In this day and age, it’s a pretty plausible scenario: Your African-American son recites lyrics during a school talent show that include ‘the n-word’ and is subsequently expelled. As their parent, how do you feel you should respond?

If your answer is to appeal on his behalf to the school board and caution the members against penalizing a student due to the nation’s ‘social schizophrenia’ about a negative word used in an artistic context you’re in line with Dre Johnson, who is played by Anthony Anderson on the successful ABC show Black-ish.

Averaging over seven million viewers per episode, Black-ish depicts the life of Johnson, a successful ad executive living in the ‘burbs with his biracial wife, their four children and his constant struggle to balance his working class roots, African-American culture and the pitfalls of the increasingly homogenized world that they navigate within.

Before the new season started, Anderson, a 45-year-old Howard University alumnus and Compton, Calif., native, participated in a conference call with several reporters. The executive producer discussed the appeal of Black-ish, his personal views on ‘the n word’ and his connection with one of the new season’s guest stars.

How much of you is in your character, Dre Johnson, and is that part of the show’s runaway success?

“I think what resonates with the public is [Black-ish’s] ability to tell honest stories, as truthfully as we can, with some humor. It’s our unique perspective on living the American dream, giving your children better than what you had and having to assimilate into this homgenized world while holding on to your identity. As for Dre, he’s an amalgamation of myself, friends, and [executive producer] Kenya Barris, so he’s the closest role to who I am personally more than any other character that I’ve portrayed on television or film.”

You were recently nominated for an Emmy for your work in Black-ish and many compare the sitcom to The Cosby Show. How do you feel about those types of recognition?


“Over the moon— it’s a great accomplishment to be accepted by your peers and more advertising for our show, so it’s a win-win that we’re all really proud of.
Being compared to ‘The Cosby Show’ is a tremendous compliment because [Black-ish] stands on the shoulders of those who came before us, but we’re also making our mark in this time and this era: Before there was an Empire or Fresh Off The Boat, there was Black-ish. Wednesday became the go-to TV slot because of our success.”

In last week’s season premiere, Dre referred to ‘the n word’ as an acceptable ‘tribal call’ of African-Americans and clashed with his wife since she’s totally against the usage of the word in any context. Where do you personally stand?

“I’m not gonna lie to you, I use the word. In my community of Compton and Watts, it’s what I grew up hearing and depending on how you say it, and the inflection or tone in which you use it, it can be a term of endearment or an insult. Do I use it in mixed company? No. Am I offended when I hear it [from nonblacks]? Yes.”

The advance buzz for this season’s Black-ish is the promise of more hot-button topics and some guest star appearances. What can you confirm for fans to anticipate from the popular sitcom?

“Black men’s health and gun ownership are some of the topics we’ll focus on, and as for guest stars, Zendaya is scheduled to make an appearance and so will my son [Nathan Anderson], he’s following in my footsteps as an actor. As for revealing anything else, well, mum’s the word [laughs].”