Summer is upon us ladies and gentleman, and although I know you're probably in the gym working on your fitness in preparation for the upcoming months, don't forget to take a little time for yourself and focus on some TLC. And by that I mean television lying on the couch. If your Netflix queue is empty and you're looking for some new suggestions, xoNecole has you covered, sis.
Here's everything that's new and black AF on Netflix this May:
B*A*P*S - May 1
Amazon
B*A*P*S was an underrated cinematic masterpiece and possibly one of the greatest comedy films made in the 90's periodt. Don't @ me. When two ambitious waitresses from Decatur ditch their jobs and fly to Los Angeles to audition for a music video that could potentially fund their dreams of opening a hair salon/soul food restaurant, they meet an ominous stranger who offers them a lucrative deal that leads them to the estate of an elderly millionaire. Nesi (played by Halle Berry) and her best friend, Mickey (played by Natalie Desselle) find themselves in a whole new world filled with bidets and butlers and make an unlikely friend in the process.
Her Only Choice - May 1
Netflix
When a woman and her husband find out news that she is expecting after years of infertility, they are ecstatic; only to have that dream dashed in an instant upon discovering that she also has breast cancer. After losing her mother to the same fight years earlier, Tasha (played by Denise Boutte) must make a choice to fight for her life or sacrifice it to save her unborn child.
Knock Down The House - May 1
Netflix
While this is an extremely unpopular opinion, I believe that Donald Trump getting elected as president was one of the best things that has ever happened to our country and the Netflix original documentary, Knock Down The House is proof. Last year, we saw a historic number of women run for office and win, proving that the American people are angry, and these women are a part of the coalition that's fighting back. Featuring Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Cori Bush, this doc takes an in-depth look into the campaigns of four women who ran for Congress in the 2018 elections.
Tuca & Bertie - May 3
Created by the producer of Bojack Horseman, Tuca and Bertie is an adult animated comedy series that features a sensible songbird (played by Ali Wong) and a carefree toucan (played by Tiffany Haddish) who struggle to navigate their adult lives and find their identities as women (bird-women). The show, much like its predecessor, is a dark comedy but instead focuses on topics that millennial women face every day like career instability, harassment, and sexual frustration. You can binge watch these BFFs experience life after 30 this Friday.
Pose: Season 1 - May 10
Craig Blankenhorn/FX
The FX hit-series Pose is coming to a streaming platform near you, and now you can experience all of the glamour and drama these ladies of drag have to offer in HD. Set in the 1980s, this series follows the rise of NYC Ball Drag culture through the eyes of a group of transgender women fighting for space in a very intolerant world. The show was brought to life by creator of American Horror Story, Ryan Murphy, and will premiere for a second season this summer.
See You Yesterday - May 17
The Stefon Bristol-directed See You Yesterday is a next level sci-fi style film that tells the story of a brilliant young science prodigy named C.J. who loses her brother Calvin in a tragic police shooting. She and her best friend, Sebastian, develop a plan to invent homemade time travel backpacks in an attempt to alter history, and to their surprise, it works and sends them on a number of dangerous trips in the past.
Moonlight - May 21
David Bornfriend/Courtesy of A24 Films
Winner of the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2017, Moonlight is a heart-wrenching tale based on the semi-autobiographical play In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue by Tarell Alvin McCraney, and tells the story of Chiron, a young boy from Miami who struggles to navigate his sexuality while dealing with a drug-addicted mother and school bullies. This drama features Janelle Monae, Mahershala Ali, and Naomi Harris and was the first film with an all-black cast to win an Oscar.
Wanda Sykes: Not Normal - May 21
Netlix
Wanda Sykes has been a staple in the comedy world for decades, and now she finally has her own Netflix special. Tackling topics like racism, politics, and reality TV, as always Wanda holds nothing back in this hour-long standup show.
The Perfection - May 24
Netflix
When a cello prodigy reunites with her former mentors only to find that they have a new favorite student, all hell breaks loose and grossness ensues. This psychological thriller featuring Logan Browning is not for those with a weak stomach.
She's Gotta Have It: Season 2 - May 24
David Lee/Netflix
Nola Darling is back to give us all of the polyamorous drama we've missed so much of over the past two years. This 1986 Spike Lee remake took the internet by storm in 2017 when the series was released, and it was renewed for a second season last January. Last season ended with a mildly uncomfortable dinner party featuring a few of Nola's beaus at the same dinner party and a case of butt injections gone wrong, so I can only imagine what chaos will ensure May 24th.
When They See Us - May 31
Get your tissues and black power fists ready ladies and gentleman because this Netflix original limited series will make you want to take it to the streets and fight the man your damn self. Created and co-written by Ava Duverney, this show tells the story of five teens from Harlem who were wrongfully accused and convicted for a crime that they did not commit. The series paints an emotional portrait of what life was like for these men from the year 1989, when they were initially accused, all the way up until 2014 when all five men were exonerated.
Featured image by Getty Images.
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RELATED
Here are some of my favorite takeaways from three standout panels featuring Jordan Chiles, Marsai Martin, and Kandi Burruss.
