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February 3, 2025 at 1:30pm EST
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For decades, it was difficult to find consistent representation of Black families on broadcast television. Sure, there would be hit series like The Cosby Show or Family Matters coming into the forefront in the comedy genre, but it was often hard to find dramas, sci-fi, and rom-coms where a white family wasn’t the main focus on the big and small screen.
But, as Netflix has developed its library of original series and films, along with acquiring properties from other networks, they have become a wonderful stop to find a variety of stories that appeal to any viewer. University of Arizona scholar Stephanie Troutman Robbins told UArizona News that “there are more opportunities for people to engage with different and more complex stories about the Black experience and for Black people to find a reflection of themselves and their communities on TV.”
And that also opens the opportunities as to how “family is defined as ‘chosen’ rather than purely biological, and particular Black communities, including the LGBTQ community, are centered.” Netflix finally has a TV and film roster that has something for everyone from the socially conscious family in The Parkers to a young Black superhero in Raising Dion, and Kevin Hart taking on the challenges of single parenting in Fatherhood to Tracee Ellis Ross finding comfort and community with her three BFFs in Girlfriends.
This list is just a highlight of what the streaming network has to offer from its growing library, but it’s wonderful to see Netflix shining the spotlight on the Black experience and finding a home for stories about family.
A version of this article was published in February 2023.
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‘Martin’
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection
Martin Lawrence and Tisha Campbell were quite a dynamic duo in the five seasons of Martin. The show follows Lawrence as a sexist, cocky and wisecracking radio station talk show host and his longtime girlfriend, Gina.
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‘My Wife and Kids’
Image Credit: ©ABC/Courtesy Everett Collection
Speaking of Campbell, she also made audiences laugh in another famous sitcom, My Wife and Kids. The show, which ran for five seasons, follows a couple navigating life and career with their rebellious three kids.
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‘The Upshaws’
Image Credit: Lara Solanki / ©Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection
Starring Wanda Sykes and Mike Epps, The Upshaws follows a Black family and their struggles trying to make it after a sudden move to Indiana.
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‘The Game’
Image Credit: Scott Humbert / © CBS Paramount / Courtesy: Everett Collection
In a show about Black love, football, money and everything in between, The Game follows a group of football players and their fiercely competitive wives and girlfriends.
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‘Girlfriends’
Image Credit: Ron Tom/©Paramount TV/Courtesy Everett Collection
Girlfriends is a great reminder that family is not always defined by blood and these four Black women stood by each other through every triumph and tragedy. Even though it was a sitcom, the show, led by Tracee Ellis Ross, had a lot of heart.
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‘Fatherhood’
Image Credit: Philippe Bosse/©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection
Playing against his usual comedic fare, Kevin Hart stretched his acting wings in Fatherhood. In the movie, he plays a father who must deal with the grief of losing his wife, along with suddenly raising a daughter alone. It’s a sweet father-daughter bonding movie.
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‘Raising Dion’
Image Credit: ©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection
This superhero drama focuses on a single mother trying to raise her son, who is suddenly demonstrating magical superpowers. As his powers continue to grow, his mom does her best to protect her son from those who want to exploit his special abilities.
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‘All About the Washingtons’
Image Credit: Adam Rose/Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection
Even though this show only had a one-season run on Netflix, the sitcom, starring Joseph ‘Rev Run’ Simmons, shows what it is like for a dad to suddenly be the stay-at-home parent. He retired from the hip-hop industry, and now his wife is pursuing the career of her dreams.
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‘All American’
Image Credit: ©CW Network/Courtesy Everett Collection
This sports drama was inspired by NFL star Spencer Paysinger and his high school experience of living in two different households: one in Crenshaw and one in Beverly Hills, where he played football. The more the families work together to benefit the star athlete, the more they realize that their differences aren’t so vast.
The show ran for seven seasons.
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‘Naked’
Image Credit: Quantrell D. Colbert/Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection
This rom-com has Marlon Wayans stuck in a time loop one hour before his wedding (and yes, he’s naked in an elevator). He’s afraid to commit, but his fiancée’s ex-boyfriend is lurking in the shadows, waiting for his chance to pounce. Think of this as a Sliding Doors type of movie, only this one is heartwarming.
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‘Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey’
Image Credit: Gareth Gatrell/©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection
We know it’s not the holiday season, but this 2020 Christmas movie musical became an instant classic when it premiered. The story focuses on a wacky toymaker, his adorable granddaughter, and the magical creation that might change their lives for the better.
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‘Family Reunion’
Image Credit: ©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection
Tia Mowry stars in this family sitcom that follows a Seattle family of six who decides to settle down in Columbus, Georgia, after attending a reunion. Even though change is hard from a bustling city life to a simpler country life, the message that family is everything resonates through and through.
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‘The Parkers’
Image Credit: Courtesy of Everett Collection
This spin-off from Moesha was an underrated gem for the comedy that it delivered. A mother-daughter duo goes to college at the same time as they navigate the successes and failures of their lives together. Mo’Nique and Countess Vaughn make a dynamic and hilarious pair for five straight seasons.
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‘Beats’
Image Credit: Elizabeth Morris/©Netflix/courtesy Everett Collection
A teen with incredible musical talents finds a father figure in his high school security guard. Their love of hip-hop music unites them as friends, and eventually, as family.
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‘Greenleaf’
Image Credit: Richard DuCree/©OWN/courtesy Everett Collection
If you want a deliciously devilish soapy drama, then Greenleaf is for you. The show focuses on a wealthy family that is involved with scandalous secrets surrounding their Memphis, Tennessee megachurch.
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‘Middle of Nowhere’
Image Credit: ©AFFRM/Courtesy Everett Collection
Middle of Nowhere is a solid family drama about the choices we make for the ones we love. Ava DuVernay masterfully wrote and directed this movie about a woman who drops out of medical school to dedicate her time to her incarcerated husband’s well-being.
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‘Uncorked’
Image Credit: Nina Robinson/©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection
Uncorked showcases the emotional tug-of-war that happens between the expectations of taking over the family business and living out your own dreams— neither choice is easy, and both have consequences. This family drama will require at least a few tissues.
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‘Sleight’
Image Credit: ©BH Tilt /Courtesy Everett Collection.
Sleight is a superhero drama that really tugs at the heartstrings as a street magician with superpowers struggles to straddle the world of good and evil while raising his little sister. His choices will have consequences and he must find a way to save her and live a better life.
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‘Blood & Water’
Image Credit: Jonathan Ferreira/©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection
This South African teen crime drama series is about a young girl who transfers into an elite prep school. While there, she starts to suspect that one of her classmates is her long-lost sister, who was abducted as a baby.
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‘The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind’
Image Credit: Ilze Kitshoff/Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection
Chiwetel Ejiofor stars, and makes his feature directorial debut, in a film about a young boy who gets kicked out of school because his farming family cannot afford the tuition. He doesn’t abandon his education, though, and secretly takes lessons from his former science teacher. Eventually, his studies pay off in saving the family farm from drought and a life of poverty.
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‘Atlantics’
Image Credit: ©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection
Atlantics is a romantic supernatural drama that follows a young couple through their tumultuous lives as a part of the poor, working class. The film addresses social issues in an emotional way as the duo navigates the life that is handed to them.
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‘#BlackAF’
Image Credit: ©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection
Created by Kenya Barris, #BlackAF follows a couple navigating raising six kids, with a cheeky comedy style and big names like Rashida Jones and Nia Long.
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English (US) ·