Ranker TVUpdated May 14, 2021 4.5k votes 1.5k voters 119.0k views96 items
List RulesOnly shows that premiered Season 1 on or after January 1, 2017.
With Hollywood increasingly embracing diversity, some of the best new Black shows have premiered since 2017. From lighthearted sitcoms to sci-fi thrillers to shows that tackle race relations head on, some amazing work has come out showcasing spectacular African American writers, producers, and actors. Which Black TV shows are the best? Vote below to decide!
What shows will you find on this new Black shows list? Grown-ish was inspired by the popular ABC sitcom Black-ish, with the new spinoff focusing on the story of the Johnsons' eldest daughter. . The hit First Wives Club premiered in 2019, and was based on the 1996 movie of the same name. Other good series featured on this list include A Black Lady Sketch Show, When They See Us, and All American.
Do you have a favorite new African American TV series? Vote for the best Black series below, and add anything you feel is missing.
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42791The Chi
Ntare Mwine, Jacob LatimorePremiered: January 7, 2018
The Chi (Showtime, 2018) is an American television drama series created by Lena Waithe. A coming-of-age story centering on a group of residents of the South Side of Chicago who become linked by... more2
24440All American
Daniel Ezra, Taye DiggsPremiered: October 10, 2018
All American (The CW, 2018) is an American television drama series created by April Blair. When a rising high school football player (Daniel Ezra) from South L.A. is recruited to play for Beverly... more- 325457
Snowfall
Damson Idris, Carter HudsonPremiered: July 5, 2017
Snowfall (FX, 2017) is an American crime drama television series created by John Singleton, Eric Amadio, and Dave Andron. Set in 1983 Los Angeles, the series revolves around the first crack epidemic... more - 4266100
Grown-ish
Yara Shahidi, Deon ColePremiered: January 3, 2018
Grown-ish (Freeform, 2018) is an American sitcom series and a spin-off of Black-ish created by Kenya Barris. When the Johnsons' eldest daughter Zoey (Yara Shahidi) heads off to college to begin her... more - 522276
Dear White People
Logan Browning, Brandon P BellPremiered: April 28, 2017
Dear White People (2017, Netflix) is an American satirical comedy-drama television series created by Justin Simien, and based on his 2014 film of the same name. A group of black students at a... more - 621482
Black Lightning
Cress Williams, China Anne McClainPremiered: January 16, 2018
Black Lightning (The CW, 2018) is an American superhero drama based on the DC comics character of the same name. Jefferson Pierce (Cress Williams), who retired from his superhero persona Black... more - 712245
Shots Fired
Sanaa Lathan, Stephan JamesPremiered: 2017
Shots Fired (Fox, 2017) is an American ten-part event drama television series. The series is about the situation following a racially charged shooting in a fictional town in North Carolina.... more - 814461
Claws
Niecy Nash, Jenn LyonPremiered: May 25, 2017
Claws (TNT, 2017) is an American drama television series created by Eliot Laurence. Five manicurists at the Nail Artisan salon of Manatee County, Florida enter the traditionally male world of... more - 916274
Marlon
Marlon Wayans, Essence AtkinsPremiered: August 16, 2017
Marlon (NBC, 2017) is an American comedy television series created by Christopher Moynihan and Marlon Wayans. Despite their inability to coexist, divorced couple Marlon Wayne (Marlon Wayans) and his... more - 108330
The Last O.G.
