This is… not usually something we hear on network television.
But hearing the n-word in Tuesday’s episode of This Is Us is what made the story so powerful — at least according to the fans!
This week’s hour chronicled Jack (Milo Ventimiglia) and Rebecca’s (Mandy Moore) fight to legally adopt their African-American son Randall (Sterling K. Brown).
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In the show’s usual nature of exploring real world issues, The Most Disappointed Man touched on race and discrimination in the judicial system circa 1981. [These are spoilers!]
The Pearsons were expecting a breezy court proceeding to make the Big Three official, but were caught off guard when the judge (Delroy Lindo) didn’t think that two white parents should be raising a black child. He told the white couple:
“I don’t believe that child belongs in your home. That child belongs with a black family Mr. and Mrs. Pearson. How else will he see himself? Understand who he is?”
Judge Bradley evoked even more emotion by using the n-word without censorship. He later explained to Jack and Rebecca:
“I never understood what my blackness meant until a white man called me a n*****.”
Damn, NBC!
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The cast live tweeted the bombshell line, and even teased the audience with information alluding to the judge’s own prejudices. Moore and Brown shared on Twitter:
This is not what Jack and Rebecca were hoping/expecting to hear from Judge Bradley. #ThisIsUs
— Mandy Moore (@TheMandyMoore) November 8, 2017
See all the family photos that line Judge Bradley’s wall (families that he’s finalized)? Notice how none are mixed race?🤔 #ThisIsUs
— Sterling K Brown (@SterlingKBrown) November 8, 2017
The Pearsons ended up successfully adopting Randall with the help of a different judge, but not before Rebecca penned a strongly-worded letter to Judge Bradley, signing it as “Randall’s mother.”
Still, the judge’s refusal to rule the adoption into law stuck with many fans — some of whom understood where he came from. See what viewers had to say about the thought-provoking episode (below).
The N word was just used on the NBC channel, without any censorship. Woah #ThisIsUs
— Wilmer (@W1lmerSarmiento) November 8, 2017
Excuse me judge…. how dare you?? Jack and Rebecca are the most loving couple ever!!! #ThisIsUs
— Tri (@LadyTri86) November 8, 2017
I have no words for this judge besides this 👇🏻 @NBCThisisUs #ThisIsUs pic.twitter.com/ivkfPb5kW8
— Halley K (@NKOTBSB97) November 8, 2017
“That child belongs with a black family.” REALLY!!! That child belongs with a family who will love him regardless of his skin color. #TakeASeatInTheCornerJudge #ThisIsUs
— Ms. Stacey L. Bracey (@thebraceygroup) November 8, 2017
honestly this is us is one of the first shows I’ve ever seen that doesn’t make social workers and judges into one dimensional villains #thisisus
— 🌻🌻🌻 (@ssdepop) November 8, 2017
He’d rather Randall be in a foster home? #ThisIsUs pic.twitter.com/NDFOVWd9J1
— nellawafer (@panhalfrican) November 8, 2017
#ThisIsUs just dropped the N word and I’m all for it!
— Podrick Payne (@FredE_Cornbread) November 8, 2017
Your honor, say what?!?!?!?! #ThisIsUs pic.twitter.com/Fkw0yVN00E
— This Is Us (@NBCThisisUs) November 8, 2017
Sry, Judge Bradley. Big Three 4 lyfe!
[Image via NBC.]
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