Do the Write Thing (S05E21)
Lena struggles to keep her grades up to retain her engineering scholarship. For an English assignment, she writes a heartfelt essay about her father, which impresses Professor Foster so much that he submits it to a contest. To her surprise, she wins and earns a journalism scholarship. However, Lena is embarrassed when her father attends the awards ceremony, revealing himself to be a hustler instead of the Vietnam veteran and former Black Panther she portrayed. Mr. James supports Lena's actions, believing she did what she had to. Concerned about her father's influence, Lena confides in Professor Foster, who already suspected her deception. He encourages her talent and helps her secure an English scholarship. Meanwhile, Whitley inadvertently jeopardizes one of Byron's potential sponsors by flaunting a fur coat, prompting her to learn more about the issues to better support his campaign.