“The Book of Consequences: Chapter Three: Master Lowry” is the title of tonight’s new episode of Black Lightning on The CW — promotional photos from the episode can be found here — and during our recent visit to the Black Lightning set, showrunner and visionary Salim Akil spoke a bit about the kind of conversation and conflict we will get from the arrival of Garfield High’s new principal.
“One of the things that we do is we make a lot of assumptions about people about a way that they look. A lot of African Americans have the thought that all white people are doing okay, because you’re white you’re doing alright, you’ve got white privilege. Even if you’re poor and white. And I think the assumption that Jefferson makes is that Lowry doesn’t care about the kids. He does, he just has a different way of approaching it,” Akil explained.
“‘I’m not the touchy feely teacher. This is what’s going to get these kids to where they need to go’ — That’s who he is. And so, when you put those two people together you’re going to have conflict ,and one of the things that you’re going to find out about Lowry is Lowry was less privileged than Jefferson and he busted his ass to get to the top too. He’s actually going to say to Jefferson, ‘I never thought you would fall for white supremacy. You fell for the okie doke, you’re just assuming I had a better start than you, that I’m better than you. Oh so you fell for the okie doke, I didn’t. I didn’t give in to my white privilege,” Mr. Akil continued.
“It should be an interesting conversation,” the producer added. “It’s going to be interesting to have that conversation because Jefferson will have his point of view. It’s going to be fun,” he promised.
Black Lightning “The Book of Consequences: Chapter Three: Master Lowry” airs tonight at 9PM ET/PT on The CW following The Flash.
