The play acts as a commentary on the many ways racism persists and manifests in modern-day America. The playwright, Jackie Sibblies Drury, highlights four major archetypes: white liberalism/saviors (Suze), dismissive provocateurs (Jimbo), fetishizers (Mack), and detached “intellectualists” (Bets). After engaging in a conversation regarding changing races and aggressively commentating on the sitcom happenings of the Fraisers, this white cast assumes the roles of Black characters in the sitcom that reflect their thoughts on race. I took inspiration directly from the personal experiences I have had as a Black American and grounded the designs in pop culture references and stereotypical/caricature iconography.

Suze assumes the role of Grandma Fraiser, and her overly politically correct and self-righteous disposition leads her to unintentionally characterizing the grandmother as a mammy. Jimbo’s performative personality and lack of self-awareness become the basis of the look he dawns as Uncle Tyrone. There are clear influences from rap and R&B artists in his styling, however, rather than emulating the swagger he claims Black people have, his gaudy cheap jewelry and his outfit’s loud colors come off as obnoxious and dorky. Mack’s portrayal of Keisha’s best friend Erika highlights a tendency in white queer spaces to appropriate the mannerisms and fashions of Black women. Black rapstresses and Bratz dolls helped inform the look and channel Mack’s desire to be perceived as fabulous, wild, and crazy. Bets’ detachment from race reflects a common attitude amongst some Europeans who view racism as a solely American problem that they are above. While the other white cast members take (misguided) strides to intentionally look Black, Bets, who also decides to be Grandma Fraiser, prioritizes feeling sexy and sultry in her costume which is a bastardized take on 1920’s fashion- informed by her love of jazz. The choice to adapt both grandmothers’ gowns to be green was motivated by not only the desire to have them stand out against the home’s beige walls, but primarily by the desire to create a visual relationship between them and Keisha; the green unifies them but whereas Keisha’s moss green characterizes her as grounded, the mint green of Suze alludes to her passivity, and Bets’ deep emerald green presents her as bold and glamorous.