Beyond Shonda Rhimes: Web Series is Where Black Women are Prospering

These days black women are experiencing a shining bright spotlight on television. Of course production powerhouse, Shonda Rhimes, is leading the charge with cultural phenomenon, Scandal, in which Kerry Washington plays the conflicted and complicated, Olivia Pope. And now Shonda has added How to Get Away with Murder, starring Oscar-nominee Viola Davis as the shrewd, Annalise Keating to her stable of steamy nighttime soap operas. Other networks have adopted Shondaland’s winning formula and cast Halle Berry in the CBS series, Extant and Fox cast Jada Pinkett-Smith in, Gotham. 

What is significant about this moment, beyond the prodigious talent of these actors and their huge pop culture success, is the Black woman power wield behind the scenes. Shonda Rhimes is the producer and head writer, and frequently hires other legendary Black women to direct episodes of her shows. She’s brought in both Debbie Allen and Ava DuVernay to direct episodes of Scandal. But if #TGIT nights (Thank God its Thursday) aren’t enough for you, you’ll be happy to know that Black women actors, directors, and writers are also prospering on the web.

Thankfully, For Harriet put together of fantastic web series that we all should be watching and supporting. We’re not just watching because they’re starring Black women, but because they really really good. Issa Rae (@IssaRae), of Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl, fame is leading the list with three series in which she  either produces or stars.  But the list includes familiar names such as Regan Gomez-Preston (Almost Home), and SNL cast member Sasheer Zamata (Pursuit of Sexiness) as well as emerging stars such as Nicole Amarteifio (An African City) and Lindsey McDowell (MisSpelled).

Check the full list of incredible web series at For Harriet.

Because this is Musiqology it was only appropriate that we include the episode of Issa Rae’s Rachetpiece Theatre where she expertly breaks down Juicy J’s “Bandz That Make Her Dance.”