Black Lightning (2018)

Overview
Jefferson Pierce is a man wrestling with a secret. As the father of two daughters and principal of a charter high school that also serves as a safe haven for young people in a New Orleans neighborhood overrun by gang violence, he is a hero to his community.
Starring Cast
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Bias Dimensions
Overview
Jefferson Pierce is a man wrestling with a secret. As the father of two daughters and principal of a charter high school that also serves as a safe haven for young people in a New Orleans neighborhood overrun by gang violence, he is a hero to his community.
Starring Cast
Where to watch
Detailed Bias Analysis
Primary
Black Lightning is rated -2 (Clearly Left) due to its explicit and consistent critique of systemic racism, police brutality, and government oppression against the Black community, advocating for community empowerment and social justice.
The series prominently features a Black superhero and a predominantly Black cast, reflecting significant diversity. Its narrative explicitly delves into themes of racial injustice and community empowerment, making DEI central to its storytelling.
Secondary
Black Lightning features Anissa Pierce, a prominent lesbian superhero, whose relationships, particularly with Grace Choi, are central to her character arc. The show depicts their queer identities and relationship with dignity, complexity, and agency, culminating in marriage and portraying them as strong, heroic figures.
The show features multiple female characters who engage in and win direct physical combat against male opponents. Syonide, a non-superpowered character, demonstrates superior martial arts and weapon skills. Anissa Pierce, with her enhanced physical abilities, also consistently defeats male adversaries in close-quarters fights.
The series consistently portrays Christianity, particularly through the Pierce family and Reverend Holt, as a source of moral guidance, community strength, and a catalyst for social justice. The faith is depicted as a positive and affirming force in the lives of its adherents and the broader community.
The show adapts characters from DC Comics. All major and significant characters, including Black Lightning, his family, and key antagonists, maintain their established comic book genders.
The show "Black Lightning" features characters whose on-screen portrayals align with their established racial identities in the source DC Comics material. No major or legacy characters were depicted as a different race than their canonical origins.
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