“Insecure”

Year released: 2016

Streaming service: HBO MAX

HBO’s comedy series “Insecure” has been delighting fans since its premiere in 2016. The series is partially based on the show’s lead actress Issa Rae’s web series “Awkward Black Girl.” 

In “Insecure” Rae plays Issa Dee, a quirky Black woman who is figuring out her life in Los Angeles. She is joined by a colorful cast of characters including her boyfriend Lawrence (Jay Ellis) and her close-knit friend group including Molly (Yvonne Orji), Kelli (Natasha Rothwell) and Tiffany (Amanda Seales). 

The portrayal of their characters has earned the cast praise from critics. In 2017, Rae was nominated for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy at the Golden Globes. In 2020, Orji received a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. If you like laugh-out-loud comedy, “Insecure” is for you.

“Soul”

Year released: 2020

Streaming service: Disney Plus

Disney Pixar’s computer-animated film “Soul” was originally slated to have its theatrical debut in June of 2020. The movie was eventually released on Disney+ on Christmas Day 2020. 

The film follows Joe Gardner (Jamie Foxx), a music teacher with a passion for jazz. Joe attempts to pursue his passion, landing an audition for a famous jazz singer’s band. After a successful audition, Joe is invited to perform with the band later that night. Trouble strikes when he falls into a manhole and is transported to the “Great Beyond,” a world for souls. “Soul” is Disney Pixar’s first film to feature an African American protagonist.

“Girls Trip”

Year released: 2017

Streaming service: Amazon Prime Video

Brought to you by the same writer of television’s “Black-ish” franchise, “Girls Trip” is a laugh-out-loud ride from start to finish. It follows Ryan Pierce (Regina Hall), a best-selling author and lifestyle guru. 

After accepting an invitation to be the keynote speaker at the Essence Festival, she decides to invite her tight-knit group of friends including Queen Latifah (Sasha), a fledgling Internet gossip reporter; Jada Pinkett Smith (Lisa), an uptight and overworked divorcee; and Tiffany Haddish (Dina), their outspoken and funny no-nonsense friend. 

The film was a critical and financial success, taking home an award for Outstanding Motion Picture at the 49th NAACP Image Awards and grossing over $140 million at the box office worldwide.

“Atlanta”

Year released: 2016

Streaming Service: FX on Hulu 

FX’s “Atlanta” is a dramedy television series created by rapper and actor Donald Glover. In the series, Glover stars as Earnest “Earn” Marks, a Princeton University dropout, who manages his cousin Alfred’s (Brian Tyree Henry) rap career as “Paper Boi.” 

The series follows the pair as they navigate their way through the Atlanta rap scene. Since the show’s debut, fans and critics have fallen in love with Glover’s portrayal of the cunning yet irrational “Earn.” 

In 2016, the show made television history when Glover took home a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series for the episode “B.A.N.” making him the first African American to win the category. 

Production on the third and fourth seasons of the show have wrapped with the third season airing in March 2022. 

“Pose”

 Year released: 2018-2021

 Streaming Service: Hulu

“Pose,” follows a group of Latino and Black people in the underground ballroom scene, in which people dress up and walk in categories to obtain awards. The show, set in 1980s New York City, does a fantastic job at staying lighthearted while also tackling serious topics such as the beginning of the AIDS epidemic, homophobia, sex work and transphobia. 

“Pose” made history for featuring the largest number of transgender actors in television roles. Since the series debuted in June 2018, fans and critics have fallen in love with the cast of flamboyant misfits. 

In 2019, Billy Porter won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Leading Actor in a Drama Series for his portrayal of Pray Tell, the no-nonsense announcer in the show’s ballroom scene. In 2021, lead actress Michaela Jaé Rodriguez became the first transgender woman to earn an Emmy Award nomination in a major acting category. In 2022, Rodriguez made history when she won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama.