(ThyBlackMan.com) A tough list to make without a doubt considering the tremendous amount of content that is out there in the atmosphere today. Programs have arisen from the ranks of Hulu, Amazon, Netflix, and so many online sources like YouTube and Venmo. Black creators like Issa Rae, Key and Peele, Mara Brock and Salim Akil, and Ava Duvernay are just some of the most recent players in the film, tv, online sector of entertainment. They have given us such gems as Insecure, Queen Sugar, and “Girlfriends.”
Below is a list of just three programs you and your family should give the time of day. By no means stop at three, thirty, or three hundred!
1) Black Lightning. The aforementioned Salim Akil, a Native of my hometown (The San Francisco Bay Area) is used to striking black magic. His works, often times created alongside his equally amazing wife Mara Brock, include heavy weights like The Game and Being Mary Jane. Netflix last year released his latest creation, Black Lightning which stars Nafessa Williams, Cress Williams, China Anne
McClain and Los Angeles rapper/actor Krondon as the must-watch villain Tobias Whale. Airing on the CW with distribution also through Netflix, Black Lightning just this past week cleared its season two episodes on the Netflix platform for viewers who no longer use traditional cable tv outlets like myself. One thing I enjoy about the show is the cast—an underrated but polished group of actors and actresses who definitely deserve steady screen time and awards and recognition for their work past and present.
According to IMDb and Wikipedia, “Black Lightning is an American superhero television drama series developed by Salim Akil, airing on The CW. It is based on the DC Comics character of the same name. Black Lightning is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. “ For someone who never followed or was in to comic books and superheroes I find Black Lightning to be exciting, intelligent, explorative, creative, authentic and engaging to a mass audience. An absolute must watch—for the magic, the blackness and then Lightning.
2) Atlanta. I am a firm believer that anything Donald Glover touches will turn to platinum or gold or both. The hybrid talent stars in this hilarious TV show which airs on FX, was created by and stars Glover, and is ripe with clever innuendo and social commentary that makes you laugh and makes you wonder. The shows storyline is simple enough, though Glover and his knockout cast bring about ample style and charisma in the show. An Ivy League drop out and sort of “square” who is exposed to street life, Glover’s character manages the career of a local rapper, while helping his ex raise their little girl and trying to get his ish together. Many will see a popular face in Lakeith Stanfield (The Purge, Selma, Straight out of Compton, Get Out) and emerging star Zazie Beetz (Geostorm, Deadpool 2).
3) The Chi. Right now Lena Waithe can’t miss. A former executive producer on Girlfriends, the Chicago Native his hit some major home runs with Bones, Dear White People, and Master of None. The Chi, as you guessed it, is about life in a south side Chicago Illinois neighborhood. The show premiered on Showtime last year and is currently set to premiere season two next week. Jason Mitchell (Straight of out Compton, Mudbound) stars with Jacob Lattimore (The Maze Runner, Detroit).
Not only is it important we watch quality black programming as a family, but that we share our insights and have open dialogue about what we see and experience from watching. These three shows alone cover so much—from poverty and pain, to supernatural powers black people posses and often relinquish for whatever reason. Make it a point to search out new programming, and if you are a creator like me—create! Hopefully you’ll be on the lists someday we are all watching.
Staff Writer; Charles Foster Jolivette
This talented young man can also be found over at; The California Creole and also Charles Patreon Page.