Part Two
Busy is watching basketball with her father and brothers when her father remarks admiringly that "the blacks are natural athletes." This scene is supposed to excuse Busy's racist comments later on, but I don't buy it. My father was way more racist than Sam Ramone, and I knew never to repeat what he said. Frankie, always the forward thinker, corrects his father's stereotypical worldview. Sam says there's nothing wrong with what he said since he was pointing out a positive trait. Then he goes on to make blanket statements about black people being lazy and not earning a living.
Busy is watching basketball with her father and brothers when her father remarks admiringly that "the blacks are natural athletes." This scene is supposed to excuse Busy's racist comments later on, but I don't buy it. My father was way more racist than Sam Ramone, and I knew never to repeat what he said. Frankie, always the forward thinker, corrects his father's stereotypical worldview. Sam says there's nothing wrong with what he said since he was pointing out a positive trait. Then he goes on to make blanket statements about black people being lazy and not earning a living.
Troy is shown bonding with a girl in science class over a DNA model. Busy is introduced to Eve, who is going to help Troy pass biology and who is also trying out for the basketball team with Busy. Eve whines to her friend that all the guys she likes are taken.
At tryouts, Eve tries to psych out Busy by telling her how hard it will be for her to make the team. However, Busy does well and makes it. When Amanda and Troy come over to congratulate her, Busy says out of nowhere, "Obviously you don't have to be black to be good at sports." Nobody was even talking about race so it's kind of a strange moment. Troy remarks that he has two left feet so that theory doesn't hold water. We find out that Eve is the captain of the team.
Busy has borrowed some clothes from Amanda in an effort to compete with Eve. I thought Busy thought Amanda's wardrobe was boring. Amanda wonders if Busy is trying to change her image. Nope, that will come in season five.
Busy and Amanda see Eve flirting with Troy. Busy wonders if Eve is more his type because she is black. Busy sure is focused on race all of a sudden. I don't remember this show making such a big deal out of this interracial relationship, but I guess they did. During the game, Eve won't pass the ball to Busy even when it would benefit the team to do so.
Busy confronts Eve about her actions. The two get into an argument and Busy says that just because she isn't black doesn't mean she can't be better than her. Eve calls Busy a wop and says that she should stick with her own kind. Busy reiterates what her father said about blacks being lazy and causing trouble.
Someone has written the word "racist" on Busy's locker. Troy has heard about the fight and is unsympathetic. Busy recounts the argument to Amanda, who is shocked by both Eve's and Busy's comments. Busy blames her father and brother for planting the thoughts in her head.
Busy is having lunch with Amanda the next day and Eve comes and rubs it in that her and Troy seem to be on the outs. She also says the team took a vote and nobody wants her anymore. Busy still refuses to take responsibility for her own actions as she later blames her family again for her racist tendencies. Busy then admits she's not mad at Eve because she is black, but because of how she's treated her.
Busy shows up at the basketball game despite the team's vote, which infuriates Eve. Amanda sits with Troy at the game and attempts to smooth things over, pointing out that Eve said stuff about Italians too. Eve and Busy both refuse to pass the ball to each other. Coach calls a time out and Eve starts up with calling Busy a racist again. Busy's team eventually wins, and Busy puts a congratulatory arm around a black teammate to prove she's not racist.
After the game, Eve tries to strong arm Busy off the team again. Busy apologizes and brings up the fact that Eve called her a wop. Eve tries to say that it's different when Busy says such things because she's white and Eve is black. Is it? They're both obviously wrong, but not every person with dark hair and eyes is Italian. The only reason Eve knew this about Busy was because of an Italian Stallion T-shirt she wore earlier. An Italian person probably doesn't live with the amount of racism a black person does. But still, Eve was being awfully confrontational. Eve's friend and Troy do not support Eve's point of view. Busy admits she was worried Eve would steal Troy away from her. Troy makes a rather trite but impassioned speech about skin color not mattering. The episode ends with Busy and Eve playing a game of one-on-one, still not friends, but perhaps not enemies after this.
Next episode: After her parents announce their separation, Amanda hides out at the mall.
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