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Randall Pearson
This Is Us character
Created byDan Fogelman
Portrayed by
In-universe information
Full nameRandall Kenneth Pearson
AliasKyle Pearson
NicknameWebster (by Kevin)
OccupationWeather commodities trader
Family
  • Jack Pearson (adoptive father)
  • Rebecca Pearson (adoptive mother)
  • William Hill (father)
  • Kevin Pearson (adoptive brother)
  • Kate Pearson (adoptive sister)
Spouse
Beth Pearson
​
(m. 1999)​
Children
  • Deja Pearson (adopted daughter)
  • Tess Pearson (daughter)
  • Annie Pearson (daughter)
Relatives
  • Miguel Rivas (stepfather)
  • Kyle Pearson (adoptive brother)
  • Marilyn Pearson (adoptive paternal grandfather)
  • Stanley Pearson (adoptive paternal grandmother)
  • Dorothy Malone (adoptive maternal grandmother)
  • Dave Malone (adoptive maternal grandfather)
Birthday (1980-08-31) August 31, 1980 (age 44)

Randall Pearson is a fictional character from the Comedy-drama television series This Is Us, which airs on the NBC netowrk in the United States. The character was created by producer Dan Fogelman and is portrayed by actor Sterling K. Brown.

Storylines

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Development

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Casting and creation

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Brown on This Is Us

I've been reading scripts for a long time and something that's nuanced and heartwarming and funny and just beautiful doesn't land on your lap that often.

Sterling K. Brown, Los Angeles Times (2017)[9]

In November 2015, it was announced that Sterling K. Brown had been cast in the role of Randall. Brown was best known for his regular role on Lifetime's Army Wives and his recurring roles on Supernatural and Person of Interest.[10][11] Brown met directors Glenn Ficarra and John Requa when he was working on their film Whiskey Tango Foxtrot in the spring of 2015. In the fall, as Brown wrapped production on the inaugural season of FX's critically acclaimed crime anthology American Crime Story, in which he portrayed prosecutor Christopher Darden, he was contacted by the duo to meet with producer-writer Dan Fogelman whom they'd collaborated with on the 2011 film Crazy, Stupid, Love. Brown took a meeting with Fogelman and then auditioned a few weeks later. He was actually studying lines for his audition as he filmed the final episodes of American Crime Story. The pilot was filmed in February 2016 just American Crime began airing.[12][9] In an interview with Vulture.com, Fogelman discussed Brown's casting and revealed that while they had not yet considered any other actors for the role, Fogelman admitted he was hesitant about Brown despite the glowing recommendation from his colleagues. "I was worried Sterling wasn't a household name." Ironically, both are were affiliated with 20th Television Studios and before "I got out the 'K' in 'Sterling K. Brown,' [studio executives] were like, do it." And though he was advised by producer Brad Simpson not to rush into his next role, This Is Us made it easy.[13] It was the parallels to his own life that led Brown to Randall. "I point to things within myself that help me into Randall."[14]

At its core, Brown said that Randall's story "can't help but be about race and socioeconomics."[15] Fogelman however has never publicly explained the reason for his decision "to make Randall a black child who grew up in a white family." While Brown has not discussed it with Fogelman either, Randall "doesn't seem accidentally black."[13] Brown immediately started doing his own research upon discovering that Randall was the Pearsons adopted son. The actor reached out to a personal friend, an "African-American, who was adopted at birth by an all-white family" to get a sense of what "his socialization was like." Brown posed questions such as "Did they raise him as African-American? Did he feel connected to his culture/community? What did he have to do in order to gain access to that community?"[12]

Characterization

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Personality

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Randall is described as a "sharply dressed corporate" business and family man.[10] Brown described Randall as being "devoid of his culture."[15] Of his character, Brown said Randall "has a certain zeal and zest for the pursuit of perfection."[16] In an interview with Vulture.com Brown described Randall as a "lovable dork" similar to Brown's real-life older brother Armand. The actor loved to play the "awkwardness" Randall displays when he is faced with "something new."[13]