Leveling Up Your A-Game with Jordan Chiles, Morgan Shaw Parker, Chelsea Fishman, Laura Correnti, and Tabitha Turner-Wilkins
Jordan Chiles
Paras Griffin/ Getty Images for Power Play
Olympic gymnast Jordan may have medals and magazine covers to her name, but her mindset is refreshingly grounded. “The day I finally feel pressure,” she said, “will be the day I know there’s still more for me to learn.” For her, joy—not pressure—is the fuel. Her confidence isn’t performative; it’s rooted in family, self-worth, and authenticity.
“Everything I’ve done in my career—tattoos, long nails, rocking my crew at the Olympics—that’s all me. It’s not because someone told me to do it. It’s because I felt confident doing it. And that’s where my ambition comes from: being my authentic self.”
For Morgan Shaw Parker, President & COO of the Atlanta Dream, the conversation around pressure went even deeper. “Legacy work” is how she described her mission—navigating male-dominated spaces, sometimes pregnant and pumping on NFL team planes. “After COVID and George Floyd,” she shared, “it became clear to me: vulnerability is power. You don’t have to show up perfect to lead.”
Chelsea Fishman, founder of Atlanta's first bar dedicated to women’s sports, Jolene Jolene, shared how the haters (especially the Reddit kind) were her confirmation: “All those comments saying it would fail—those were the signs that I was doing something right.” She’s hosted 25+ watch parties already and is building the very community they said would never come.
This panel also touched on ambition, authenticity, and owning your power—both in sneakers and in suits. One of the best mic-drop moments came when the moderator flipped the question: “What if we stopped making ‘power’ a bad word for women?” A nod-worthy reminder that we’re not here to play small.
Making Your Voice Heard with Marsai Martin, Carol Martin, Miss Milan, and Heather McMahan
Marsai Martin
Paras Griffin/ Getty Images for Power Play
This panel was a masterclass in staying grounded while growing up—or glamming up—on the global stage. Actress and producer Marsai talked about what it’s like to show up in high-pressure moments when your confidence is low but the world is still watching. From red carpets to long shoot days, she reminded us that even when you’re not at 100%, you still find a way to push through.
“There have been days where I wasn’t feeling the best, but I still had to show up on this carpet. Or it was that time of the month, but I still had to go on set. I just didn’t feel as confident—but it’s about how you take care of yourself in those moments and still keep pushing.”
Her mom and business partner Carol Martin dropped gems about motherhood and mentorship: “It’s like teaching your kid to ride a bike over and over again. Now the bike is a movie or a brand.” That balance between guiding and letting go? Not easy—but essential when you’re raising a mogul and running a company.
“There have been days where I wasn’t feeling the best, but I still had to show up on this carpet. Or it was that time of the month, but I still had to go on set. I just didn’t feel as confident—but it’s about how you take care of yourself in those moments and still keep pushing.”
Miss Milan, Grammy Award-winning DJ and Doechii’s right-hand woman, lit the crowd up with her no-nonsense energy. “I built my own table,” she said. “When you build it, they can’t tell you you can’t sit.” From journaling her dreams to manifesting Grammys, her story is one of resilience and intention—and a whole lot of faith in her own vision.
This panel didn’t shy away from hard truths either: the sadness that can come with success, the fear of fading relevance, the criticism that hits differently when it’s personal. But Marsai said it best: know your why. And let it evolve with you.
The Cost of Starting Your Own Business with Kandi Burruss and Nikki Ogunnaike
Kandi Burruss
Carol Lee Rose/ Getty Images for Marie ClaireKandi doesn’t sugarcoat the grind. From chart-topping songwriter to multi-business entrepreneur, she’s built her empire one risk—and one reinvention—at a time.
“Fear equals failure. If you don’t even try, you’ve failed automatically —and you did it to yourself. I’d rather take a risk and lose money than play it safe and never know what could’ve happened.”
She broke down the real costs of entrepreneurship: money, time, and emotional bandwidth. “You think you’re going to work less when you work for yourself?” she laughed. “You’re going to work more.” For Kandi, mommy guilt and financial setbacks are part of the package—but so is the satisfaction of seeing an idea through.
She opened up about scaling back on her clothing store and temporarily closing the original Old Lady Gang location. “It felt like failure,” she admitted, “but sometimes you have to step back to make things better.” Still, she’s not one to quit. She just pivots—with precision.
One of her most memorable reflections? How her music career hiccup led her to songwriting—ultimately writing the mega-hit “No Scrubs.” That song became the key to a new lane and legacy. “You may think you’re working on one dream,” she said, “but it could open the door to another.”
Also? Kandi wants you to stop emailing her from a Gmail. “You’re doing million-dollar business on a bootleg budget,” she joked. “Invest in yourself. Start with a domain name!”
The Marie Claire Power Play Summit was a powerful reminder that ambition, authenticity, and vulnerability aren’t separate traits—they work in tandem. Whether you’re building a bar, a brand, or a business from scratch, the key is to stay rooted in your voice, your story, and your why.
And if you need a sign to go for it? Consider this your green light.
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Feature image by Paras Griffin/ Getty Images for Power Play