Ep 3. America, What a Town

21 Jump Street is a classic TV series about young cops who infiltrate high schools and colleges to investigate and solve crimes. In the third episode of its first season, titled "America, What a Town," the team goes undercover at a public high school in a small town in Texas. The episode explores themes of racism, prejudice, and identity as the undercover cops deal with the ramifications of their cover identities and the issues they encounter.

The episode begins with Officer Tom Hanson (played by Johnny Depp) and Officer Doug Penhall (Peter DeLuise) entering the fictional town of Eastbridge, Texas. They are posing as cousins from Oklahoma and have been asked to investigate racial tensions at the local high school. Hanson and Penhall pick up on the hostility between the white and black students as soon as they arrive, and are quickly thrust into the middle of a full-scale student riot. The principal of the school, Mr. Bickle (played by Alan Toy), explains that the tensions between the two groups have been simmering for a while, but have escalated since the arrival of a new black student, Marquise (played by Martin Lawrence), who is seen as a threat to the status quo.

As the two officers settle into their new roles, they begin to uncover a web of prejudice and hate that exists not just among the students, but also among the adults in the town. They witness acts of racist violence and are confronted with their own biases as they try to navigate the complex social dynamics of the school and the town, which seem to be entrenched in segregation and hatred.

One of the standout moments of the episode comes when Hanson tries to get close to Marquise and wins his trust by introducing him to his "cousin" Penhall, who is posing as a white supremacist. The scene is tense and uncomfortable, as Penhall spews racist rhetoric and tries to provoke Marquise into a fight. But through his deft handling of the situation, Hanson manages to convince Marquise that he and Penhall are not who they seem, and earns his respect in the process.

Another standout moment comes when Penhall goes undercover as a member of a local white supremacist group and witnesses the group planning a violent attack on Marquise. The tension in the scene is palpable, and DeLuise's portrayal of Penhall's disgust and anger is powerful and moving.

The episode also includes a subplot involving Officer Judy Hoffs (Holly Robinson Peete), who is tasked with investigating drug use at the school. Hoffs goes undercover as a tough-talking student and quickly uncovers a dealer who is preying on the vulnerable students in the school. Her investigation takes her deep into the seedy underbelly of the school, and she is forced to confront her own biases and fears as she tries to help the students she has come to care about.

Overall, "America, What a Town" is a powerful and thought-provoking episode that deals with issues that are as relevant today as they were when the show first aired in the late 1980s. The themes of racism, prejudice, and identity are explored with sensitivity and nuance, and the performances from the cast are outstanding. This episode is a must-watch for fans of the show, and a powerful reminder of the enduring relevance of its themes and messages.