A subject that isn't discussed publicly nearly enough is that of postpartum depression, which affects up to 20 percent of new moms. In Black-ish's fourth season, after welcoming a new baby, we see the typically bubbly, quirky Rainbow "Bow" Johnson (Tracee Ellis Ross) fighting (and failing) to connect with her old self. Suddenly she finds herself exhausted, dealing with emotional pain, and flooded with ennui. Black mothers already have a much higher risk of dying during pregnancy and childbirth, especially in America, which makes Bow's struggle all the more resonant.
"Do you think this is easy for me?" Bow asks her mother-in-law, Ruby (Jenifer Lewis), at one point when she finally breaks down. "Motherhood is the most natural thing for a woman. And I've had four kids, and somehow, I am struggling right now." Bow goes on to detail her feelings of anxiety because she's not producing enough milk and the overall sense of embarrassment she feels. Needless to say, it's an exceptional exchange to see take center stage on a show like Black-ish, which is a mainstream family comedy that reaches a wide range of audiences.
— QK
