Grown-ish Review: A Peace of Light (Season 4 Episode 7)

After its two-week event covering the heavy topics of the murders of Black men, Grown-ish Season 4 Episode 7, “A Peace of Light,” switches back to its regularly scheduled content, bringing us back to the storylines that had been on pause for a brief moment. 

The transition is as seamless as can be expected for going from heavy and real topics of police brutality to fictitious storylines. Instead of completely shifting gears, the conversation of race continues on this episode. This time, highlighting the struggles Black artists and fashion designers face in an industry overrun by white people.

Zoey’s big shot internship with prominent fashion designer Esme Sharp starts off a bit brutal and stereotypical. She’s making coffee runs and perfecting the oddly specific morning order for her boss and not doing much designing. 

However, Zoey is invited into Esme’s office to discuss the tragedies of white male designers appropriating and stealing the ideas of Black designers.

The next morning, Zoey sees a headline and article with Esme using Zoey’s exact words as her own. Zoey is peeved that Esme did the exact thing she’s calling out white male designers for doing.

She brushes it off until she sees Esme’s newest fashion creation which happens to be a total rip-off of Zoey’s sketch.

When Zoey brings it up to her friends, they side with her saying that she should absolutely confront Esme. And just as she’s about to, she notices numerous photographs hanging on walls picturing Esme surrounded by famous designers, all of whom are white. 

In a very un-Zoey moment that shows total character growth and development, she decides not to confront Esme. Zoey realizes that the best thing for her to do is to support and uplift Esme as a Black fashion designer rather than bring her down. Even if that means freely giving Esme creative ownership over Zoey’s design.

First of all, seeing Zoey successfully argue about the oppression of Black designers and correctly using the words “appropriation” and “reparations” is a huge step for her. Aaron’s influence on Zoey is evident!

This entire season has properly built on Zoey’s maturation. Gone are the days of her selfishness, she’s a new woman, now taking the backseat if it means helping out other women. 

Although, apparently Luca doesn’t necessarily agree with her choice. The artist in him feels the frustrations of having someone else steal artistic ideas. So he does what any angry Gen Zer would do, he takes to Twitter and calls out Esme.

Speaking of Gen Z and social media, Aaron is also struggling with social media and technology interrupting his first student teaching job. 

Midway through his lecture about the very important topic of Malcolm X, he notices the class is taking photos of him and creating Instagram accounts dedicated to his sweater vest. 

Someone needs to take phones away from kids! Charlie gives Aaron another chance to teach a different class, ironically the late registration class that he had been put in on Grown-ish Season 1 Episode 1, “Late Registration.” The very class the crew became a crew.

This revelatory moment would’ve been more successful had it been the show’s finale, but nonetheless, it’s still sentimental. 

It looks like the drama is heating up. What will Luca’s tweet mean for Zoey’s internship and Esme’s reputation? 

What did you think of this episode of Grown-ish? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Stray Musings:

• We all know Zoey’s a fashion queen, but this episode’s wardrobe was unbelievable. Every piece and hairstyle she wore was absolutely A+. There’s no need to worry about her future success in the fashion industry. 
• Aaron’s blue leopard print shirt is high fashion, where can I find a dupe? Also, his sweater vest is on-trend, I don’t understand why they are making fun of it. Does that make me jaded?
• Jazz’s breakthrough with her therapist is the moment her character desperately needed. It’s important that they’re touching on mental health in the Black community. Hopefully next episode they’ll dive deeper into her struggles.

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Grown-ish airs Thursdays at 8/7c on Freeform.

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