Black. White.
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | March 8, 2006 |
| Founder | Ice Cube, R. J. Cutler |
Area served | United States, Canada, Australia, Sweden, France (adaptation) |
Key people | Ice Cube, R. J. Cutler |
| Products | Reality television series |
Black. White. is a reality television series from the United States that was broadcast on FX, debuting on March 8, 2006. The program followed two families of three individuals each—one identified as white and the other as black—who used professional-grade make-up to transform into members of the opposite race as part of a social experiment. The series generated controversy due to its subject and accusations of perpetuating racial stereotypes.
Created and produced by Ice Cube alongside R. J. Cutler, the show featured the theme track "Race Card," performed by Ice Cube with production by Warren G. This six-episode series wrapped up with a two-part finale after airing over five weeks.
Reception
Critical responses to the show were varied. Melanie McFarland from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer commended the thoughtful approach of the producers. Matt Roush of TV Guide described it as an "unexpectedly intelligent social experiment," while Charles Page of the Chicago Tribune regarded it as an uncommon example of meaningful content within reality television.
Conversely, prominent media critics expressed disapproval. Robert Bianco at USA Today criticized the series for relying on artificial conflict rather than offering authentic insight, contending that its premise—that donning makeup to resemble another race can lead to true understanding—is fundamentally flawed and deceptive.
Lee Siegel from The New Republic argued that Black. White. ultimately reinforced existing stereotypes instead of encouraging substantial reflection or progress.
International broadcasts
In Canada, the series was shown on Sun TV, an independent station based in Toronto, Ontario. In Australia, it aired on both Foxtel and Austar networks via channel Fox8. The program was also broadcast in Sweden on a public television channel. Additionally, a French adaptation titled Dans la peau d'un noir ("In Black Skin") was produced and aired in two parts on Canal+ in January 2007.
DVD release
| DVD title | Release date | Number of Episodes | Additional features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Complete Series | September 12, 2006 | 6 | Includes audio commentary on all episodes with cast and crew, Ice Cube's Black. White. Video, casting applications and original audition footage, Bruno's Rap, Black. White. Makeup Application tutorial, Study Guides DVD-Rom, Black. White. Makeup Slideshow, Rose's Poetry Slam segment, and Black. White. Before and After comparisons. |
Awards and nominations
The series earned a 2006 Emmy Award for 'Outstanding Makeup for a Series (Non-Prosthetic)' and was nominated in 2007 for an Image Award in the category 'Outstanding Reality Series'.