The Boss Watch List: 10 Films & TV Shows With Black Women Beating The Odds
There's so much to be said about black women who not only beat the odds, but do it with power, class, style and dignity. And who doesn't need a dose of inspiration right now in the form of a good show or film depicting us living in our truths, pursuing our passions, bossing up, overcoming obstacles, and pulling one another up to continue a legacy? Check out this list of 10 TV shows and films that give us life and teaches us how to conquer it. Pass the popcorn, sis!
Uncensored
This TV One series has gone deep into the real professional and personal journeys of some of our favorite entertainers and bosses, including Eve, Tisha Campbell, and Tyra Banks. Watching this show is like having spiked sweet tea with that favorite cool auntie who has seen it all, done it all, and came out on top. The latest shows feature Debbie Allen, the dance industry legend behind TV and film hits including A Different World and Amistad, and our favorite TV mom Jenifer Lewis (of Black-ish and Think Like a Man, Too). (Watch via TV One.)
The Forty-Year-Old Version
If the title isn't clever enough to peak your interest, the lead character, an unfulfilled teacher who morphs into a rapper named Rahdamus Prime, should at least raise an eyebrow. The Forty-Year-Old Versionproves that 40 might actually be the new 20, and that even if you're years away from even thinking about a mid-life crisis, changing gears to pursue what really makes your heart sing shouldn't be something that has an age requirement. (Watch via Netflix.)
Miss Virginia
Uzo Aduba won an Emmy for her portrayal of a Washington, D.C. mom you don't want to play with. The film is inspired by the story of Virginia Walden Ford, a woman affectionately called "Miss Virginia" who fought to create a scholarship program for her son and children in her community. Up against systemic racism, economic hardship and even her own fear of public speaking, she was able to get legislation passed that would ensure access to safe, high-quality schools for at-risk youth everywhere. (Watch via Netflix.)
(In)Visible Portraits
Oge Egbuonu, a Nigerian-American director who's gotten a major co-sign from celebs including Halle Berry, offers an amazing portrait of black female resilience and intellectual prowess. This film is our history told via our lens---as they should be, and it includes authentic narratives covering the history of black women in the U.S. The scholars featured include Patricia Hill Collins, a Distinguished University Professor at the University of Maryland, College Park, Joy DeGruy, a leading publisher and author on the intersection of racism, trauma and violence, and Ruha Benjamin, sociologist and an associate professor at Princeton University, along with other activists and educators. (Watch via Vimeo.)
All Rise
Seeing a black woman behind the bench instead of in front of it as a defendant is always a good look. Simone Missick, the actress who made history playing kick-ass superhero Misty Knight in Luke Cage, shines as a Lola Carmichael, a former prosecutor and Los Angeles County Superior Court judge. If you love a good crime drama, this fictional series that gets into the thick of the drama of working in the legal system is a perfect pick to binge on. (Watch via Amazon.)
Industry
Set to be released in November, this British series follows a group of recent college graduates competing for a limited number of permanent seats at a top London investment bank. Myha'la Herrold plays a young woman named Harper who confidently rocks box braids and a nose ring in a cut-throat environment run by entitled white men. She arrives in London from New York and sets her eyes on winning over executives, facing tough opposition among the global elite. (Watch via HBO.)
Lovecraft Country
This show, in its own ingeniously shocking way, mixes sci-fi with the realities of racism and comes just at the right time. If the slaying of wicked wizards masquerading as cops, time travel of black women seeking to tap into their voice and rename themselves victorious, or in-your-face depictions of the horrors in murdering innocent black folk aren't enough, just watch for the sheer magnificence of black female acting prowess in the likes of Jurnee Smollett, Wunmi Mosaku, Aunjanue Ellis, and Jada Harris. These women will literally have you screaming, crying, laughing, and gasping all in one sitting, and that's just after watching one episode. (Watch via HBO Max.)
Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am
She's a Nobel Prize winner who is known for her best-selling books that have had Oprah, Michelle Obama and Beyonce raving, and her legacy as a truth-teller and advocate for women's voices is undeniable. This film gets into the what, when, and why of Morrison's life as a writer and educator who got her start in New York as the first black woman senior editor in Random House's fiction department. It includes exclusive interviews, detailed accounts of how her books came to be, and the people in her life who inspired her. (Watch via Amazon.)
