Keith B Real (Marcus D. Spencer) is a therapist helping couples get to the bottom of their problems. As the different couples open up about their lives together we realize that your ethnicity is what makes you look different but the human race is what makes you the same.
"Who Needs It?" begins with a family therapist from Oakland attempting to get (3) different couples to get through their relationship troubles. Dr. Keith B. Real (Marcus Spencer) starts with his first couple Malachi (Michael Grayson) and Sharon (Sherill Quin). This is an interracial couple where Malachi (being an African American man) and Sharon is a Caucasian woman. The issues that they face are obvious to some and not to others, even the two in the relationship. Keith B. Real gets the couple to open up about everything from "how it feels when people see them together," to "how the parents feel about each of them choosing a mate outside of their own ethnic backgrounds."Malachi has never been to therapy and doesn't believe this is a good method. Based on his upbringing he was taught to talk about a situation and leave it alone. Sharon on the other hand grew up seeing therapy and was taught to dig deep on a topic so there is understanding all around. There are topics that are brought up that the two have been holding inside for a variety of reasons. One of which is, common knowledge. Each believes that if they personally believe something is so, the other in the relationship must see it the same way. If this is the case, there is nothing to talk about. Another reason to not bring something up is, that it's not that serious. I'll just eat it because I don't want to upset my partner. Keith B. Real brings a lot out of these two and attempts to give understanding to each of them.The second couple isn't a couple at all, it's a bit of a threesome. We have Larry (Dawayne Jordan), Giselle (Quania Jones), and Kevin (Jason King) all trying to exist together in this relationship. All three of these individuals are African American. Larry and Giselle are living together in a normal heterosexual relationship. How Kevin fits in is, that he and Giselle have procreated (before Larry was in the picture) and had a son together. Larry is living with Giselle playing the role of a stepfather to Dawayne (Kevin and Giselle's son). Keith B. Real get's the three to talk about the issues that they are facing. Larry's big issue is, that he feels unappreciated by Giselle. How he sees the relationship is, that he's playing the father role in the home and when Kevin does anything (such as come to pre-school graduation or attend Dawayne's birthday party), he gets praised. Larry talks about how it feels to be doing all the work of a father and watch the outside guy (the child's father) be praised.Giselle speaks a lot about her point of view on the situation. She just wants everyone to get along and most importantly she wants Dawayne to get the most out of the situation. Kevin is only here because Larry invited him to the session. Larry speaks about his childhood and how he sees Larry as a good replacement for him in his son's life.The third and final couple consists of Derek (Felix Harry) and Layla (Samili Watson). Derek is African American, and Layla is African American and Japanese. They have a toddler son together; Derek is out of work while Layla has a great job bringing home all the money. What's interesting about this couple is Layla is fair complected. When looking at her it is known that she is not Caucasian, but you can't really tell what she is exactly. Layla has identity issues; she never feels completely welcome in any crowd. At work, she keeps her head down and she handles her business. She is dedicated to being the best worker she can be for herself and her family. Keith B. Real gets them to talk about how it feels for them both that she works so many hours and what that does to the family dynamic.Derek is overprotective when it comes to their son. He doesn't believe in anyone watching the child except the two of them. He opens up about his childhood and why it's important that his son is so important to him. Derek also talks about how it makes him feel watching Layla bring in all the money for the family and his idea of gender roles.Keith B. Real is here to get people to realize that everyone needs someone to talk to. If you don't have that special person that you can trust to listen and not repeat what you do, go to a therapist. His job is not to give you his opinion, it's to get you to feel safe enough to speak freely. It's important that you hear how you're feeling. Speak and you shall be set free.
