21 Of The Best Black-Created TV Shows That You Need To Start Watching (And Rewatching) Immediately
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1.Abbott Elementary
Oh my goodness, this show!!! Imagine the humor of The Office with an elementary school as the backdrop, and you get the wonder that is Abbott Elementary. The series follows Janine Teagues and the rest of the teachers of Abbot Elementary, as they try their hardest to help their students succeed, even when the odds are stacked against them. It's truly such a joy to grace our screens every week. This show will make you laugh out loud, while also recognizing that teachers are real-life heroes who deserve so much more credit than they get.
Who created it: Quinta Brunson
Starring: Quinta Brunson, Tyler James Williams, Janelle James, Chris Perfetti, Lisa Ann Walter, Sheryl Lee Ralph, William Stanford, and more
Where to watch it: Tuesdays on ABC or next day on Hulu
2.Queens
Queens follows four women who reunite and try to regain the fame they once had in the '90s as hip-hop music icons the Nasty Bitches. Together, they try to balance their everyday normie lives with their revamped music careers and prove they're just as iconic now as they were 20 years ago. However, along the way, they realize the music industry is not the same as it once was, and the Queens have to decide whether their families and dark pasts are strong enough to prevent them from having this future in music. Basically, add the drama of a Shonda Rhimes show to Girls5Eva and throw in a dash of the chaos of Empire — that's Queens.
Who created it: Zahir McGhee
Starring: Eve, Naturi Naughton, Brandy, Nadine Velazquez, Pepi Sonuga, Taylor Sele, and more
Where to watch it: Hulu
3.Lovecraft Country
Lovecraft Country follows Tic, a Black man who teams up with his close friend Leti and uncle George in hopes of finding his missing father. The show takes place in Jim Crow America, and throughout their journey, the group faces a bunch of terrifying monsters. The cast is extraordinary at bringing this complex story to life, and once you start watching, you won't be able to stop. You'll be left thinking about this show for weeks after you finish, that's a promise. Lovecraft Country will 100% live on to be one of the best TV series of the decade because it's stimulating, poignant, and a must-watch for everyone.
Who created it: Misha Green (Jordan Peele and J.J. Abrams are also executive producers)
Starring: Jurnee Smollett, Jonathan Majors, Aunjanue Ellis, Courtney B. Vance, Wunmi Mosaku, Abbey Lee, Jamie Chung, Jada Harris, Michael K. Williams, and more
Where to watch it: HBO Max
4.Bel-Air
Bel-Air is a modern-day retelling of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, except this time around the story is a lot darker and grittier. Just like the original, the series follows Will after he moves from West Philadephia to the glitzy, privileged city of Bel-Air with his Aunt Viv and Uncle Phil. Over the course of the series, Will begins to learn to navigate both cities and make the most out of his time there. Will Smith and Morgan Cooper (whose viral trailer inspired the TV series) act as executive producers, so you already know it's gonna be good.
Who created it: Will Smith and Morgan Cooper
Starring: Jabari Banks, Adrian Holmes, Cassandra Freeman, Olly Sholotan, Coco Jones, Akira Akbar, Jimmy Akingbola, Jordan L. Jones, Simone Joy Jones, and more
Where to watch it: Peacock beginning Feb. 13
5.Woke
This series is based on the real-life experiences of The K Chronicles creator Keith Knight. Woke follows a cartoonist named Keef Knight, a man who's made professional success on "keeping it light" and avoiding any controversial stances. After Keef is racially profiled and attacked by a policeman, Keef realizes he's able to talk to inanimate objects — all who try to guide him through his day-to-day challenges. Because of this incident, Keef also begins to realize just how prevalent microaggressions are in his everyday life. Over the course of Season 1, Keef attempts to figure out how to be a woke Black man and keep his cartoonist career afloat. Lamorne Morris finally gets the spotlight he deserves in this series and it's such a perfect watch for anyone looking to start something new.