A Ballerina's Tale
Get a behind-the-scenes view of the life, struggles, and triumphs of Misty Copeland, the first African-American principal ballerina of the American Ballet Theatre. What's interesting and a bit bittersweet about this first is that it happened in 2015, more than 70 years after the prestigious global dance powerhouse was founded. In the film, you get to know Copeland, her family and the people who are part of her rise in becoming a pioneer and inspiration for girls all over the world. (Watch via Amazon.)
About Her Business Series
If hard work and no excuses were people, this series would be their life stories. Launched by BET Her, these shows include tell-it-like-it-is insights from contemporary entrepreneurs who have literally turned nothing into something to become self-made global brands and millionaires. Get your life and your motivation via the likes of bosses including IG sensation and founder of The Crayon Case, Reynell "Supa Cent" Steward, Mane Choice CEO Courtney Adeleye, Slutty Vegan restaurateur Pinky Cole and xoNecole's own Necole Kane. These millennials have taken the baton from their predecessors and have proven they can hold their own and inspire a whole new generation of go-getters and financial success stories.
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ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Sheila Rashid's Androgynous Approach To Unisex Clothing Is A Lesson In Embracing Individuality
The ItGirl 100 List is a celebration of 100 Black women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table.
For Sheila Rashid, it all started with some free-hand drawings and a few strokes of paint.
The Chicago-based clothing designer and creative director of Sheila Rashid Brand recalls using her spare time in high school to hand paint designs on t-shirts and distressed hoodies, distributing them to classmates as walking billboards for her art.
Rashid sought to pursue fashion design at Columbia College in Chicago but eventually took the self-taught route to build upon her knack for crafting one-of-a-kind, androgynous pieces.
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Thanks to the mentorship of local designers taking her under their wings, Rashid was able to gain valuable experience in putting together collections and creating patterns; equipping her with them with the necessary skills to pursue her own collections.
After two years of living in New York, Rashid returned home to the Chi and uncovered the unique flair she could offer the city. “I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world,” she tells xoNecole. “That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
For the Midwest native, inspiration comes from her time around creative peers and the city’s notorious winters — known to be a main character in many Chicagoans stories. “It's a different perspective and mindset when I'm making stuff because of the weather here,” she explains. “When we get summer, it’s ‘Summertime Chi’ — it's amazing. It's beautiful. Still, I find myself always making clothes that cater to the winter.”
"I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world. That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
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Many designers have a signature aesthetic or theme in their creations. In Rashid’s design story, dancing between the lines of femininity and masculinity is how she’s been able to distinguish herself within the industry. Her androgynous clothing has garnered the eye of celebrities like Zendaya, Chance the Rapper, WNBA star Sydney Colson, and more — showing her range and approach to designs with inclusivity in mind.
“I think I do reflect my own style,” she says. “When I do make pieces, I'm very tomboyish, androgynous. My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes.” From denim to overalls, and color-drenched outerwear, Rashid has mastered the structure of statement pieces that tell a story.
“Each collection, I never know what's going to be the thing I'm going to focus on. I try to reflect my own style and have fun with the storytelling,” she shares. “I look at it more like it's my art in this small way of expressing myself, so it's not that calculated.”
"My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes."
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Still, if you were able to add up all the moments within Rashid’s 20-year career in design, one theme that has multiplied her into becoming an “ItGirl” is her confidence to take up space within the fashion industry as a queer, Black woman. “Being an ItGirl is about being yourself, loving what you do, finding your niche, and mastering that,” she says.
No matter where you are on your ItGirl journey, Rashid says to always remain persistent and never hesitate to share your art with the world. “Don’t give up. Even if it's something small, finish it and don't be afraid to put it out,” she says, “It's about tackling your own fear of feeling like you have to please everybody, but just please yourself, and that's good enough.”
To learn more about the ItGirl 100 List, view the full list here.
Featured image Courtesy