The Parent 'Hood Season 3 Episode 4 Love, African-American Style
- TV-NR
- September 29, 1996
- 21 min
The Parent 'Hood season 3 episode 4, Love, African-American Style, follows the struggles of the Peterson family as they navigate their way through various romantic relationships. Robert Peterson (played by Robert Townsend), the patriarch of the family, is dealing with the difficult task of balancing his career as a college professor with his desire to spend more time with his wife, Jerri (Suzzanne Douglas), and their children. Meanwhile, their eldest daughter Zaria (Reagan Gomez-Preston) is experiencing her first real crush on a boy named Greg (Gregg Daniel) and is facing peer pressure to engage in sexual activity.
The episode primarily centers around the theme of love and the different challenges that come with it. Jerri and Robert are struggling to maintain the romantic spark in their marriage, leading Robert to seek advice from his father-in-law, played by guest star Richard Roundtree. Zaria, on the other hand, is dealing with the pressure to conform to societal expectations of teenage sexuality, but ultimately decides to wait until she is ready to take that step.
The episode also touches upon the issue of interracial dating, as Zaria's best friend Tasha (Ashli Amari Adams) begins to date a white boy. This leads to a heated discussion between Tasha's mother and Robert about the complexities of navigating race in romantic relationships. The episode showcases the importance of communication and understanding in overcoming these challenges.
Love, African-American Style also deals with issues of trust and fidelity in relationships. Jerri begins to suspect that Robert is having an affair with one of his students, leading to a confrontational scene between the two that ultimately strengthens their bond. The episode emphasizes the importance of honesty and loyalty in maintaining a healthy relationship.
Overall, The Parent 'Hood season 3 episode 4 is a thought-provoking exploration of the complexities of love and relationships, featuring a talented cast of actors and important social commentary on race, teenage sexuality, and fidelity.