Who created it: Keith Knight and Marshall Todd
Starring: Lamorne Morris, Blake Anderson, T. Murph, Rose McIver, Sasheer Zamata, and more
Where to watch it: Hulu
6.I May Destroy You
Created by Michaela Coel, I May Destroy You is about a millennial woman and Twitter-icon-turned-author named Arabella. After going out with her friends one night, Arabella wakes the next morning realizing she doesn't have any recollection of what happened to her the night before. As she tries to piece together the night's events she comes to learn that the people in her life are all not who they're cracked up to be. This show is smart, poignant, and offers a lot of insight into the experiences of sexual assault survivors. I May Destroy You is one of those rare shows where it's able to seamlessly combine drama and comedy without feeling preachy or uncomfortable. Michaela Coel's writing is so breathtaking, it's hard not to fall in love with Arabella.
Who created it: Michaela Coel
Starring: Michaela Coel, Weruche Opia, Paapa Essiedu, and more
Where to watch it: HBO Max
7.Colin in Black & White
Colin in Black & White comes straight from the hands of Ava Duvernay and Colin Kaepernick. It follows Colin's coming-of-age tale and "path to power" that led him to where he is today. While exploring Colin's eventual love for football and adolescence, it also delves into his own experience growing up as a Black child adopted by white parents. This series features a remarkable cast and tells a story that is worth watching every single second.
Who created it: Ava Duvernay and Colin Kaepernick
Starring: Jaden Michael, Nick Offerman, Mary-Louise Parker, Colin Kaepernick, and more
Where to watch it: Netflix
8.Black-ish
There is yet to be a more iconic family than the Johnsons. Black-ish revolves around the Johnson family as they deal with their regular everyday problems, while sometimes emphasizing major sociopolitical issues. This series does a great job of making you actually think about the world outside of the show you're watching. It's funny, smart, but most importantly, it's real. The entire cast is a delight to watch and you'll get so invested in these characters that you won't be able to watch "just one episode."
Who created it: Kenya Barris
Starring: Anthony Anderson, Tracee Ellis Ross, Yara Shahidi, Marcus Scribner, Miles Brown, Marsai Martin, Jeff Meacham, Jenifer Lewis, Peter Mackenzie, Deon Cole, Katlyn Nichol, Laurence Fishburne, and more
Where to watch it: Hulu
9.Grown-ish
Grown-ish is a spinoff of Black-ish, and in this show, Zoey Johnson gets her time to shine. Now in college, Zoey learns that adult life isn't all it's cracked up to be. Throughout the series, we watch as Zoey meets her new friends for life, takes huge steps in her career as a fashion stylist, and even has a romantic fling of her own. As much as this series is based on another hit, it's 100% capable of standing on its own two feet. Grown-ish has a bunch of great characters with compelling storylines that it really is a huge treat just to tune in every week.
Who created it: Kenya Barris and Larry Wilmore
Starring: Yara Shahidi, Deon Cole, Trevor Jackson, Francia Raisa, Emily Arlook, Jordan Buhat, Chris Parnell, Chloe Bailey, Halle Bailey, Luka Sabbat, Diggy Simmons, and more
Where to watch it: Hulu
10.Queen Sugar
Based on the book of the same name, Queen Sugar follows three siblings — Nova, Charley, and Ralph — as they cope with their father's unexpected death. Throughout the series, they must also figure out what to do with their father's 800-acre sugarcane farm. Queen Sugar weaves modern storylines and themes with the Black experience in America. This series is also a fan favorite and has received multiple rave reviews from critics. It's very much a show that'll make you rethink everything about your own life after watching a single episode.
Who created it: Ava DuVernay
Starring: Rutina Wesley, Dawn-Lyen Gardner, Kofi Siriboe, Nicholas L. Ashe, Omar Dorsey, Dondre Whitfield, Timon Kyle Durrett, Greg Vaughan, Ethan Hutchison, Marycarmen Lopez, Tina Lifford, Bianca Lawson, Henry G. Sanders, Walter Perez, and more
Where to watch it: Hulu
11.A Black Lady Sketch Show
This show's title is pretty self-explanatory — it's a sketch comedy series that's created by and stars Black women. During its debut back in 2019, it became a total fan favorite and was renewed before the first season even ended. With only two seasons currently, this show sure packs a punch. And not to be dramatic, but this show is actually one of the funniest things I've ever seen in my whole life, and you'll finish every episode wanting more. Guests like Angela Bassett, Issa Rae, Laverne Cox, Lena Waithe, Kelly Rowland, along with many others, also make appearances in the series.