Portrayal and writing

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Brown appreciated that the writers leave a lot of room for improvisation in the scripts. "And so every once in a while Randall will say something [passive-aggressive] about 'Hey it's just your friendly neighborhood black guy,' right? And it's me bringing myself to the role." Fortunately for Brown, a lot of that improv makes it to air. Randall was not created as "a character that is black just by coincidence. He is purposefully African-American, and his perspective on things in incredibly valuable."[17] He continued, "I am so proud of NBC and Fogelman for putting this black family in the midst of the Pearson family and not having it be coincidental. Having our race be an asset to the show, rather than something that needs to be glossed over." There are "prejudices" Brown insisted, that Randall is very much aware of, despite being raised by his white parents. The actor relished in the idea of getting to play Randall's struggle with being "necessarily different" from his siblings. "I'm so happy to get a chance to illuminate that perspective on national television."[17] The Pearsons often go out of their way to make sure Randall has access to people that look like him "in order to instill him with cultural values of African Americans."[16] Randall's race is used by the writers "to explore things in a unique." While Randall has achieved socioeconomic success, he still has to face certain "individual" struggles, "even in addressing his own identity." As an adult, Randall questions things a lot. "Am I black enough? By virtue of being raised by these white folks, have I done enough to support the African-American community at large?" The Pearsons, at first reluctantly, enlists help from outside influences to make sure Randall is exposed to African-American culture starting with Yvette portrayed by Brown's real life Ryan Michelle Bathe.[13]

Relationships

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William Hill

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Ron Cephas Jones plays William, Randall's biological whom he forges a relationship with as William battles cancer.

In the series premiere, Randall meets his biological father William for the first time.[10] While he wants his children to know their grandfather, Brown said Randall's desire to forge a relationship with William goes deeper. "It's about knowing where you come from and how that informs who you are."[15] "[The] idea of trying to reconnect with a father figure is something that resonates with me" he told Variety.[14] Brown lost his father when he was 10, while Randall loses his biological father as an infant and hopes to reconnect with him in adulthood.[15]

Beth Pearson

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Like Randall, Brown is also married with two children.[15]

Rebecca Pearson

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Kevin Pearson

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Archetypes

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Success and anger

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While it might have seemed rare, being a successful black man on television was anything but ground breaking. Marc Bernadin of the Los Angeles Times described Randall as an "upwardly mobile black man" with a "black wife and black children and he wears a suit to work and has a corner office…"[18] Bernadin argued that because of Randall's success in life, he was no different than the other successful black man to appear on television in the past such as Bill Cosby's iconic Doctor Cliff Huxtable (The Cosby Show), Blair Underwood's Jonathan Rollins (L.A. Law) and James Avery's Judge Philip Banks (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air). Despite the similarities, what sets Randall apart from those men is that "Randall is angry."[18] And even then, the "angry black man" was not something new to television either. However, the irritability of Sherman Hemsley's George Jefferson (All in the Family, The Jeffersons) and Laurence Fishburne's Earl Johnson (Black-ish) is played for comedy. Meanwhile, the other numerous portrayals of the stereotypical "angry black man" would show up in episodic television from time to time to be rescued by a show's hero. On the other hand, Troy in August Wilson's legendary stage play Fences, portrayed by Denzel Washington in the 2016 film remake is angry about being left behind by society.[18] For Randall, it is a different kind of fury. He is "foundationally angry […] at the hundreds of micro-aggressions a successful black man navigating a predominantly white world has to absorb on a daily basis." Bernadin continued, "Randall is a time bomb who regularly resets himself by swallowing his rage." The fact that Randall is a able to keep it together, as much as he does, for as long as he does is a "miracle of the everyday variety."[18]

Trans-racial adoption

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In the series, as a child, Randall is teased and mocked for being a black child adopted into a white family. His classmates jokingly refer to him as "Webster." The name is a reference to the 1980s sitcom starring Emmanuel Lewis as an orphaned little boy who is adopted by a white couple.[19]

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Reception

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Critical response

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Performer of the Week

There are the rare times you watch a TV show and worry a little about the performer, so fully does he or she embody a character’s pain. This Tuesday’s This Is Us was one of those times, and Brown was the actor in question.

