Pablo Luna
With the growing competition from the likes of Netflix and Amazon, TV is really experiencing what can only be described as a renaissance period right now. Some amazing things are going on in the world of TV and some great concepts.
This includes the shows with predominantly minority casts as well as writers and directors, which have progressed beyond what was ever previously available.
The following are some of the best black TV shows that you should consider watching right now.
Black Love
Black Love Season 1 premiered in 2017 on the OWN Network, and since then it has grown to be a favorite among audiences. The show is documentary-style, and it highlights real-life love stories from members of the black community, including celebrities like D.L. Hughley, Sterling K. Brown, Niecy Nash, and Rev Run among many other big names.
Black Love is from filmmakers Codie Elaine Oliver and Tommy Oliver, and the goal is to answer the question of what it takes to make a marriage work.
The docu-series takes an honest, raw approach to people’s stories, and it doesn’t sugarcoat the struggles couples face.
Insecure
Insecure is a critically acclaimed comedy-drama series that comes on HBO. Premiering in 2016, Insecure is partially based on the web series Awkward Black Girl from Issa Rae. The series was renewed for a fourth season by HBO in fall 2018.
The series was selected by the American Film Institute in 2017 as one of the top 10 Television Programs of the Year. Rae, who acts as the main character, earned two Golden Globe nominations, and a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.
The basis of the series is set around the story of a young black woman and her awkward experiences in the modern world. While it is a comedy, a big focus of the series is on what the black female experience looks like from the perspective of two females who are Issa as well as Molly played by Yvonne Orji.
Queen Sugar
Queen Sugar is also on OWN, and Oprah Winfrey is an executive producer. Queen Sugar is based on a novel of the same name, written by Natalie Baszile.
Queen Sugar premiered in 2016, and it looks at the lives of three siblings in the south. Queen Sugar has been recognized because every episode features a female director, and many of the themes of the show have resonated significantly with audiences, including tackling relevant topics like racial profiling.
The fourth season of Queen Sugar is set to premiere this summer.
Black-Ish
Black-Ish is a sitcom that premiered in 2014, from creator Kenya Barris. Starting Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross, Black-Ish is about the lives of an upper-middle-class family. The show covers sociopolitical issues, but also a personal issue faced by most American families, and does so in a funny, relatable way.
Black-Ish has received many nominations including Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for Outstanding Comedy Series. Tracee Ellis Ross has earned acclaim independently for her portrayal of the family matriarch, having won the Golden Globe Award for best actress.
Black-Ish often ranks in the top 10 TV shows for audience size, and it led to a spin-off called Grown-Ish, which follows the eldest daughter, Zoe, as she goes to college.
The Chi
The Chi is on Showtime, and stars of the show include Jason Mitchell, NtareGumaMbahoMwine, and Jacob Latimore. The show is from Lena Waithe, an Emmy Winner. It is a drama series that focuses on a group of neighborhood residents in Chicago. Taking place in Chicago’s South Side, it premiered in 2018, and the second season premiered this month.
Power
Finally, another great TV show right now is Power, which has been on for five seasons. It is a crime drama, and it’s on Starz. The story is about a drug dealer played by Omari Hardwick, and he wants to leave the criminal world to start a legitimate business. The show chronicles his efforts to balance his business life and his underground crime life. The show is based in New York City and is also filmed there.
Power has been critically acclaimed through its five seasons for the well-developed characters, pacing, writing and more. Power is also one of the most watched shows on the Starz network, and a sixth season is in the works, set to premiere in Summer 2019. Power also stars Lela Loren, 50 Cent, and La La Anthony and has been recognized by the NAACP Image Awards and the NAMIC Vision Awards, among others.