Who created it: Robin Thede
Starring: Robin Thede, Ashley Nicole Black, Gabrielle Dennis, Quinta Brunson, and more
Where to watch it: HBO Max
12.Harlem
Tracy Oliver's new series follows four Black best friends from Harlem as they navigate their careers, love lives, and "big city dreams." Meagan Good plays Camille, an anthropology professor at Columbia who has trouble with her own dating life, despite her extensive knowledge of many other cultures' dating norms. Jerrie Johnson plays Tye, a queer dating app creator who prefers to keep her vulnerability to a minimum. Grace Byers plays Quinn, a fashion designer who's trying to give back to the world and keep her business afloat. And Shoniqua Shandai plays Angie, a singer who just also happens to be Quinn's rent-free roommate. It's a perfect show for fans of Sex and the City, but this time around you get a more realistic story.
Who created it: Tracy Oliver
Starring: Meagan Good, Grace Byers, Shoniqua Shandai, Tyler Lepley, Jerrie Johnson, and more
Where to watch it: Amazon Prime Video
13.The Twilight Zone
Jordan Peele rebooted this iconic anthology series, and it's just as engaging as the original. Coming in hot from his recent horror success, Jordan's version of The Twilight Zone is twisty, creepy, and will totally mess with your mind. This series has been modernized with all new stories, but the themes couldn't be more evergreen. You'll also see several familiar famous faces appearing every episode. Once you start watching, you won't be able to stop.
Who created it: Jordan Peele, Marco Ramirez, and Simon Kinberg
Starring: Jordan Peele, Kumail Nanjiani, John Cho, Allison Tolman, Jacob Tremblay, Steven Yeun, Greg Kinnear, DeWanda Wise, Jessica Williams, Tracy Morgan, Taissa Farmiga, Rhea Seehorn, Luke Kirby, Ike Barinholtz, Billy Porter, Jurnee Smollett, Damon Wayans Jr., and more
Where to watch it: Paramount Plus
14.Random Acts of Flyness
Random Acts of Flyness is a mystically magic series that might melt your mind a little bit. It's described as a "response to the contemporary American mediascape" where music, animation, and surrealist melodrama take center stage. Random Acts of Flyness is great at mixing glitz and glamour to tell the stories of Black youth in America. It's a perfect show for someone looking to better understand the Black experience, while also admiring the beauty of art and music. This show is a perfect example of what television should be, and you will not be disappointed.
Who created it: Terence Nance
Starring: Terence Nance, Whoopi Goldberg, Dominique Fishback, Gillian Jacobs, Jon Hamm, Ntare Guma Mwine, Adepero Oduye, Natalie Paul, Lakeith Stanfield, Tonya Pinkins, Paul Sparks, and more
Where to watch it: HBO Max
15.Bridgerton
If you haven't hopped on the Bridgerton train yet, take this as a sign you should. Bridgerton is one of the more recent additions to Shonda Rhimes' TV empire Shondaland, and it's truly magnificent. Based on the Bridgerton books, the series centers around the Bridgerton siblings as they come of age in Regency-era London. The first season focuses on Daphne as she becomes a debutante and is in search of a husband. And while it is a period drama, I promise you'll never be bored watching it. Plus, Season 2 is already scheduled to come back in March, so you don't even have to wait that long for more episodes!
Who created it: Shonda Rhimes and Chris Van Dusen
Starring: Regé-Jean Page, Phoebe Dynevor, Adjoa Andoh, Jonathan Bailey, Ruby Barker, Nicola Coughlan, Claudia Jessie, Golda Rosheuvel, Julie Andrews, and more
Where to watch it: Netflix
16.Naomi
Another series developed by Ava DuVernay, Naomi tells the story of a seemingly ordinary, comic-book-loving teenager whose life is changed once a supernatural event takes over her town. In an effort to uncover what's really going on, Naomi begins to learn more about herself, where she came from, and her newfound powers. This show is such a hidden gem and it features all of the wonderful aspects of sci-fi and superhero but also weaves it perfectly into the teen drama of it all. Plus Kaci Walfall, who plays Naomi, is such a delight onscreen you'll just be begging for more episodes.
