This post contains details from this weeks episode ofAll American: Homecoming.
Determined to hold the police accountable, the team posts a video of the incident online.
NKECHI OKORO CARROLL:It was, loosely.
All American: HomecomingTroy Harvey/The CW
Its the same thingwith the bomb threats.
Or someone didnt record something?
How did you discuss that nuance in the writers room?
To me, it was more patronizing in a very subtle way.
Its just them, the trees and the cops.
That takes on a whole different experience for people.
Is it a Black cop?
Is it a white cop?
Is it like a female cop?
It felt, in a way, more dangerous and precarious because of whats happened to our Black women.
DEADLINE: I am glad you mention the weight that Simone carries in these episodes.
As shes continuing to fight for the tennis team, how is she going to take care of herself?
CARROLL:I mean, thats kind of this title of a strong black woman, right?
Its a blessing and a curse.
Thats really the story we wanted to tell with Simone.
Or is it going to overpower her?
And it felt like such a beautiful story to tell that at a moment.
You really do see who the queen of the court is.
You really do understand why Simone is a leader.
So weve done the episodes around the therapists being on campus.
Just because someone looks like you doesnt mean you necessarily always have the same point of view.
You come from different walks of life, youre raised differently, you have different priorities.
So we talked a lot about that theme, about the different perspectives.
We have people like Simone, who are like, No, this is wrong.
We shouldnt let them silence us.
And then theres girls on the team that just want to play.
They didnt sign up to be the standard bearer of the issue.
CARROLL:Its our version of shut up and dribble.
Look at what happened during the BLM movement.
So this was our version of what happens when these athletes get presented with this sort of option.
JACKSON:Then also to think about… sometimes even intergenerationally theres a difference of opinion.
Our young people, theyre using their voices in ways that older generations didnt feel like they could.
So also saying that young people have the ability to inspire even the older generations of our community.
DEADLINE: How did you get Coco Gauff for the episode?
CARROLL:Honestly, it was a dream come true.
Were such big Coco fans here.
It was such a pipe dream of like, well, it doesnt hurt to ask.
Coco was like, Are you kidding me?
It was such a wonderful experience and they loved the voice we were giving to Black female tennis players.
It truly ended up being this beautiful miracle that worked out.
How have you approached that this season and how has it been to see Sylvester take up that torch?
There are generational differences or intergenerational differences.
Sylvester has just murdered the storyline.
I felt like I kept doing that.
Like I said, its a controversial topic.
Marquis brother is in a Black Greek fraternity.
That was very specific to JRs experience, to Cams experience, to our fictitious KEK fraternitys experience.
Well see that come to a head in the finale in a really beautiful way.
DEADLINE: Is there anything else I missed or that you wanted to add?
All we will say is that was another very controversial conversation in the writers room for months.
I still dont think we reached a consensus.
You want to talk about split shippers.
DEADLINE: I am very glad you mentioned that, and I wont hide that I am team Lando.
I was very happy to see him fight for Simone at the end of 214.
JACKSON:I feel like we did our job a bit too well.
CARROLL:There are blessings and curses to each one!
Damons hung in there since day one.