Tracy Morgan, Tiffany HaddishPremiered: 2018
The Last O.G. (TBS, 2018) is an American comedy television series created by Jordan Peele and John Carcieri. An ex-felon (Tracy Morgan) adjusts to life outside of prison.... more - 11485
Power Book II: Ghost
Michael Rainey, Shane JohnsonPremiered: September 6, 2020
Power Book II: Ghost (Starz, 2020) is an American crime drama television series and spin-off of Power created by Courtney A. Kemp. The series follows Tariq as he navigates his new life, in which his... more - 1211162
The Quad
Anika Noni Rose, Peyton "Alex" SmithPremiered: 2017
The Quad (BET, 2017) is an American television drama, created by Felicia D. Henderson, Charles Holland and Rob Hardy. The series follows ambitious yet troubled Dr. Eva Fletcher (Anika Noni Rose), the... more - 13448
For Life
Nicholas Pinnock, Indira VarmaPremiered: February 11, 2020
For Life (ABC, 2020) is an American legal drama television series created by Hank Steinberg. Prisoner Aaron (Nicholas Pinnock) becomes a lawyer and fights to overturn his life sentence for a crime he... more - 14387
When They See Us
Michael Kenneth Williams, Vera FarmigaPremiered: May 31, 2019
When They See Us (Netflix, 2019) is an American drama web television miniseries created by Ava DuVernay, based on the 1989 Central Park jogger case. The notorious case of five teenagers of color,... more - 156535
She's Gotta Have It
DeWanda Wise, Cleo AnthonyPremiered: November 23, 2017
She's Gotta Have It (Netflix, 2017) is a comedy-drama series created by Spike Lee, based on his 1986 film of the same name. Nola Darling (DeWanda Wise) juggles three suitors: polite Jamie Overstreet... more - 164113
Sistas
Kj Smith, Mignon VonPremiered: October 23, 2019
Sistas (BET, 2019) is a comedy television series created by Tyler Perry. A group of single black females from different walks of life who bond over their one common thread: why am I single?... more - 17347
P-Valley
Brandee Evans, Nicco AnnanPremiered: July 12, 2020
P-Valley (Starz, 2020) is a crime drama television series created by Katori Hall and is an adaptation of Hall's play, Pussy Valley. The series follows the lives of strip club dancers working down in... more - 184418
Black Monday
Don Cheadle, Andrew RannellsPremiered: January 20, 2019
Black Monday (Showtime, 2019) is an American comedy television series. An aspiring Wall Street stockbroker (Andrew Rannell) starts working for an eccentric veteran (Don Cheadle) who has secrets of... more - 196748
24: Legacy
Corey Hawkins, Miranda OttoPremiered: 2017
24: Legacy (Fox, 2017) is a spin-off of the 2001 series 24. It follows the life of ex-Army Ranger Eric Carter (Corey Hawkins) who has returned to America, and the trouble that follows him back,... more - 20225
Seven Seconds
Regina King, Clare-Hope AshiteyPremiered: February 23, 2018
Seven Seconds (Netflix, 2018) is an American crime drama television series developed by Veena Sud, based on the Russian film The Major. Tensions run high between African American citizens and... more - 21227
Lovecraft Country
Jonathan Majors, Courtney B. VancePremiered: August 16, 2020
Lovecraft Country (HBO, 2020) is a drama horror television series based on the novel by Matt Ruff. Set in 1950s Jim Crow America, Atticus Black (Jonathan Majors), his friend Letitia (Jurnee... more - 226053
The Mayor
Brandon Micheal Hall, Lea MichelePremiered: 2017
The Mayor (ABC, 2017) is an American sitcom created by Jeremy Bronson. Tired of waiting for his big break, aspiring young rapper Courtney Rose (Brandon Michael Hall) tries to attract attention by... more - 23229
Self Made
Octavia Spencer, Zahra BenthamPremiered: January 1, 2020
Self Made: Inspired By The Life Of Madam C.J. Walker (Netflix, 2020) is an upcoming American drama web television limited series, based on the biography On Her Own Ground by A'Lelia Bundles. The... more - 24208
The Neighborhood
Cedric the Entertainer, Max GreenfieldPremiered: October 1, 2018
The Neighborhood (CBS, 2018) is an American comedy television series created by Jim Reynolds. The nicest guy in the Midwest (Max Greenfield) moves his family into a tough neighborhood in L.A. where... more - 25208
Boomerang
Tetona Jackson, Tequan RichmondPremiered: February 12, 2019
Boomerang (BET, 2019) is an American comedy television series based on the film of the same name written by Barry W. Blaustein and David Sheffield. The story revolves around a successful executive... more
