After a teacher tells Rainbow to make sure her hair is "neat" for picture day, she becomes self-conscious and begins a complicated relationship with her hair; Johan and Santamonica struggle with their own hair identity.
When Rainbow is tasked with a school assignment that requires her to trace her roots, she learns that history is more complicated for her mom's side of the family than it is for her dad's.
Bow has to consider the social impact of her date choice for her first school dance; Johan discovers his love of fashion; Santamonica spends some time with Harrison.
The popular girls at school ask Rainbow to join their Halloween costume as Tootie from "The Facts of Life"; Rainbow sees an opportunity to fit in, but Denise thinks differently; Alicia doesn't want the kids to go trick-or-treating.
The kids are excited to learn more about their granddad after Harrison invites the crew to family day at his country club; Alicia attempts to fit in at the country club, but ends up fighting with Denise.
Rainbow's passion for science deflates when her peers convince her that science isn't cool; Harrison works to mold a testimony from Denise; Santamonica tries to steal the spotlight back after Johan suffers an injury.
Paul struggles when Rainbow and Santamonica want to participate in a beauty pageant; Johan gets teased for crying after a martial arts tournament; Alicia and Harrison struggle with the best way for Johan to fight back.
Alicia and Paul strive to maintain their winter solstice traditions from the commune, but their parents want to have a more traditional Christmas with the kids; Alicia's dad competes with Harrison to be the kids' favorite grandad.
In the wake of the Challenger tragedy, Rainbow and her family handle their grief in different ways; Denise realizes that life is too short, so she vows to right all the wrongs she's done in her life.
Rainbow wants to battle stereotypes at school after she joins the track team and feels like her friends only see her skin color; Santamonica tries to be cool enough to hang out with Rainbow's friends.
Paul is shocked to hear from his estranged mother who wants to visit for Rainbow's 13th birthday; Rainbow sees turning 13 as a huge turning point in her life and wants a big birthday party.
Rainbow is excited to go on her first date with Bryce for Valentine's Day; Alicia is wary to let Rainbow start dating and invites Bryce's parents over for dinner to cross-examine them; Paul gets into a fight with Bryce's dad over politics.
Alicia gets a bonus after winning a big case and wants to buy a nice car, but Denise wants her to buy two cars so she can have one; Paul tries to teach Rainbow, Johan and Santamonica about the value of money.
The Johnsons welcome an African American family that has just moved into their mostly white neighborhood; Santamonica doesn't get along with the new neighbor's daughter, until she gives Santamonica attitude.
Rainbow clashes with her parents over her love for rap music; Harrison steps in to take Denise to a charity benefit and helps her realize she deserves better men in her love life.
After helping a friend with mono, Rainbow becomes interested in the medical field; Alicia fibs to Paul about getting a flu shot; Johan and Santamonica go to live with Harrison.
Alicia and Paul try to deflect Johan's interest in going to cop camp and becoming a police officer someday; Rainbow gets her first role as a school safety patrol and quickly realizes that with great power comes great responsibility.
After learning that scientists predict the ozone layer will be depleted in 20 years, Rainbow panics and tries to implement Earth Day at school; Rainbow is forced to takes matters into her own hands to fight for the cause.
The kids meet a homeless man in their neighborhood; Paul and Rainbow try to help their local homeless community by starting a soup kitchen at Rainbow's school; Denise has a new boyfriend and Alicia doesn't think they're a match.
Alicia and Paul are both offered jobs to work on Jesse Jackson's presidential campaign, but Alicia's law firm makes her an enticing offer to stay; Rainbow struggles to define her racial identity on a form.
