There are certain movies that are a staple in the culture (the Black Culture) and is necessary! I must admit I’m not a true movie lover as though they are fictional I think they should at least try to mimic real life. I know, weird right? That’s my personality in a nutshell.
Some of the best Black Movies and TV Shows I’ve watched was when I was in Highschool two of which was everybody’s favorite at the time. If you asked a black teenage girl what her favorite Movie was in 2000 her answer would be a resounding “Love and Basketball”– on the other side of that when you asked the same girl what her favorite TV Show was during this time, it most certainly was “Girlfriends”.
These shows turned 20 this year so if you are reading this right now you are somewhere in the late 20s to mid 30’s age group and you are probably smiling as you remember your favorite scenes and one-liners and probably wondering how the heck did it get to 20 years? Am I that old? Yes, you are, we both are! We’ll be looking at both and take a brisk stroll down memory lane.
Love & Basketball
Love & Basketball is a 2000 American romantic drama film starring Sanaa Lathan and Omar Epps. The film tells the story of Quincy McCall (Epps) and Monica Wright (Lathan), two next-door neighbors in Los Angeles, California who are pursuing their basketball careers before eventually falling for each other.
If Black love had a soundtrack this would be it! There are so many mushy moments that make you go “awe” and the way it puts “black love” in a positive light. Imagine being in love with a person since you were at kids all the way to adulthood and you finally get over your selves and just be together! Does this type of love even exist today? Maybe .. maybe not! Issues like family structure were seen throughout and emphasis on the roles the father plays as with Q’s family. His father is a famous Basketball star who is the head of the household an “Alpha male” and the way he goes out and lives his life as if he doesn’t have a family at home. Instead of offering love and guidance for his son, he instead pressures him to always be the star and the one ladies love. This structure eventually falls apart when it was revealed he’s been cheating on his wife. This is the opposite for Monica as in her house her Mother is the decision-maker and though the father goes out to work, he’s often faded in the background and leaves her to deal with the household. This causes Monica to have a special bond with him as her sister is the favored child of her mother. Monica is portrayed as angry and aggressive in her behavior on and off the court as she suppresses her emotions.
Do you remember that moment “Q” saw Monica as a “woman” for the first time in that white dress at Prom and when they went home let’s just say things went down! That Maxwell song might even be the story we told our own kids how they got here! This was a great movie that was well written and certainly one for the books and screen!
Girlfriends
Girlfriends is an American sitcom that ran on UPN from September 11, 2000, to May 8, 2006, and for The CW from October 1, 2006, to February 11, 2008, for a total of eight seasons and 172 original episodes. When Girlfriends returned in fall 2007 for its eighth season, it became the longest-running live-action sitcom on network television that was on air during that time.
It was one of the highest-rated scripted shows on television among African-American adults 18-34, including its spin-off The Game.
The series ended its eighth and final season on February 11, 2008. It was canceled by The CW on February 13, 2008, after eight seasons.
Main Cast
- Tracee Ellis Ross as Joan Clayton
- Golden Brooks as Maya Denise Wilkes
- Persia White as Lynn Ann Searcy
- Jill Marie Jones as Antoinette “Toni” Marie Childs-Garrett
- Reggie Hayes as William Jerrowme Dent, Esq.
- Keesha Sharp as Monica Charles Brooks-Dent
I was of course sad when the show was canceled abruptly as it represented and highlighted diverse black women. There are some people who compare it to “Sex and the City” and think it’s the Black version — I concur. I’m not sure this is what the creator was going for but since Sex and the City was “that show” with women from different backgrounds in New York it was naturally compared. The premise of Girlfriends went deeper as it explored Female sexuality through Lynn, the “Free Spirit” with several Degrees. Issues with Women at work were displayed through Joan who was the successful partner who muddled through the confines of a male-dominated law firm where she eventually became a partner and we can’t forget Teenage Pregnancy through Maya. Maya’s character saw the most development on the show as she rose from a job as a Secretary to a successful author who went on to own a home where between all that she dealt with the struggles of heading the household after Darnell had an accident at work and also issues with raising a Black Teenage son and all the struggles that came with that. Whew, chile! Maya deserved all the success she got. Toni’s character was portrayed as a “gold-digger” to an extent though she had a successful career as a realtor and worn Designer outfits and lived an envious life. Toni’s strong character was based on her fear of being broke and having to return to Fresno so she sought people who were wealthy so they added to her lifestyle rather than take from it.
Though I watched in High School and might have not fully grasped all the key details, I understood as an adult and watched with a fresh perspective and is proud that we had (have) a show like that. Are you a Joan, Maya, Lynn, or Toni? I’m definitely a mix of Joan and Toni!
Did you watch these shows growing up? Do you think they represented the culture well? Comment below.
#Girlfriends + Love & Basketball Turns 20 This Year
#Girlfriends + Love & Basketball Turns 20 This Year
#Girlfriends + Love & Basketball Turns 20 This Year
#Girlfriends + Love & Basketball Turns 20 This Year
#Girlfriends + Love & Basketball Turns 20 This Year
