Thread by @Grahfvillainy

I think Earn receiving White Earn’s stuff is about a lot more than just reparations. Think back to the very first scene of the season, “With enough blood and money, anybody can be White. It’s always been that way.”

Y’all ready for a deep dive into #AtlantaFX Season 3?

The much controversial anthology episodes this season of #AtlantaFX were used to introduce a certain theme, which the episodes with the main cast would delve deeper into. White allyship with “Three Slaps”, reparations with “The Big Payback” and so on.

Throughout these themes, a common thread can be seen. These themes deal with attempting to achieve Whiteness by engaging with systems of Whiteness: through allyship with Darius, capitalism with Al, and escapism through Van. #AtlantaFX

These characters are unable to successfully engage with these systems. Darius sees how his allyship is taken advantage of and even ruins the lives of other Black folk in the diaspora. Al experiences how capitalism even in the hands of rich Black people exploits them. #AtlantaFX

In the #AtlantaFX Season 3 finale, we see how Van dissociates herself from her responsibilities as a Black mother in order live in the whimsical fantasy life of Amelie, a fictional film character.

These characters all face challenges to their identity, but in the end, recognize who they are in a world driven by systems of Whiteness. Want to know who fails at his challenge? #AtlantaFX

White Earn says this, “But the thing about being White is, it blinds you.”

Whenever Earn is confronted with a challenge to his status, he engages with systems of Whiteness to manipulate or take advantage of those around him. #AtlantaFX

In “Sinterklass” he uses facial stereotyping to escape a beating. In “The Old Man”, he uses capitalism to aid in the exploitation of Will. In “White Fashion”, he uses status to falsely accuse someone of harassment and gain hotel benefits #AtlantaFX

Earn is the only one to successfully benefit off of these systems, but this is not to be celebrated. As White Earn says, “Whiteness is a curse”, and as Loquareeous’ mother says, “These white people are gonna kill you”. #AtlantaFX

Engaging with these systems is NOT a tool for Black liberation. White people tried to kill Loquareeous when he tried to escape his position as a Black child in America, and I’m afraid Earn will follow the same fate, even if metaphorically, as he loses himself in money. #AtlantaFX

Recall his conversation with Wiley. Earn’s struggle for identity has always affected him, from his childhood days during the FILA debacle to struggling to be the manager Al needs in season 2. In season 3, money has finally given him the identity he thinks he needs. #AtlantaFX

The post credits scene of the season 3 finale, with Earn obtaining White Earn’s stuff, symbolizes him finally becoming “White,” because through money and exploitation, he has achieved it. Our Earn and White Earn are now one in the same. #AtlantaFX

I think season 4 of #AtlantaFX will be when the curse of Whiteness will take hold on him, and his relationships to his circle and community at large will be negatively affected. We have already seen how distant he has become from Al and him letting Van go unlike Candice.

The final scene with Van is more than a her expressing the desire to go back home to Atlanta. It’s more than a meta commentary urging the show to return to its roots. I believe season 4 of #AtlantaFX will see Van, Al, and Darius trying to recover Earn from the curse of Whiteness.

@moinsyyed1985 wrote a thread on Atlanta. Would appreciate if you have this a read since you one of the people that fuck with this season