netflix strong black leads
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Dear White People, How You Like Your Grits?
OK, OK, OK, I have a confession—the headline is a tad misleading as I don’t really care how white people like their grits or whether they know what a grit is. This is really about that Justin Simien show on Netflix. Ha! Gotcha! Today, June 19, also know as Juneteenth, is the historic day which…
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'Sweetness, Flowing Like a Faucet; Body Banging, No Corset': What's New and Black on Netflix in June 2019?
June, also known as the halftime show of the year, is here—and that means more Strong Black Leading content from Netflix! And the blackest headliner is… Carmen: A Hip Hopera This 2001 made-for-TV movie helmed by the legendary Robert Townsend should be in everyone’s entertainment catalogue, and now Netflix has scooped the licensing rights! Like,…
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‘I Love You Black Man. I Love You Black Woman’: Meet the Real-Life Best Friends of Netflix’s See You Yesterday
Netflix’s See You Yesterday isn’t your average sci-fi flick. Black nerds fighting police brutality, creating time travel and exposing viewers to Caribbean-American culture combine to show another side of the science-fiction genre. Directed by Stefon Bristol and produced by Spike Lee, See You Yesterday is led by a duo who have been friends since birth…
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Black American Princesses and More— What's New and Black on Netflix in May 2019?
May Day, May Day! It’s the month that blooms flowers after April’s showers, and Netflix is back with a side of melanin. Shout-out to more options to check out and/or re-watch Barry Jenkins’ Moonlight and Season 1 of FX’s Pose! Netflix Originals will be having a good month with its new animated series Tuca &…
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Hip-Hop Legend Fab 5 Freddy Confronts America's Complicated History With Marijuana in New Documentary, Grass Is Greener
Our country has a rather complicated relationship with cannabis. Since the 1900s, its role in shaping American society has been much bigger than most of us even realize. From the preservation of antiquated drug laws that are disproportionally applied in order to maintain prison quotas, to anti-marijuana propaganda being disseminated to the public, to discriminatory…
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French Twist: André Holland to Star in Netflix's Musical Series The Eddy
Movie lovers likely remember well the 2017 awards season, which brought us the revival of the big screen musical with La La Land versus the stunningly beautiful coming-of-age story that was Moonlight. Of course, Moonlight would eventually nab the Best Picture Oscar that year in a stunning upset, but the competing filmmakers and casts maintained…
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Don't Be a Fool—Check Out What's New and Black on Netflix in April 2019
It is April, and I pity the fool who doesn’t know about Strong Black Lead. Why regular binge when you can blackety-black binge? It’s that time again—wake up, wake up, wake up. It’s the first of the month, and though it’s April Fool’s Day, this new Netflix lineup ain’t a joke. On April 2, Kevin…
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In Her Ongoing Fight for Equal Pay, Octavia Spencer's Latest Advocate Was LeBron James
Octavia Spencer has been increasingly vocal about the pay disparities in Hollywood for women—and for women of color in particular. On a “Women Breaking Barriers” panel at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, she revealed how Jessica Chastain stood with her to demand equal pay on an upcoming joint project, giving a master class in how…
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Netflix’s Blackface Algorithm Is White Nonsense, Condensed
Before we begin, please allow me to plainly state that no one here is “outraged.” When talking about whiteness’ infinite blindspot as it relates to race in America, it is easy to paint valid criticism as hyperbolic indignation and tag it as an example of the pervasive “call-out culture,” thereby diminishing it. No, dear reader,…