The 2000s were filled with a newfound genre now known as reality television. We have seen the booming success of titles such as Flavor of Love and the Love and Hip Hop franchise, but viewers began to shift in the type of Black television content in 2016. Some critics would consider 2016 as the start of the New Renaissance of Black TV as we began to see the emergence of groundbreaking titles such as Atlanta and Insecure.
As series have come and gone since then, consumers are itching to find something new in their watching queue. Here are 5 new titles you should be tuning into:
1. Our Kind of People
Were you an Empire fan? Were you one of the many who missed one episode and never looked back? Empire’s co-creator, Lee Daniels, is an executive producer of FOX’s newest show, Our Kind of People.
Our Kind of People, based on the 1999 book by Lawerence Otis Graham, offers a controversial take on topics in upper-class Black America and organizations such as the AKAs and Jack and Jill of America. In this show, we see those same issues from the book come alive on the TV screen.
Angela, played by YaYa DaCosta, is a single mother who left her home in Martha’s Vineyard, MA after the recent death of her mother. Angela moved into this home with her Aunt Piggy and teenage daughter in hopes of building her natural hair care business in a new upper echelon Black community. Angela goes through twists and turns that no one can predict due to a lot of unfinished business her mother left behind. Any drama and soap-opera lover would indulge in the unpredictability of Our Kind of People.
2. Queens
Eve, Brandy Norwood, and Naturi Naughton star in ABC’s new show, Queens. This series focuses on the revival of the fictional all-girl 90s rap group, “Nasty Bitches”. Like most girl groups during that era, they had their peak and seemingly disappeared. However, with the music nostalgia that happened in the late 2010s, the fans want to see The “Nasty Bitches” get back together. However, they struggle to build respect in the new state of the music industry with their group and keep up with their new-age competitors.
Many viewers can catch TV One’s docu-series Unsung feel to this show. Even though “Nasty Bitches” is a fictional group, many issues tackled on this show are what many R&B and Hip-Hop artists face from the 80s and 90s eras such as drug addiction, alcoholism, closeted sexuality, and more.
3. Harlem
Amazon Original series Harlem follows the lives of friend circle, Camile, Tye, Quinn, and Angie.
Camile, played by Megan Good, is a professor at Columbia University who recently broke up with her ex and trying to find her new normal. Her friend Tye is the CEO of a new dating app dedicated to the Black LGBTQ+ community, but still finds difficulty in her own dating life. Quinn is a fashion designer and boutique owner that struggles to stay afloat without her parent’s funding and is trying to find the answers to her own sexuality. Lastly, Angie shares a lot of undertones to the Lynn character from UPN’s Girlfriends. Angie is not the most responsible friend. She couch surfs from apartment to apartment, sexually fluid, but serves a serious passion for music.
Viewers can expect to take away something from each friend on this cast and see the beauty of friendship groups in adulthood.
4. Sweet Life: Los Angeles
Issa Rae’s Sweet Life: Los Angeles brings a new flavor to today’s reality show mix. Sweet Life focuses on seven Black entrepreneurs and creatives in their 20-somethings living in Los Angeles while figuring out their newfound journey in adulthood. As usual, Issa Rae brought a cast to shed light on issues that Black Gen Z face such as imposter syndrome, dating, failing friendships, traveling, and more.
This is perfect for a great weekend binge-watch as all episodes of season one are on HBO Max now and they've announced their season two renewal will be coming soon.
5. Abbott Elementary
If you were to think of the Black version of The Office, you'd get Abbott Elementary. Meme star turned TV show creator stars in this new ABC series. They take the mockumentary genre to new levels. Janine, played by Quinta Brunson, is a second-grade teacher who is new to the teaching game at Abbott Elementary. Abbott Elementary is a public school located in Philadelphia that is led by its unusual principal, Ava.
Despite its insane comedy, Abbott Elementary shows the issues in public schools that many faces such as lack of funding and resources, difficult parents, and how teachers are dealing with this new digital age.
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Kaylah Kelty is a Senior at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University from Charlotte, NC. Currently, she is pursuing her B.S. in Journalism and Mass Communication with an emphasis in Public Relations. She focuses her craft in PR on the entertainment and travel sector.
