Top 15 Best African American Shows on Netflix
When it comes to the African-American culture, socioeconomic issues, and lifestyles, black shows cover a wide range of topics related. If you're looking for ... read more...some interesting black television series to watch, this article is the best place to go. Here's a list of some of Netflix's best African American shows that you can watch right now.
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Always a Witch is a Colombian television series available on Netflix. It was picked up for a direct-to-series order, and the first season debuted on Netflix on January 1, 2019. Netflix renewed it for a second season, which premiered on February 28, 2020, globally.
Always a Witch follows Carmen, a 19-year-old woman who is also a witch. She works as a slave for a while before falling in love with a white guy. She is sentenced to death by being burnt alive at the stake for committing a serious crime. An ancient wizard, on the other hand, offers her a solution: she may be sent to the modern era, where no one believes in witches if she swears not to use her magical abilities again. Carmen accepts, knowing that this is her last opportunity to go. She begins her new life in twenty-first-century Columbia by enrolling in college and meeting new acquaintances. But after all, she is a witch. How long will she be able to keep her true self hidden?
Detailed Information:
Genre: Fantasy, Romantic comedy
Created by: Ana María Parra
Starring: Angely Gaviria, Sofia Bernal Araujo, Dylan Fuentes, Valeria Henríquez
No. of seasons: 2
No. of episodes: 18 -
Jenji Kohan's Netflix comedy-drama Orange Is the New Black (often shortened to OITNB) is an American comedy-drama series. The series is based on Piper Kerman's memoir Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison (2010), which is based on her experiences at FCI Danbury, a minimum-security federal prison. Tilted Productions collaborated with Lionsgate Television to develop Orange Is the New Black, which premiered on Netflix on July 11, 2013.
It follows the story of a young woman who, in a previous life, was condemned to prison for smuggling drugs with her homosexual companion. Because this is her first time in prison, she adjusts to her surroundings gradually and builds relationships that may lead to future problems. In its first season, the show was nominated for 12 Primetime Emmy Awards and won three, including Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series, and Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series.
Detailed Information:
Genre: Comedy-drama
Created by: Jenji Kohan
Starring: Taylor Schilling, Laura Prepon, Michael Harney, Michelle Hurst
No. of seasons: 7
No. of episodes: 91 -
Spike Lee developed the American comedy-drama television series She's Gotta Have It. It's based on his film of the same name from 1986. Netflix ordered ten 30-minute episodes, all of which were directed by Lee. On November 23, 2017, the show premiered. The sitcom got renewed for a second season on January 1, 2018, and broadcasted on May 24, 2019. After two seasons, Netflix decided to terminate the show on July 17, 2019.
The plot follows Nola Darling's romantic life in gentrified Brooklyn is characterized by sexual liberation, as she juggles three open relationships with contemplative Jamie, carefree Mars, and brash Greer. The three men struggle to embrace her freedom, despite her wanting to handle her sexual relationships on her own terms.
Detailed Information:
Genre: Comedy-drama
Created by: Spike Lee
Starring: DeWanda Wise, Anthony Ramos, Lyriq Bent, Cleo Anthony
No. of seasons: 2
No. of episodes: 19 -
Raising Dion is a Netflix original superhero drama series set in the United States that aired on October 4, 2019. It is based on Dennis Liu's 2015 comic book and a short film of the same name. Netflix renewed the series for a second season in January 2020, which was released on February 1, 2022.
Nicole is a single mother raising her son Dion, who possesses magical talents inherited from his deceased father. Nicole guards Dion as he learns to control his abilities and becomes closer to being a hero. After the series premiered, critics have given it high marks. Despite its action-packed plot, the series addresses a number of sensitive issues, including single motherhood, morality, and the value of strong mentor figures. As a result, it achieves the perfect balance of accessible and engaging storytelling for the entire family.
Detailed Information:
Genre: Superhero, Science fiction, Adventure, Family drama
Created by: Carol Barbee
Starring: Alisha Wainwright, Ja'Siah Young, Jazmyn Simon, Sammi Haney
No. of seasons: 2
No. of episodes: 17 -
Baz Luhrmann and Stephen Adly Guirgis produced The Get Down, an American musical drama television series. On April 7, 2017, a five-episode second portion of the series was published, putting the series to a close. On May 24, 2017, Netflix stated that the series has come to an end after Part 2 and that no further seasons will be produced.
