Gilly Hopkins has seen more than her share of foster homes and has outwitted every family she has lived with. In an effort to escape her new foster mother Maime Trotter's endless loving care, Gilly concocts a plan that she believes will bring her mother running to her rescue. But when the ploy blows up in Gilly's face it threatens to ruin the only chance she's ever had to be part of a real family.

In addition to being saddled with an unruly foster teen, Madea has two troubled nieces to deal with. Lisa is engaged to an abusive and controlling investment banker and Vanessa is finding it difficult to open herself to the affection of a bus driver/artist Frankie because of childhood abuse. Wreaking havoc on both of the girls's lives is their mother Victoria.

Millie Dunbar is a foster parent who looks after her many children in Los Angeles in 1992. After the verdict from the Rodney King Incident is revealed, the city quickly begins to descend into all-out chaos between its denizens and the police. Now, Millie must protect her children from the ensuing anarchy and erupting violence all while navigating the precarious waters of police violence and finding justice for her family.