Team TVLine, TVLine (2017)[34]

The character has received overwhelmingly positive reactions in the press while Sterling K. Brown has been praised for his portrayal of Randall. An early review of the pilot from the Sioux City Journal praised Brown "balancing comedy and drama" so well.[35] The Daily Beast listed Brown as one of the "16 Biggest Breakout Stars of 2016" for his work that year which included This Is Us.[36] The character of Randall and Brown were hailed, respectively, by the press as the "breakout" role and star of the series.[37][38][39][40][41] Sarah Goldstein considered Randall to be the show's anchor.[42] Chuck Barney of The Mercury News described the Randall and William plot as the "most poignant" storyline of season 1.[43] The TVLine podcast described Brown as the series' "MVP."[44] Entertainment Weekly's Jeff Jensen praised Brown's performance and said he "navigates his scenes with such intelligence, authenticity, and charisma."[45] Billy Niles said Brown "slowly breaks our hearts each week."[46] Marc Bernadin of the Los Angeles Times said with Randall as the vehicle, the series "captures the simmering rage of a successful black man in white America."[18] Dan Snierson said haled Brown as "the man who came, who saw, and who conquered" his portrayal of Randall's struggle to keep up with his job, his dying father and raising his family.[1] Joshua Rivera of GQ said his portrayal of Randall along with the rest of Brown's work during the 2016–17 season made way for Brown to "quietly" become "America's favorite actor" of the moment.[17] Maria Elena Fernandez said his portrayal of Randall "has solidified Brown as one of the most subtle actors on television."[13]

TVLine lauded Brown as the Performer of the Week for his portrayal of Randall's breakdown in the episode "Jack Pearson's Son." While the writing telegraphed Randall's impending breakdown, "that preparation did nothing to blunt the despair Brown conveyed as he continued his character's slow spiral into despair […] Brown artfully expressed his alter ego’s anxiety with small gestures […] Goodness gracious, is there anything this man can't play?"[34]

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Character

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Awards and nominations

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Brown's portrayal of Randall has garnered several awards and nominations. In 2017 he won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series.[54][55] Lonnie Chavis was also nominated for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Performance by a Youth for his portrayal of Young Randall.[54] Brown was also nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series[56] and a Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actor in a Drama.[57][58][59] The karate scene from the episode "The Trip" won the Tearjerker award at the MTV Movie & TV Awards.[60] The actor was also nominated by the Television Critics Association for the Award for Individual Achievement in Drama.[61] Brown was also nominated and won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his portrayal of Randall.[62][63]

Impact

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Brown told of a fan encounter in which a Black man thanked him for saving his "brother's life." Randall touches viewers in a way that Brown himself could not anticipate.[17] GQ said "While O.J. earned Brown prestige cred, This Is Us is the reason that people come up to him, spontaneously crying, when he's out buying eggs."[42] According to Kevin Fallon, not only does Brown maintain his momentum from American Crime Story with This Is Us, he "turns [Randall] into a provocative conversation piece about race, adoption, parenthood, forgiveness and self-worth."[36]

Brown's 2017 Emmy win marked the first in a decade for an actor in a broadcast television series, after James Spader's 2007 victory for Boston Legal and the first in 19 years for an African-American actor, after Andre Braugher's 1998 win for Homicide: Life on the Street.[63] The win would also Brown the fourth Black winner overall, after Bill Cosby, James Earl Jones and Braugher.[64][65]

