Episode #507 "Dick, Who’s Coming To Dinner"

  Dick can’t understand why Nina won’t let him attend the Black Student Union meeting with her. When Nina explains that it’s a kind of support group for black students, Dick assumes it must be something like Weight Watchers. The next day in class, Dick learns that Caryn attended the meeting and he wants to know what happened. He points out that she isn’t black at all but a milky cocoa at best. Caryn doesn’t want to discuss it. Sally, Tommy and Harry are hard at work on the "If I could change the world" poetry contest that the library is sponsoring. Dick says they should all attend the next Black Student Union meeting, and Sally suggests that there might be a white one that they can attend. Dick asks a bartender if there are any "white support" groups in the area and learns about some white power guys who met in Hendersonville. Dick thinks "white power" sounds quite uplifting, but when the aliens actually attend a meeting, they find it creepy that the members seem to hate everyone. Nina and Mary are horrified that Dick attended a white power rally, but when Mary begins chastising Dick, Nina says she can speak for herself. As a result of their introduction to "white power," Sally, Tommy and Harry are now inspired to wire an anti-racism poem. When his class learns that Dick attended the rally, they remind him of all the injustices, racial or otherwise, that have historically taken place in this country. At first Dick doesn’t understand what any of this has to do with him, but he slowly becomes convinced that he is solely responsible for very injustice that has ever taken place. Mary tells him he should stop feeling guilty and do something. Mrs. Dubcek points out to Harry, Tommy and Sally that all the participants in the poetry contest are under ten. If that’s the case, they think, they’ll definitely win. Dick tells them that they all have a big problem: they’re white. Dick says it’s in his power to change society, and he’s going to do it. Sally reminds him that this goes against their mission, and he reluctantly agrees. He’ll just have to work on Nina. First Dick tries to fire Nina from her servile job so she can be free. Nina says how dare Dick try to decide what’s best for her. He’s a presumptuous, arrogant jerk. The librarian tells Sally, Tommy and Harry that they’re too old for the poetry contest, but Harry accuses her of ageism and they get to read their poem anyway. Dick shows up at Nina’s church where she’s singing in the gospel choir. Dick playing the piano, sings about himself, a poor fool of a white man who knows nothing but still wants to be good in spite of his color. He pushes Nina until she tells him she’s his friend.