Season 5 · Episode 11 — Mammy Dearest
Dwayne seeks a friendship with Whitley, but she doesn't feel like hearing him out. She throws herself into organizing her dorm's official dedication ceremony. Kim and others object when she includes images of ""mammies"" (black nursemaids in the past, particularly during times of slavery) with the art exhibit. Whitley, Freddie and Mr. Gaines insist that it is important to remember these women's role in history. Kim wants no part of the display and announces that she will not participate in the ceremony. She tearfully confides in Mr. Gaines about a traumatic incident from her childhood. Whitley recommends that Lena learn more about her heritage by reading slave journals and other information at the Gilbert Library. Lena's research uncovers the fact that Whitley's family owned slaves. Whitley is shocked and overcome with guilt. Mr. Gaines advises her to let it go, as she cannot change the past. Kim, Freddie, Lena and Gina organize a performance art piece about the evolution of the African
Season 5 episodes
E1Dwayne and Whitley prepare for the coming school year at Hillman. He will teach classes, and she will serve as director of a new dormitory.…
E2Dwayne gives his calculus class a graded quiz on the first day of the year, even though he hasn't taught them anything yet. He plans to giv…
E3A student's decision to drop out of school allows Lena to move into her own room, much to Whitley's relief. Whitley tries to dump all of th…
E4E.H. Wright needs a new secretary, so Whitley recommends Jaleesa's temp agency. Unfortunately, the company needs to fill the position immed…
E5A hurricane approaches Hillman, forcing Dwayne and Whitley to cancel plans to spend their anniversary in Washington, D.C. Several dozen peo…
E6Dwayne agrees to provide Lena with free tutoring to help her bring up her calculus grade. They bond over their mutual love of basketball an…
E7The club owner fires Ron's band, X-Pression, because the group is not bringing in any customers. Dwayne suggests that Ron hire a vocalist.…
E8Whitley's aunt offers her a lucrative job as an art buyer for her hotel chain. However, she expects Whitley to look after her golddigging c…
E9Whitley panics about wedding preparations--particularly the upcoming engagement party, in which her parents are to see each other for the f…
E10Before Dwayne and Whitley can deal with the repercussions of his revelation, her mother arrives for the engagement party. Dwayne's parents…
E11Dwayne seeks a friendship with Whitley, but she doesn't feel like hearing him out. She throws herself into organizing her dorm's official d…
E12Col. Taylor, Jaleesa and Terrence argue about preparations for their first Christmas as a family. Jaleesa asks Whitley to join them for Chr…
E13After graduating, Ron elects to work on his music full-time. Dwayne complains about his inability to pay his share of the bills. Ron insist…
E14Dwayne becomes jealous of Whitley's new beau, particularly after she leads him to believe they are sleeping together. Ron promises to take…
E15A handsome man approaches Freddie and reveals that he is Jamal, her prison pen pal. He has just been released from prison after serving sev…
E16One of Whitley's superiors continually makes unwanted sexual advances. When she turns down his dinner invitation, he suggests that he may n…
E17Whitley organizes a campus fundraiser and tries to wrangle donations from prominent business people. She hits it off with Byron Douglas III…
E18Whitley turns down the opportunity to spend a weekend in Washington, D.C. with Byron. She is distressed by the fact that Dwayne does not se…
E19Whitley convinces Dwayne to hide while she talks to Byron. Dwayne tells Ron about his night with Whitley and admits that he still loves her…
E20Ron struggles with his new job at a car dealership. A female con artist gets him fired. She apologizes, and they hatch a scheme to get the…
E21Lena cannot keep her grades high enough to maintain her engineering scholarship. She writes an essay about her father for an English assign…
E22Gina's rapper boyfriend Dion (a.k.a. I'm Down) prepares to give a concert for his peers. He hires Ron as his promoter. Freddie reveals that…
E23In the final days before the election, the incumbent accuses Byron of fooling around with a stripper. He refuses to respond to the allegati…
E24The day before her wedding, Whitley frets about details until Byron is able to bring her back to reality. Kim volunteers to return to campu…
E25As she awakens on her wedding day, Whitley is so flustered by her conversation with Dwayne that she can barely remember where she is or the…