Although the origins are unclear, the tradition of the groundhog predicting the weather dates back to 1887. If the groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, named after the city in Pennsylvania where Groundhog Day is annually celebrated on February 2nd, sees his shadow, we’ve got six more weeks of winter. If not, we’re good for an early spring. The 1993 movie of the same name features Bill Murray as a disgruntled weatherman assigned to film the celebration in the small town. Because of his negative attitude, he becomes trapped in a time loop forcing him into an endless experience of Groundhog Day.
It’s June 2, 2020 and a rerun of the comedy television show Black-ish is airing. This episode was first aired on February 22, 2016 and the plot line reflects the then current reality of police brutality. In the episode, the Johnson family, like many real-life families, gathers around their television to watch a news report of yet another unarmed black man by police officers. The community has gathered in protest of police violence and in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter Movement.
Discussing to the news coverage, the grandfather quotes from Malcolm X and the grandmother encourages the teenage son, who wants to actively participate in the movement. Her encouragement comes with lessons learned from her own activism in the 1960’s and she tells him to be disruptive but respectful, especially toward police officers. His father and grandfather opine and go deeper into the complexity of how the teenage son should respond to the police. They warn him that respecting the police and doing what is asked still may not save his life. His mother’s anxiety heightens at the very thought of her son’s participation, and her nervousness is visible as she attempts to explain the situation in a hopeful tone to his younger siblings. Then they were referencing the police violence against Eric Garner, Tamir Rice, Michael Brown, Freddie Gray and Sandra Bland in the episode. If the episode were taped today, the script would be the same. They would only need to add to list Ahmaud Arbery , Breonna Taylor and George Floyd.
In the fantasy comedy film, Groundhog Day, Bill Murray’s character escapes the time loop by finally changing his ways and reporting the day’s festivities with an upbeat attitude instead of being cynical, helping people throughout the day, and falling in love with a woman who befriends him. As a result of his changed behavior, he awakens the next day to February 3rd.
In the Black-ish episode, after discussing the pros and cons, the Johnsons decide to participate in the protests as a family, fortified by the belief that their children and the next generation have learned the lessons and represent hope for the future.
In both of the movie and television show, the future is brighter due to positive attitude, changed behavior and steadfast hope. The groundhog has seen its shadow on racism in America and we continue in the dark of winter. We have been here before. We are here again. Will we get to a better future together?