Black Lightning's friend and mentor, Peter Gambi, is a tailor. In the comics, Peter's brother Paul Gambi is also a tailor, who designed the costumes for most of the Flash's super villains.
The window above the door to Paul Gambi's shop says "Since 1977." The character of Black Lightning debuted in DC Comics' "Black Lightning" #1 in April of 1977.
At 47 years old, Cress Williams (Jefferson Pierce / Black Lightning) is the second oldest actor to make his debut appearance as a superhero in a live-action production. The oldest is Ron Perlman, who was 54 when he played the title character in Hellboy (2004).
Tobias Whale is a reference to Moby Dick. Tobias Whale is an albino African American i.e. White Whale. He's an antagonist who is the bane of the main character's existence, what drives Jefferson Pierce/Black Lightning's character to the brink of madness, always slipping out of the grip of the protagonist.
This episode was dedicated to Atlanta news anchor Amanda Davis, who passed away before the episode aired.