The series is set in the 1970s in the Bronx, New York City, and follows a group of teens as they witness the emergence of hip-hop and disco music. Each episode opens with MC Books, a well-known rapper who tells his story to a large audience during a 1996 event. The brief rap acts as a summary of prior episodes as well as a set-up for what's to come. Real video and newscasts from the 1970s are intercut throughout each episode.
Detailed Information:
Genre: Period drama, Musical
Created by: Baz Luhrmann, Stephen Adly GuirgisStarring: Justice Smith, Shameik Moore, Herizen F. Guardiola, Skylan Brooks
No. of seasons: 1 (2 parts)
No. of episodes: 11 -
All About the Washingtons, a comedy-drama created by Jeremy Bronson, premiered on Netflix on August 10, 2018. Bronson also acts as executive producer for the film. Even though the fact that the show only lasted one season, it is worth seeing.
The plot revolves around Joey and Justine Washington, a married couple dealing with the ups and downs of raising a family. The series begins "after Joey decides to retire from a long career as legendary hip-hop royalty, his wife Justine, takes advantage of the opportunity to pursue a career of her own now that Joey is available to focus on raising the kids and keeping the house in order."
Detailed Information:
Genre: Comedy, Sitcom
Created by: Jeremy Bronson
Starring: Joseph "Rev Run" Simmons, Justine Simmons, Kiana Ledé, Nathan Anderson
No. of seasons: 1
No. of episodes: 10 -
Lauren Iungerich, Eddie Gonzalez, and Jeremy Haft created On My Block, an American adolescent comedy-drama streaming television series. On March 16, 2018, Netflix launched the first season, which consisted of 10 episodes.
The story follows four kids who have been friends since childhood and who enroll at a new high school in a rough inner-city Los Angeles area known as Freeride. The story depicts how their relationships are tested by this odd environment, and how they try to adjust to their new circumstances. This program gained critical acclaim after its premiere because of its varied cast, plot arcs, and performances.
Detailed Information:
Genre: Teen drama, Comedy-drama
Created by: Lauren Iungerich, Eddie Gonzalez, Jeremy HaftStarring: Sierra Capri, Jason Genao, Brett Gray, Diego Tinoco
No. of seasons: 4
No. of episodes: 38 -
Dear White People is a Netflix Original Drama that follows a group of black college students studying at an Ivy League university. The show focuses on problems such as racial differences and social inequality in the United States. Justin Simien wrote and directed this film, which is based on the same-named 2014 film. The show's premise is one episode for each character, with each episode focusing on that individual's story, challenges, and how he or she tackles and overcomes them.
The first episode of the series aired on April 28, 2017. The sitcom got renewed for a fourth and final season on October 2, 2019, which will premiere on September 22, 2021. The series has received positive reviews from critics. Season one has a "Certified Fresh" 95 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 55 critic reviews with an average rating of 8.69/10.
Detailed Information:
Genre: Comedy-drama, Satire
Created by: Justin SimienStarring: Logan Browning, Brandon P. Bell, DeRon Horton, Antoinette Robertson
No. of seasons: 4
No. of episodes: 40 -
Ava DuVernay produced, co-wrote, and directed the Netflix original crime drama miniseries When They See Us, which premiered in four episodes on May 31, 2019. It's based on the Central Park jogger case from 1989. It follows the lives and families of the five Black and Latino male suspects who were falsely charged and prosecuted in connection with the rape and abuse of a white woman in Central Park in New York City.
When They See Us received largely excellent reviews, with special praise for its performances. It received 11 nominations for the 71st Primetime Emmy Awards, including a win for Jerome for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie, a nomination for Outstanding Limited Series, and acting nods for Ellis, Nash, Black, Leguizamo, Williams, Blake, and Farmiga. Critics' Choice Television also named the show Best Limited Series.
Detailed Information:
Genre: Crime drama, True Crime, Tragedy
Created by: Ava DuVernay
Starring: Asante Black, Caleel Harris, Ethan Herisse, Jharrel Jerome
No. of episodes: 4 -
Kenya Barris created the American comedy #blackAF. On April 17, 2020, it premiered on Netflix. The title is based on Internet lingo, where "AF" is an emphasis phrase that means "as fuck."
Barris' life is fictitious in the show, as are his relationships with his wife Joya (Rashida Jones), their children, and other family members. Barris belongs to the upper crust of society as a famous film and television producer, but the new wealth has brought with it plenty of problems. Joya, in particular, has struggled to control her spending, and it has been a cause of disagreement between her and her husband.
