Introduction
Brooklyn Nine-Nine is an American sitcom comedy written by Dan Goor and Michael Schur and was aired between 2013 and 2021. The episode that was interesting from the TV show is Season Four, episode 16, named "Moo-Moo". The sitcom follows the work of the NYPD 99th precinct led by Captain Raymond Holt and Sergeant Terry Jeffords (IMBb, 2017). This paper aims to explore the diversity issues evident in the episode "Moo-Moo", with the analysis concentrating on the character's diversity, evidence of privileges, and intersectionality before concluding with a personal thought on the episode.
Episode Summary
In the episode “Moo-Moo,” Sergeant Jeffords is a victim of racial profiling in his neighborhood as he had gone out looking for his children’s lost toy “Moo-Moo.” The scene in the episode raises great concerns and discussions within the precinct related to systemic racism and the problems faced by black people, even within law enforcement (Alcalde, 2017). The fact that Terry experiences racial profiling while off-duty forces him to confront racial bias issues within the NYPD. Terry’s attempt to reason with the officer involved in the incident bore no fruit, as the office claimed that if he knew Terry was an officer, he would not have treated him like a criminal (IMBb, 2017). The officer also revealed that Terry did not look like he belonged in the neighborhood, and most reported incidents in the neighborhood involved people like Terry. The officer could not apologize for his racial profiling, claiming that he was just doing his job and that if Terry had carried his badge, the profiling could not have happened. Sergeant Terry decides to file an official complaint with Captain Raymond Hold, who declines the request, explaining that it was a mistake to report a fellow officer as it may derail Sergeant Terry’s career. The Captain advises the Sergeant to wait and rise through the NYPD ranks so that he can make large-scale changes to the system (IMBb, 2017). The Captain later agreed to file the complaint, which affected Terry’s career as he was denied an NYPD liaison position he had applied for. The officer involved in the racial profiling was not punished or disciplined for the incident.
Discuss whether you think the cast of characters in this book, episode, or movie is diverse. How many different diversity factors are shown via the cast? Is it minimally diverse or maximally diverse?
The cast of characters in the ‘Moo-Moo” episode is diverse as the show presents different genders, sexual orientations, and ethnicities in its cast. In the episode, it portrays racial diversity since the characters are from various ethnic backgrounds. For instance, Sergeant Terry Jeffords and Captain Raymond Holt are African American, Detective Amy Santiago is Latino, while Gina Linetti and Detectives Rosa Diaz and Jake Peralta are Caucasian. In addition, the episode features characters from diverse sexual orientations and identities, which is a great indicator of the modern workplace. For instance, in the episode, Detective Rosa Diaz is portrayed as a Bi-sexual character, while Captain Raymond Holt was the first gay captain in the history of the NYPD.
Diversity portrayed in the episode is not superficial as it identifies the characters’ intersectionality by acknowledging the complexities that arise from overlapping different social identities. For example, in “Moo-Moo”, racial profiling provides a stronger base for diversity discussions by concentrating on the connection between profession and race in law enforcement (Houlis, 2017). The episode “Moo-Moo” is characterized by a maximally diverse cast since it goes beyond achieving representation beyond the baseline expectations. It actively aims to include characters from different ethnic backgrounds, supporting an inclusive environment that aligns with the audience and portrays an authentic society.
How intersectional are the characters? In what ways do they have privilege and in what ways do they not have privilege?
Intersectionality refers to the idea that individuals have many identity characteristics, and how they interact can lead to a decrease or increase in the advantages or disadvantages experienced by an individual in different situations (Kang et al. 2017). In the episode “Moo-Moo,” the characters have different intersectional levels that reveal the complicated ways of showing the intersection and its influence on their experiences (Alcalde, 2017). For instance, intersectionality is evident in Sergeant Terry’s character since he is a man of color in a high-ranking position in the NYPD who experiences racial profiling, indicating the intersection of his profession and race (Houlis, 2017). This complicates his experiences since his status as a sergeant failed to shield him from police racial profiling and racial bias.
In addition, in the episode “Moo-Moo,” privilege is explored through the character Sergeant Terry. Although he is privileged to be a high-ranking officer in the NYPD, holding high respect and authority within the police department, he remains vulnerable to racial profiling and biases due to his racial identity (Kang et al. 2017). In this context, other characters, such as Jake Peralta, who have been found in suspicious situations by the police, enjoy the privilege, as evidenced in the episode. The Brooklyn Nine-Nine episode illustrates the multifaceted nature of privilege because characters experience advantages in one aspect of their lives while being disadvantaged in other situations.
Do you “see yourself” in any of the characters? How might this relate to how much you liked or didn’t like the work?
I see myself in the character of Sergeant Terry in the episode “Moo-Moo” as he experiences racial profiling and biases. I appreciate the episode more because it addresses a common and serious social issue by finding a connection beyond entertainment by providing a form of representation resonating with personal struggles. I connected with Terry’s experience as the episode portrays the emotions and challenges associated with real-world experiences of racial profiling and bias. Terry, going through racial profiling, like many people experience, creates a positive feeling while dealing with such situations in society. The connection between the episode’s narrative and personal experiences contributes to essential conversations on social issues such as racial profiling and bias.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Episode 16, "Moo-Moo" of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, positively portrays diversity. The episode addresses the sensitive issue of racial profiling and biases by showcasing a diverse cast and engaging the viewers in a thoughtful and keen exploration of the social challenges affecting black people in society and within law enforcement agencies. The show achieves a balance between humor and authenticity, making it possible to deliver the important message of systemic privileges and racism within society. The episode is an excellent example of the different myths diversity exists, which may hinder people from being treated the same. Diversity should remain a collective blend of similarities and differences between individuals within an organization or a community (National Council on Disability, 2006). Diversity representation is achieved through the character of Sergeant Terry's intersectionality as the episode explores identity complexities and how people can experience discrimination and privileges simultaneously in modern society. Witnessing Sergeant Terry navigate through racial profiling and bias creates a sense of empathy and relatability, making the episode a perfect example of how societal issues and important conversations can be supported by popular media.
References
Alcalde, A. (2017, May 3). ‘Brooklyn nine-nine’ season 4, episode 16 recap: ‘Moo moo’. International Business Times. https://www.ibtimes.com.au/brooklyn-nine-nine-season-4-episode-16-spoilers-recap-terry-deals-racial-profiling-moo-moo-1552333
Houlis, K. (2017, May 3). Brooklyn nine-nine review: Moo moo (Season 4 episode 16). Tell-Tale TV. https://telltaletv.com/2017/05/brooklyn-nine-nine-review-moo-moo-season-4-episode-16/
IMBd. (2017, May 2). "Brooklyn nine-nine" Moo moo (TV episode 2017). IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6693346/
Kang, M., Lessard, D., Heston, L., & Nordmaken, S. (2017). Introduction to women, gender, sexuality studies.
National Council on Disability. (2006) Common Myths about Diversity and Cultural Competency. https://ncd.gov/publications/2006/june2006
