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Black. White.
SERIES: FX, Wednesday 10:00p (60 minutes)

6.3 based on 22 reviews read critic reviews how did we calculate this? based on 109 votes read user comments rate this tv show

Get more information on this show at TV.com.

• Official Show Site

In this six-episode social experiment from executive producers R.J. Cutler ("The War Room") and Ice Cube, the three members of the African American Sparks family wear white makeup, and the three members of the white Wurgel family don black makeup, in an attempt by each to experience American life from a different racial standpoint.

GENRE(S):	Reality (Non-Competitive)
CREATED BY:	R.J. Cutler
FIRST AIR DATE:	March 8, 2006

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

80

Philadelphia Inquirer Jonathan Storm

It demonstrates the potential of reality television to go beyond determining who can eat the most worms or scream the loudest, to illuminate important social and cultural issues.

80

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Rob Owen

"Black. White." makes you think, makes you want to have a conversation about racial issues and makes you examine your own beliefs and biases. How often does a TV show do that?

80

TV Guide Matt Roush

An endlessly curious and unexpectedly intelligent social experiment.

80

Hollywood Reporter Ray Richmond

This show goes in for neither cheap gags nor easy stereotypes, crafting a thought-provoking narrative that embodies genuine sociological heft without transforming its subjects into buffoons.

80

Newsday Diane Werts

Uncompromisingly revelatory.

80

Chicago Tribune Maureen Ryan

As these two families question their assumptions and experiences, we not only get insights into a thorny issue but, through the families on the show, we also get fascinating glimpses into lives we'd never otherwise lead.

75

Detroit Free Press Mike Duffy

What may appear at first glance to be a cheap reality TV gimmick... soon evolves into something quite compelling.

75

New York Post Adam Buckman

It is quite simply one of the most fascinating TV shows I have ever watched - warts and all.

70

Village Voice Joy Press

Black.White takes the reality subgenre to a whole new level, shining a beacon on American's most excruciating blind spot.

70

Variety Phil Gallo

Consistently compelling.

63

Chicago Sun-Times Doug Elfman

Some results are interesting anthropologically. But "Black.White" bogs down in conversation and never fascinates.

60

San Jose Mercury News Charlie McCollum

What I've seen suggests an intriguing show, although there's something so contrived about the series that it makes me more than a bit uneasy.

60

Wall Street Journal Nancy DeWolf Smith

Ultimately, though, it's not what happens to the folks on this show that is so revealing. It's what goes on in our own minds as we watch and listen to them try to navigate the shoals of racial differences.

60

Boston Globe Matthew Gilbert

Clearly, the action in ''Black. White." has been manipulated and edited to justify its existence as a spark-filled TV look at black-white relations. Indeed, the show... can be downright hokey. But it nonetheless pushes you into questions about your own behavior and feelings.

60

The New York Times Ginia Bellafante

"Black.White." is most impressive as a feat of cosmetology.

60

Los Angeles Times Robert Lloyd

It works best at its most intimate, as family drama, and as another variant on "The Real World," in which people who would not ordinarily live together are made to do so.

60

Miami Herald Glenn Garvin

However badly you thought American race relations were going, Black. White. will make you feel worse.

60

Slate Troy Patterson

The show's an entertaining provocation, but it's also only skin-deep.

50

New York Daily News David Hinckley

It requires a lot of patience to get there, but the lessons may be worth it.

40

Washington Post Chip Crews

It's a shame so much of the show is annoying, because it offers occasional small moments of enlightenment.

38

USA Today Robert Bianco

An abject failure both as sociology and as entertainment, this incompetent update of Black Like Me is no more than a gimmick in search of an idea.

0

The New Republic Lee Siegel

"Black. White." is not a provocative study in secret prejudice, followed by growth and awakening. It's a reinforcement of the stereotypes the show claims it wants to examine and expose.

The average user rating for this tv show is 6.3 (out of 10) based on 109 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Abby L gave it a6:
To say that America is not racist is wrong. I, myself, as a black American have had to deal with idiots. This show makes me sad and happy at the same time. It makes me upset that they try to make it seem like blacks are hated by everyone, when in reality not everyone hates African Americans. It also makes me happy that they are trying to prove that racism is alive and well. And to the idiots that say America's racist population is 'booming' because of this show, clearly are mislead.

Sarah R gave it a10:
America needs more of this!

Karen S gave it a9:
Whenever I watch this show, I am completely enthralled--I begin analyzing what I think about the whole race issue and why I have my ideas. I gave the show a nine out of ten, though, because of one issue that keeps rearing its ugly head but has not been dealt with yet. The issue is: who is able to say the 'n' word? I personally believe that no one should say it, white or black. If we allow one race to say the word and then attack the other if they say it, we'll just be furthering the racism and solidifying the double standards. Why use a word that is so negatively racially charged, anyway?

Joe H gave it a10:
Love this show when is the next season?

Heinrich B gave it a0:
This is all I want to say on the subject. It is a quote from an Ice Cube rap song. “Bust a Glock; devils get shot. . . . when God give the word me herd like the buffalo through the neighborhood; watch me blast. . . . I’m killing more crackers than Bosnia-Herzegovina, each and everyday. . . . don’t bust until you see the whites of his eyes, the whites of his skin. . . . Louis Farrakhan . . . Bloods and CRIPS, and little old me, and we all getting ready for the enemy” “Enemy”; Ice Cube, Lethal Injection, 1993, Priority Records, Thorn EMI; now called The EMI Group, United Kingdom. Ice Cube like most so-called anti-racist are nothing more than anti-whites in reality. Why is Black Entertainment Television, The Black College Fund and Black History Month not only supported by our media and government but praised as holy goodness. Yet a White History Month, White Entertainment Television or a White College Fund is not only frowned upon. It is fought against with utter passion and considered an evil construction or vile white racism. The double standards are disgusting and hypocritical. It’s no wonder that white-racism in America is not only growing is actually booming! Being fueled by blaring double-standards such as this. :(

Ross C gave it a5:
The strength of the show is its casting. The biggest weakness of the show is its casting. It all depends on the producers' goals and the viewers' expectations. If they were shooting for outrageous reinforcement of the stereotypes both races hold--they chose a perfect mix of characters. The audience gets the entertainment factor they expect from so-called 'reality' television and enjoy the warm fuzzies that come from a voyeuristic camaraderie with several characters that share their perspectives on race. Every one tunes in to scoff at the bad guys and root for the good guys--an age-old (though tried and tired) formula that draws an audience and the subsequent ad revenue. If, on the other hand, you intend to produce television that leans toward the noble causes of mutual enlightenment, education and discovery--choose a cast with a few more folks like Rose. Her introspective and honest efforts in the project were a bubbling spring of hope amidst a desert full of racist clowns, self-righteously mugging for the camera to prove their deeply embedded and closely held point of view. Here's hoping for an engaging followup series where the cast of characters reflects the growing appetite for meaningful interaction between the races. Throw in a couple of racist goons from each family so we can get our giggles--but for goodness sake, give us more Roses that are willing to be real with themselves. What a concept for a true 'reality' show!

Pat B gave it a10:
This is the best reality show on television. It clearly shows the reality that most of white America claims doesn't exist anymore. A reality show like this is long overdue. I especially admire the brave families participating in the show.

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