The episode title references the core metaphor of Lorde's 1968 poem:
" Is the Total Black, Being Spoken " is the third episode of the second season of the crime drama series . Its title is taken from the opening lines of the poem " Coal " by Audre Lorde , which explores themes of Black identity, the power of language, and the transformation of individual experience into something visible and beautiful. Plot Summary [S2E3] Is the Total Black, Being Spoken
Siobhan receives positive news while she continues to plan her run for a seat on the City Council. The episode title references the core metaphor of
Siobhan’s client, Kelvin Campbell, is released from custody. However, he remains haunted by the events that occurred on Valentine’s Day. The line "I / Is the total black,
The poem also touches on how words are "coloured by who pays what for speaking," reflecting the social and economic power structures that influence how marginalized voices are heard or silenced.
The line "I / Is the total black, being spoken" suggests that the speaker's identity is inseparable from their Blackness and that this identity is forged and expressed through language.