Here's What's New & Black AF On Netflix This Black History Month
It's the beginning of February and we both know why you're here. You're ready for all of this Black AF content coming to your favorite streaming platform for some hardcore Netflix and Chillin'––and xoNecole is here to give it to you. From OG classics like Purple Rain and Bootycall to introspective, binge-worthy content like Who Killed Malcolm X, we've got all the tea on how to make the most out of your TV time.
Scroll below for 14 Black AF titles coming to Netflix this month:
Ali (Feb. 1)
Ali
The champ is here! This 2001 Academy Award-nominated classic details the life and times of one of the greatest boxers in history. Starring Jamie Foxx and Will and Jada Pinkett-Smith, this is the perfect film to kick off your Black History Month the right way.
Booty Call (Feb. 1)
Booty Call
If you, like myself, were too young to watch Booty Call when it originally released in 1997, Netflix is giving you the opportunity to relish in all of the debauchery this February. This all-star cast of Black AF leads will have you LOL and might even inspire you to ignore that "wyd" message you get later on tonight *insert eyes emoji*...
Purple Rain (Feb. 1)
Purple Rain
Originally released in 1984, this Prince-led film won both an Academy Award and an Oscar for Best Music Score and to this day, it remains a classic.
Scary Movie 2 (Feb. 1)
Scary Movie
Quite possibly the funniest film in the Scary Movie franchise, this 2001 classic comedy stars a young Regina Hall and the Wayans brothers and was directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans.
Police Academy (Feb. 1)
Police Academy
If anybody was hoping to binge six of the 1980s Police Academy movies this weekend, Netflix has you covered.
They've Gotta Have Us (Feb. 5)
They've Gotta Have Us
As a tribute to three generations of Black film, photographer and artist Simon Fredrick brings us They've Gotta Have Us, a three-part series that features interviews from John Singelton and Diahann Carroll, who were both interviewed before their deaths, as well as Jesse Williams, Debbie Allen, and a number of other industry legends.
Who Killed Malcolm X? (Feb. 7)
Netflix
In December, Netflix released the Spike Lee-directed biopic, Malcolm X, and this month, the platform dives even deeper into the Black icon's story with this six-part docuseries that investigates the truth about his tragic death.
Locke & Key (Feb. 7)
Adapted from a comic book series, Locke & Key tells the story of three teens who move into what seems to be a supernatural house after their father's mysterious murder.
Braxton Family Values 11 - Season 1 & 2 (Feb. 15)
Amazon
Making its way to the streaming platform for the first time ever, the first and second season of Braxton Family Valueswill be available to stream on the 15th.
Gentefied (Feb. 21)
Gentrification has been coming for the POC community's necks for years now but this Mexican family of restauranteurs is fighting back. Executive produced by Ugly Betty star America Ferrera, this bilingual dramedy series premiered at Sundance in 2017 and is making its way to our screens Feb. 21.
A Haunted House (Feb. 21)
A Haunted House
A horror parody film produced by the king of horror parody films himself, Marlon Wayans, A Haunted House stars Essence Atkins, Cedric The Entertainer, and Affion Crockett in a goofy mashup of Paranormal Activity and The Devil Inside that you didn't see coming.
Altered Carbon (Feb. 27)
Netflix
Starring Anthony Mackie (Ant-Man), Simone Missick (All Rise), and Lela Loren (Power), this futuristic cyberpunk story is the perfect binge for the sci-fi lover in your life.
Queen Sono (Feb. 28)
I didn't know I needed a series about an afro-rocking, crime-fighting South African spy but Netflix gave it to me and now I can't unsee it.
All the Bright Places (Feb. 28)
Netflix
Based on the 2015 novel by Jennifer Niven, All the Bright Places is a drama starring Justice Smith (The Get Down) that explores mental health and bipolar disorder in an eye-opening way.
Featured image by Ali.
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Taylor "Pretty" Honore is a spiritually centered and equally provocative rapper from Baton Rouge, Louisiana with a love for people and storytelling. You can probably find me planting herbs in your local community garden, blasting "Back That Thang Up" from my mini speaker. Let's get to know each other: @prettyhonore.
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.
Courtesy
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."
Courtesy
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