation | S1 | 2/5 | Depicted | Microaggressions and racial gaslighting in workplace and social settings depicted |
| Gaslighting / emotional manipulation | S5 | 3/5 | Depicted | Workplace racism and cultural dismissiveness explored through professional storylines |
| Infidelity | S1 | 3/5 | Depicted | Marital tensions and unfaithfulness become a significant storyline for the central couple |
| Infidelity | S5 | 4/5 | Depicted | Marital breakdown and separation due to infidelity become a dominant storyline |
| Substance Use | ||||
| Alcohol abuse (depicted) | S1 | 2/5 | Depicted | Social drinking and wine consumption among adult characters throughout |
| Alcohol abuse (depicted) | S5 | 3/5 | Depicted | Increased drinking as characters cope with marital and personal stress |
| Drug use (depicted) | S1 | 2/5 | Depicted | Casual marijuana use and references to drug culture depicted in comedic contexts |
| Drug use (depicted) | S5 | 2/5 | Depicted | Marijuana references and casual drug use continue in comedic situations |
| Drug use (depicted) | All | 2/5 | Depicted | Marijuana use is depicted and discussed, including storylines about its legalization and cultural implications. |
| Violence & Physical Harm | ||||
| Domestic violence / intimate partner abuse | S1 | 2/5 | Referenced | Domestic conflict and heated arguments within the marriage depicted |
| Gun violence | S1 | 3/5 | Referenced | Gun violence against Black Americans discussed in emotionally powerful episodes |
| Gun violence | S5 | 3/5 | Referenced | Episodes tackle gun violence in Black communities and its emotional toll on families |
| Police brutality | All | 3/5 | Depicted | Episodes directly address police violence against Black people, including a powerful storyline where a character is confronted by police in a threatening manner. |
| Slavery / forced labor | S1 | 3/5 | Referenced | Historical slavery and its lasting impact on Black American identity frequently discussed |
| Slavery / forced labor | S5 | 3/5 | Referenced | Legacy of slavery and reparations discussed as part of the family's cultural exploration |
Identity & Discrimination
Episodes directly address police brutality, hate crimes, and systemic racism against Black people
Real-world racial injustices and police violence continue to be addressed through the family's lens
Attitudes toward LGBTQ identity examined within Black family and community dynamics
A family member's coming out story confronts generational attitudes toward queerness
Frequent exploration of racial slurs, their history, and impact on Black Americans as a central theme
Continued sharp commentary on racism, racial profiling, and the Black experience in America
Religious differences and conflicts within the family explored in several episodes
Mental Health & Emotional
Death and aging of parents becomes a more prominent emotional arc in later seasons
Family members process loss, cultural displacement, and generational trauma
Family members deal with divorce, identity crises, and cultural displacement
Other
Microaggressions and racial gaslighting in workplace and social settings depicted
Workplace racism and cultural dismissiveness explored through professional storylines
Marital tensions and unfaithfulness become a significant storyline for the central couple
Marital breakdown and separation due to infidelity become a dominant storyline
Substance Use
Social drinking and wine consumption among adult characters throughout
Increased drinking as characters cope with marital and personal stress
Casual marijuana use and references to drug culture depicted in comedic contexts
Marijuana references and casual drug use continue in comedic situations
Marijuana use is depicted and discussed, including storylines about its legalization and cultural implications.
Violence & Physical Harm
Domestic conflict and heated arguments within the marriage depicted
Gun violence against Black Americans discussed in emotionally powerful episodes
Episodes tackle gun violence in Black communities and its emotional toll on families
Episodes directly address police violence against Black people, including a powerful storyline where a character is confronted by police in a threatening manner.
Historical slavery and its lasting impact on Black American identity frequently discussed
Legacy of slavery and reparations discussed as part of the family's cultural exploration
