Marvel's Cloak & Dagger Stars Break Down That White Privilege Conversation

Marvel's Cloak & Dagger might be a show about superheroes, but the teen drama is also an unflinchingly honest exploration of the various deep-seated issues plaguing its emotionally conflicted leads. Thursday's episode was no exception, serving up a crash course on white privilege through a contentious but thought-provoking conversation between Tandy (Olivia Holt) and Tyrone (Aubrey Joseph).

During the emotional hour, Tandy revealed that she has suicidal thoughts which baffled and upset Tyrone, mainly because in his experience as a young black male, his life is threatened on a constant basis for merely existing while Tandy can walk freely without a proverbial target on her back. The heated debate ended with the pair at odds but also opened the door for a deeper understanding of each other and the pain that they experience on a daily basis. For Joseph, it was a crucial conversation that shone a light on a complex issue which hasn't been discussed nearly enough in society.

"It's a conversation you wouldn't necessarily expect to have between a young black male and a white female regularly," Joseph told TV Guide. "It just goes to show that we need to discuss things. The more we actually try to talk things out, the more we understand and the more we --"

"Respect and appreciate other people's opinions," Holt jumped in. "Both Aubrey and I were very passionate about that specific scene because we are both speaking from spaces of what it's like to have white privilege and what it's like to not. It is a conversation that needs to be had."

Joseph expanded on Holt's point, emphasizing the important roles their characters play in giving a voice to both grossly disenfranchised groups. "That's why this show is so amazing. Because you have a young black male who is often dehumanized in society. Then you have a female who is always minimized in society. So it's two groups of people that are often unheard and not represented in the forefront. It just brings humanity to both groups," he added.

Marvel's Cloak & Dagger continues Thursdays at 8/7c on Freeform.