Who created it: Ava DuVernay
Starring: Kaci Walfall, Mary-Charles Jones, Cranston Johnson, Alexander Wraith, Daniel Puig, Aidan Gemme, Will Meyers, Camila Moreno, Mouzam Makkar, Barry Watson, Stephanie March, and more
Where to watch it: Tuesdays on The CW or the next day on The CW website
17.Black Lightning
In another extension on The CW's Arrowverse, Black Lightning follows Jefferson Pierce, a retired superhero turned high school principal who's forced to come out of retirement when the city is at stake. Jefferson's daughters also start to learn about their own superpowers and fight crime alongside him. Basically, this series is as much family drama as it is a superhero show, and like its Arrowverse counterparts, this show will not disappoint.
Who created it: Salim Akil
Starring: Cress Williams, China Anne McClain, Nafessa Williams, Christine Adams, Marvin "Krondon" Jones III, Damon Gupton, James Remar, Jordan Calloway, Chantal Thuy, and more
Where to watch it: Netflix
18.Atlanta
Donald Glover stars as Earn, a college dropout who's working as a manager trying to get his cousin's rap career off the ground. Atlanta has received copious amounts of praise for this show and once you see an episode, you'll understand why. The series invites you into its own little world of surrealness and begs you bask in it. From fake celebrity appearances to fictionalized commercials, this show is an example of how artistically tasteful television can be. As a whole, Atlanta is incredibly smart, funny, and such a breath of fresh air in a world of more TV shows than you can count.
Who created it: Donald Glover
Starring: Donald Glover, Brian Tyree Henry, Lakeith Stanfield, Zazie Beetz, and more
Where to watch it: Hulu
19.P-Valley
P-Valley revolves around the employees who work at The Pynk strip club in Chucalissa, Mississippi. The series delves into the lives of the exotic dancers, club owners, and their loved ones in a fascinating way that makes you root for everyone. After just one episode, you'll find yourself so engrossed in these characters' lives that you'll feel like you also work at The Pynk. After a bunch of rave reviews from fans and critics, the series also got renewed for a second season, so you're already guaranteed more great episodes.
Who created it: Katori Hall
Starring: Brandee Evans, Nicco Annan, Shannon Thornton, Elarica Johnson, Skyler Joy, J. Alphonse Nicholson, Parker Sawyers, Harriett D. Foy, Dan J. Johnson, Tyler Lepley, Isaiah Washington, and more
Where to watch it: Starz
20.Empire
Empire follows the fictional entertainment company Empire Entertainment and the Lyon family who battle for ultimate CEO control. After current CEO Lucious Lyon is diagnosed with ALS, he decides he needs to appoint a successor and pits his sons against each other to see who's most fit for the job. We also find out that Lucious's ex-wife Cookie, who's just been released from prison, is also fighting for her shares of the company. This show has SO much drama, it's impossible not to get hooked within the first few episodes. Plus, there are a bunch of great musical performances too!
Who created it: Lee Daniels and Danny Strong
Starring: Terrence Howard, Taraji P. Henson, Bryshere Y. Gray, Jussie Smollett, Trai Byers, Grace Byers, Malik Yoba, Kaitlin Doubleday, Ta'Rhonda Jones, Gabourey Sidibe, Serayah, Bre-Z, Morocco Omari, Xzibit, Andre Royo, Rumer Willis, Terrell Carter, Nicole Ari Parker, Chet Hanks, Rhyon Nicole Brown, Vivica A. Fox, A.Z. Kelsey, Mario, Wood Harris, and more
Where to watch it: Hulu
21.And finally, Insecure
There's a reason people can't stop talking about this show, trust me. Insecure follows Issa and her close friends as they navigate their careers, relationships, and friendships in LA. This series has been commended by many for portraying such a realistic picture of the complexities of being a Black woman. The series explores both social and racial issues that Issa and those around her face, while remaining grounded, educational, and funny. The writing in this series is beyond belief and really hits the mark. It's impossible not to get caught up in the drama of the show and after just a few episodes, you'll feel like Issa's new BFF.
Who created it: Issa Rae and Larry Wilmore
Starring: Issa Rae, Yvonne Orji, Jay Ellis, Lisa Joyce, Natasha Rothwell, Amanda Seales, Y'lan Noel, Alexander Hodge, Kendrick Sampson, Jean Elie, and more
Where to watch it: HBO Max
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