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References

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  1. ^ a b Snierson, Dan (March 9, 2017). "This Is Us star Sterling K. Brown on Randall's workplace shocker, Rebecca reconciliation". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved September 16, 2017.
  2. ^ Snierson, Dan (March 15, 2017). "This Is Us finale: Sterling K. Brown on Randall's family surprise". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
  3. ^ http://www.sterlingkbrownfan.com/2017/06/26/the-hollywood-reporter-drama-actor-roundtable/#more-1609
  4. ^ http://www.slashfilm.com/this-is-us-twist/
  5. ^ http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/set-is-us-tvs-feel-good-megahit-ups-stakes-season-2-1037891
  6. ^ https://deadline.com/2016/09/this-is-us-creator-premiere-episode-twist-spoilers-season-one-1201823814/
  7. ^ http://ew.com/tv/2017/08/01/this-is-us-sterling-k-brown-season-2-randall-beth-adoption/
  8. ^ http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/this-is-us-sterling-k-brown-interview-memphis-season-1-episode-16-1201992449/
  9. ^ a b c Ellwood, Gregory (January 26, 2017). "Sterling K. Brown knew 'This Is Us' was special from the start". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  10. ^ a b c Wagmeister, Elizabeth (November 12, 2015). "Milo Ventimiglia & Mandy Moore Cast in Dan Fogelman's Birthday Pilot at NBC". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved February 15, 2017.
  11. ^ Gettell, Oliver (November 12, 2015). "Mandy Moore, Milo Ventimiglia join NBC pilot from Tangled writer". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved February 15, 2017.
  12. ^ a b Snierson, Dan (September 20, 2016). "This Is Us premiere: Milo Ventimiglia, Mandy Moore on twist". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
  13. ^ a b c d e f Fernandez, Maria Elena (January 10, 2017). "How Sterling K. Brown Became a Name to Remember". Vulture.com. New York Media, LLC. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
  14. ^ a b Birnbaum, Debra (August 16, 2016). "Facetime: Sterling K. Brown". Top Billing. Variety. Penske Media Corporation: 28.
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  16. ^ a b Villarreal, Yvonne (January 24, 2017). "Sterling K. Brown on how 'This Is Us' changed the way he talks to his kids". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  17. ^ a b c d Rivera, Joshua (February 28, 2017). "How Black Panther's Sterling K. Brown Quietly Became America's Favorite Actor". GQ. Condé Nast. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
  18. ^ a b c d e Bernadin, Marc (January 7, 2017). "At last, 'This Is Us' captures the simmering rage of a successful black man in white America". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
  19. ^ Zurawik, David (December 10, 2016). "Depictions of race get real, complicated on 'Star,' 'This Is Us'". The Baltimore Sun. Tronc. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  20. ^ O'Keeffe, Kevin (August 3, 2017). "Sterling K. Brown explains why Randall on 'This Is Us' is such an important character". Mic. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  21. ^ http://okmagazine.com/photos/adopted-characters-on-scripted-tv/
  22. ^ http://www.parenting.com/parenting-advice/adoption/wow-tv-depiction-finally-looks-my-adoptive-family
  23. ^ http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/HappilyAdopted
  24. ^ http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ObliviousAdoption
  25. ^ https://www.americanadoptions.com/blog/5-childrens-shows-with-adoption-themes/
  26. ^ https://www.americanadoptions.com/blog/25-helpful-resources-for-transracial-adoptive-families/
  27. ^ http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1987-04-23/news/8701310188_1_adoptive-parents-prospective-parents-black-child
  28. ^ http://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2013/02/best-black-sitcoms/diffrent-strokes
  29. ^ http://www.nytimes.com/1989/11/12/arts/tv-s-black-world-turns-but-stays-unreal.html?pagewanted=all
  30. ^ http://www.tvguide.com/galleries/memorable-tv-orphans-1084997/21/
  31. ^ http://www.tvguide.com/galleries/memorable-tv-orphans-1084997/22/
  32. ^ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tara-mcnamara/the-top-15-family-films-a_b_6331544.html
  33. ^ https://thoughtcatalog.com/ed-daly/2014/08/the-unofficial-history-of-orphans-on-television/
  34. ^ a b "Performer of the Week: This Is Us' Sterling K. Brown". TVLine. Penske Media Corporation. February 18, 2017. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  35. ^ Hynds, Amy (September 8, 2016). "10 TV stars to watch for 2016-17". Sioux City Journal. Lee Enterprises. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  36. ^ a b Fallon, Kevin (December 31, 2016). "16 Biggest Breakout Stars of 2016: Issa Rae, Sterling K. Brown, Millie Bobby Brown & More". The Daily Beast. IAC. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  37. ^ Gittell, Oliver (January 5, 2017). "This Is Us star Sterling K. Brown joins Marvel's Black Panther". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  38. ^ "Sterling K. Brown". People. Time Inc. May 11, 2017. