‘Orange Is The New Black’ Season 4 Tackles Social Issues, Racial Tensions; Episode 1 Premieres on June 17

‘Orange Is The New Black’ season 4 is set to tackle social issues and racial tensions. Episode 1 is scheduled to premiere on Netflix on June 17.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the incoming season is set to put focus on numerous social issues specifically racial tensions among the inmates of overpopulated Litchfield Penitentiary. It was reported that creator Jenji Kohan and her team will continue to feature Taylor Schilling’s Piper Chapman as the series’ lead. The preceding season saw her build a strange underwear empire that smuggles used underwear from inmates to be sold to kinky customers outside the prison.

Piper’s transformation from spoiled inmate to business mogul eventually gets her in trouble with some groups in the penitentiary – specifically the Latinas. The upcoming season’s storyline will also reflect Black Lives Matter in addition to the culture war that erupts in prison.

Selenis Leyva, who plays inmate Gloria Mendoza in the series, revealed that season 4 will reflect modern-day social issues and racial divide. She said, "Danger is the underlying theme: racial tension and danger… This season is definitely going to start up conversations that we’re dealing with now. That’s the beauty of what Jenji does, with the writers. They really take things that are happening, that are current events, and deal with topics that people are afraid to really dive into. And we’re going to go there this season, especially with the prison system."

Levya added, "The prison system is going to be a character this year… We’re going to see if it’s corrupt and how it trickles down to these women. It’s a menacing season. What’s happening out of these prison walls is going to really effect these women."

According to Netflix Life, new cast members have also been added for the incoming season including Jolene Purdy, Blair Brown, Brad William Henke, Mike Houston, and Kelly Karbacz. Lea DeLaria and Jackie Cruz have also been bumped up to regulars after appearing in the series. It would be interesting to see some minor characters take the center stage for season 4.

‘Orange Is The New Black’ is a comedy-drama television series produced by Titled Productions in association with Lionsgate Television. It is Netflix’s most popular series to date, garnering multiple awards and nominations since its premiere on July 2013.