What I'm Consuming: Atlanta
I'm not a huge TV watcher, but one of the things I'm consuming right now that I really love is Donald Glover's new sitcom, Atlanta. The show airs on FX, and it explores the lives of two cousins working through the Atlanta music scene in order to better their lives and the lives of their families.
Originally, I started watching this show because of my love for Donald Glover. Say what you want about him, but you can't overlook his brilliance. At 22, my current age, Glover was writing for hit-show 30 Rock. He also gained fame for his role as Troy in Community, has made a meteoric dent in hip-hop through his work as Childish Gambino, and has made millions laugh through his stand-up comedy and early work with DERRICKcomedy.
Despite my love for Donald Glover, the thing that's kept me watching Atlanta is the way Glover and his writing team, which is all black, engage serious issues without allowing them to consume the show's narrative. For example, there's a scene in the first episode where a douchey white DJ tells Glover's character, Earn, a story that ends with the word "nigga." Later, Earn forces the DJ to tell the same story to his cousin Paper Boi, who's perceived as scarier and tougher. The DJ excludes the controversial word.
While this scene is humorous, it also brings light to an issue of how black men are interacted with differently based on whether they're perceived as safe or dangerous. The show also takes on issues, such as mental health and sexuality. In touching on these issues and not allowing them to consume the narrative, Atlanta helps the viewer, as Glover says, "wonder why they're laughing or why that made them feel uncomfortable, rather than tell them why they're a bad person or good person for feeling that way."
If you're interested in checking out Atlanta, it comes on FX every Tuesday at 10 PM (ET). You can also watch previous episodes here.
Now, I'd love to hear from you! What are you consuming right now that you love? Tweet at us and let us know!
Much love.