What are the best Black TV shows to watch?

September 15, 2018 10:56 AM

I've realized that I have fallen completely out of touch with Black TV over the last couple decades but I just read the hollywoodreporter article on Kenya Barris, the creator of Blackish, and he mentioned being a writer on 'The Game' and I had never heard of it so I looked it up and it is definitely something I would at least try. What else should I queue up?

[ I'm not big on soap operas or soap opera style plots (Season 1 of Empire was okay but I bailed on it after that) ]

posted by srboisvert to Media & Arts (15 answers total)

Atlanta
Insecure
posted by Gorgik at 11:10 AM on September 15, 2018 [2 favorites]

Are you up on current shows like Atlanta, Insecure, and Queen Sugar? I've enjoyed Greenleaf, but I don't know if you'd find it too soapy.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 11:11 AM on September 15, 2018

Being Mary Jane is from the same creator as Girlfriends and The Game. (The Game was a spinoff of Girlfriends, which is worth watching.)
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 11:16 AM on September 15, 2018 [1 favorite]

Dear White People
if you like superheroes, Black Lightning
it might be too soap-y, and the cast is mixed race, but I love Claws
The Get Down
Chewing Gum

You say it's been a while, did you watch The Boondocks? or Everyone Hates Chris?
posted by I'm Not Even Supposed To Be Here Today! at 11:33 AM on September 15, 2018 [2 favorites]

Nthing Insecure!
How to Get Away with Murder
The Chi and Power (haven’t watched either yet but heard good things)
posted by buttonedup at 11:47 AM on September 15, 2018

Carmichael Show.
posted by jenfullmoon at 12:56 PM on September 15, 2018 [1 favorite]

N+1thing Insecure and Atlanta, especially because they're shows that I'm not hesitant to share with my non-PoC friends.
posted by blerghamot at 1:05 PM on September 15, 2018

Underground
posted by epj at 1:13 PM on September 15, 2018

Nth Insecure, Atlanta, Dear White People

Also: Random Acts of Flyness is a new one on HBO. It’s a bit more avant-garde and experimental, doesn’t fit any standard categories. Which is why it’s so great.
posted by nightrecordings at 2:16 PM on September 15, 2018 [2 favorites]

(The Chi, Power, and How To Get Away With Murder are all shows i like to love but you'll likely find them too soap-y, same with Scandal. BUT if you can get over that part, HTGAWM and Scandal are both top notch tv. Shonda Rhimes is incredible and knows how to do those things well.
posted by I'm Not Even Supposed To Be Here Today! at 4:15 PM on September 15, 2018

Nthing Atlanta, Deat White People, and The Get Down. Adding Snowfall.
posted by donnagirl at 6:19 PM on September 15, 2018

Pose
posted by gingerbeer at 8:59 PM on September 15, 2018

Luke Cage!

And also nthing Atlanta, Black Lightning, and Dear White People.
posted by hungrytiger at 10:07 PM on September 15, 2018

Just remembered Star. Maybe a little dramatic, but still good.
posted by donnagirl at 2:28 PM on September 16, 2018

I believe all seasons of Living Single are still available on Hulu.
posted by healthytext at 8:48 AM on September 28, 2018