Detailed Information:
Genre: Mockumentary
Created by: Kenya Barris
Starring: Rashida Jones, Kenya Barris, Iman Benson, Genneya Walton
No. of seasons: 1
No. of episodes: 8 -
Zack Stentz created Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous, an American animated science fiction action-adventure streaming television series. On September 18, 2020, the series premiered on Netflix.
Darius Bowman (Paul-Mikél Williams) inherited his father's passion for dinosaurs. For both of them, visiting Jurassic Park has been a lifelong ambition. Darius has taken on the task of keeping the dream alive since his father's death. Darius earns the opportunity to join an adventure camp on the opposite side of Isla Nublar with five other youngsters after successfully completing an allegedly unwinnable computer game. However, dinosaurs break free from their cages and cause immense havoc on that island. If the teenagers want to survive, they must now work together.
Detailed Information:
Genre: Science fiction, Action-adventure
Created by: Zack Stentz
Voices of: Paul-Mikél Williams, Sean Giambrone, Kausar Mohammed, Jenna Ortega
No. of seasons: 4
No. of episodes: 37 -
Grand Army is a Netflix original American teen drama series that aired on October 16, 2020. Grand Army created by Katie Cappiello, is based on her well-known work, Slut: The Play.
The sitcom follows several kids at Grand Army High School, a prominent public high school in Brooklyn, New York, in numerous storylines. The series depicts the interactions between the characters, as well as their goals, dreams, and heartbreaks. In 'Grand Army,' there are numerous powerful black characters. Dominique "Dom" Pierre is played by Odley Jean, a dedicated student who must balance her studies with her responsibilities to her family. There's also Maliq Johnson's Jayson Jackson, a talented young musician who is forced to face the wrath of a cruel system as a result of a dumb prank.
Detailed Information:
Genre: Teen drama
Created by: Katie Cappiello
Starring: Odessa A'zion, Odley Jean, Amir Bageria, Maliq JohnsonNo. of seasons: 1
No. of episodes: 9 -
Black Lightning is a Salim Akil-created American superhero drama television series that began on The CW on January 16, 2018, and ended on May 24, 2021. It is based on the same-named character created by Tony Isabella and Trevor Von Eeden and featured in DC Comics magazines.
Jefferson Pierce, the principal of Garfield High School in Freeland, Georgia, is the center of the series. He was a superhero known as Black Lightning for nine years until he left due to the damage his life was doing to his ex-wife Lynn Stewart and daughters Anissa and Jennifer. When The 100, Freeland's most feared criminal organization led by Tobias Whale, was threatening to take over the city, Jefferson was forced to return to his former identity as Black Lightning.
Detailed Information:
Genre: Superhero, Drama, Action
Created by: Salim Akil
Starring: Cress Williams, China Anne McClain, Nafessa Williams, Christine Adams
No. of seasons: 4
No. of episodes: 58 -
April Blair developed the American sports drama television series All American, which aired on The CW on October 10, 2018. The CW renewed the series for a third season in January 2020, which was broadcasted on January 18, 2021. The sitcom was renewed for a fourth season in February 2021, which debuted on October 25, 2021.
Daniel Ezra plays the lead role in the series, which is based on the life of professional American football player Spencer Paysinger. It follows the lives of a young high school boy from South L.A. As per the official synopsis, the tale starts "When a rising high school American football player from South L.A. is recruited to play for Beverly Hills High, the wins, losses, and struggles of two families from vastly different worlds—Crenshaw and Beverly Hills—begin to collide. Inspired by the life of pro football player Spencer Paysinger."
Detailed Information:
Genre: Sports drama
Created by: April Blair
Starring: Daniel Ezra, Bre-Z, Greta Onieogou, Samantha LoganNo. of seasons: 4
No. of episodes: 58 -
Greenleaf is an American weekly prime-time mystery television series developed by Craig Wright, with Oprah Winfrey and Lionsgate Television as executive producers. On June 21, 2016, Greenleaf premiered on the Oprah Winfrey Network.
The plot centers around the Greenleaf family, who control the Calvary Fellowship World Ministries megachurch in Memphis. Outwardly, the clan appears to be kind and caring toward one another; however, the clan hides a number of scandalous secrets, including lies, betrayals, sibling rivalry, adultery, and avarice. Grace, James Greenleaf's estranged daughter, returns home after two decades, two decades after her sister Faith's tragic murder, and slowly begins to unveil the worst secrets about her family.
Detailed Information:
Genre: Drama, Mystery
Created by: Craig Wright
Starring: Keith David, Lynn Whitfield, Merle DandridgeNo. of seasons: 5
No. of episodes: 60