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  39. ^ Barilla, Lucille (August 17, 2017). "Witness The Battle Between NBC Stars Derek Hough And Sterling K. Brown". Entertainment Daily. DigitalBox Publishing Ltd. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  40. ^ Hinton, Eric L (January 5, 2017). "'This is Us' Star Sterling K. Brown Joins 'Black Panther' Cast". KNBC. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  41. ^ Dixon, Marcus James (June 28, 2017). "Emmy experts predict Best Drama Actor: Sterling K. Brown ('This Is Us') will be first black actor to win since Andre Braugher". Gold Derby. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  42. ^ a b Goldstein, Sarah (August 23, 2017). "Sterling K. Brown of This Is Us on His Ascent, Loving LeBron, and Black Representation on TV". GQ. Condé Nast. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
  43. ^ Barney, Chuck (March 9, 2017). "'This Is Us': Former Bay Area resident Sterling K. Brown feels 'blessed beyond words'". The Mercury News. Digital First Media. Retrieved September 16, 2017.
  44. ^ "TVLINE PODCAST: DREAM EMMY NOMINEE STERLING K. BROWN REFLECTS ON THIS IS US PHENOMENON, TEASES FUNNIER SEASON 2". June 19, 2017. Retrieved September 16, 2017.
  45. ^ Jensen, Jeff (October 27, 2016). "This Is Us: EW Review". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved August 5, 2017.
  46. ^ Niles, Billy (November 1, 2016). "This Is Us' Sterling K. Brown Has a Familiar Warning About Tonight's New Episode". E! News. E!. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
  47. ^ O'Regan, Julia (December 6, 2016). "14 Undeniable Reasons Why Randall Pearson Is The Best Character On 'This Is Us'". Odyssey. Odyssey Media Group, Inc. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  48. ^ http://www.chicagonow.com/very-terry/2017/03/its-time-to-confess-im-in-love-with-randall-pearson-on-this-is-us/
  49. ^ https://thats-normal.com/2017/02/randall-pearson-this-is-us-an-appreciation-post/
  50. ^ http://www.buddytv.com/articles/this-is-us/why-randall-is-the-most-import-63409.aspx
  51. ^ http://www.revelist.com/ideas/this-is-us-panic-attacks/6918
  52. ^ http://hellogiggles.com/reviews-coverage/tv-shows/this-is-us-randall-anxiety/
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  54. ^ a b Kinane, Ruth (December 13, 2016). "Beyonce leads the pack of 2017 NAACP Image Award Nominees". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on December 16, 2016. Retrieved December 18, 2016.
  55. ^ Schwartz, Ryan (February 11, 2017). "NAACP Image Awards: This Is Us, black-ish, Queen Sugar Among Winners". TVLine. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
  56. ^ CNN, Lisa Respers France. "'Manchester by the Sea' leads film SAG Award nominations". CNN. Archived from the original on January 7, 2017. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  57. ^ Ceron, Ella (June 19, 2017). "Teen Choice Awards 2017: See the First Wave of Nominations". Teen Vogue. Retrieved June 19, 2017.
  58. ^ Vulpo, Mike (July 12, 2017). "Teen Choice Awards 2017 Reveal "Second Wave" of Nominations". E! Online. Archived from the original on July 12, 2017. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  59. ^ Ramos, Dino-Ray (August 13, 2017). "Teen Choice Awards 2017 Winners: 'Wonder Woman', 'Beauty And The Beast', 'Riverdale' Among Honorees". Deadline. enske Business Media, LLC. Retrieved August 14, 2017.
  60. ^ Schwartz, Ryan (March 2, 2017). "2017 MTV Movie & TV Awards Nominations List — 'This Is Us,' 'Stranger Things'". TVLine. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on April 7, 2017. Retrieved April 6, 2017.
  61. ^ Schwartz, Ryan (5 August 2017). "TCA Awards: The Handmaid's Tale, Atlanta, Big Little Lies, Carrie Coon Among Big Winners". TVLine. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  62. ^ "69th Primetime Emmys Nominees" (PDF). Emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  63. ^ a b Grobar, Matt (September 17, 2017). "Sterling K. Brown Pays Tribute To Last African American Winner In Lead Actor Drama, Andre Braugher: — Emmys". Deadline.com. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  64. ^ Dockterman, Eliana (September 17, 2017). "Sterling K. Brown Gave a Powerful Speech After His Historic Emmys Win". Time. Time Inc. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  65. ^ Gennis, Sadie (September 17, 2017). "This Is Us' Sterling K. Brown Wins the Emmy for Best Drama Actor". TV Guide. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  66. ^ https://www.babble.com/entertainment/what-this-is-us-means-to-my-transracial-family/
  67. ^ http://www.health.com/anxiety/this-is-us-anxiety-attack
  68. ^ Carroll, Rebecca (October 26, 2016). "What This Is Us Gets Right About Being a Black Kid in a White Family". Vulture.com. New York Media, LLC. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  69. ^ http://www.ebony.com/entertainment-culture/this-is-us-black-characters#axzz4tBL7H6RY
  70. ^ https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/tv/you-need-a-hug-and-a-good-cry-america-and-thats-what-this-is-us-was-made-for/2017/03/13/a4e4b70c-0524-11e7-b9fa-ed727b644a0b_story.html?utm_term=.6ddf14b8769a
  71. ^ http://wamu.org/story/17/03/22/shows-with-black-characters-find-loyal-non-black-fans
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