If 2020 was a song, it would be "Complicated" by Nivea.
We're not quite sure if it'll be safe to come outside without protective gear anytime soon so here we are—spending weekend inna house, but xoNecole has a line-up of Netflix releases that will have you glued to your couch.
From throwback classics like Above The Rim to Michelle Obama's new documentary, Becoming, here's what's new and Black AF on Netflix.
Above The Rim (May 1)
Above The Rim
Netflix has been consistently serving us all of the quality throwback content and this month's lineup is no exception. Featuring Tupac Shakur, Duane Martin, Leon, and the late Bernie Mac, Above the Rim will be available to stream on Netflix on May 1.
All Day and A Night Starring (May 1)
From the co-writer of Black Panther, comes a Netflix Original film starring Ashton Sanders (Moonlight), Isaiah John (Snowfall) and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Watchmen) that questions if we are all truly destined to become products of our environment.
Get On The Bus (May 1)
One of the latest Spike Lee joints to be added to the streaming platform is Get on the Bus, starring a young (and might I add, delicious) Hill Harper, Paula Jai Parker, and Bernie Mac.
She Hate Me (May 1)
I'm not sure where Netflix dug up this 2004 Spike Lee-directed, Kerry Washington- and Anthony Mackie-led gem, but we like it and we need more.
Romeo Must Die (May 1)
In the last movie released before her untimely and tragic death, Aaliyah plays alongside DMX and Jet Li in an action flick with an epic soundtrack.
Hollywood (May 1)
From the creator of American Horror Story comes a new Post World War II limited series featuring Laura Harrier and Queen Latifah about a group of aspiring actors and filmmakers who will stop at nothing to make their dreams come true.
For Colored Girls (May 1)
For Colored Girls
According to science, crying can be therapeutic and For Colored Girls will have you doing exactly that for two hours and 14 minutes straight. With an all-star cast of Janet Jackson, Phylicia Rashad, Whoopi Goldberg, Kerry Washington, Omari Hardwick and Michael Ealy, this just might be the Blackest thing you've watched all week.
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (May 1)
Madagascar 2
Grab the kids and have a movie night at home with this 2008 animated sequel starring Chris Rock, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Sherri Sheppard, and Bernie Mac about a group of zoo animals who have finally found their way home.
Becoming (May 6)
Our Forever First Lady pulled a Beyoncé with the spontaneous announcement of her new documentary and we are here for all of it. Michelle and Netflix linked up to give us an intimate documentary-style look behind the scenes at her global Becoming tour and is part of Barack and Michelle's multi-year deal with the streaming platform.
Grey's Anatomy: Season 16 (May 10)
ABC
Scandal is being removed from Netflix this month and it's truly a tragedy. But my real Shondaland fam will be elated to know that Season 16 of Grey's Anatomy will be available to stream on Netflix on May 10.
Non-Spoiler Spoiler Alert: Maggie's sister in real-life appears in this season and it is a total tear-jerker!
Sleepless (May 8)
Sleepless
Featuring T.I., Jamie Foxx, and Gabrielle Union, this 2007 action film about dirty undercover cop and murderous gangsters and will be available to stream May 8.
Sweet Magnolias (May 19)
Getty Images
This Netflix original romance series based on the book by Sheryll Woods stars Heather Headley and tells the story of three longtime friends from South Carolina who are helping each other navigate parenting, romance, and finding a work-life balance.
The Lovebirds (May 22)
3 Arts Entertainment, MRC
The pandemic may have postponed the premiere of Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiana's new film in theaters, but Netflix is giving viewers the opportunity to tune-in on this rom-com from the comfort of their couches. On a wild date night gone wrong, a couple gets embroiled in a murder mystery that they'll have to solve to survive.
Featured image by Above The Rim.
In a xoNecoleexclusive, the iconic actress opens up about embracing this season of her life, new projects, and overall being a “bad motherfucker.” Gabrielle reveals that she was 37 years old when she was diagnosed with perimenopause and is still going through it at 51 years old. Mayo Clinic says perimenopause “refers to the time during which your body makes the natural transition to menopause, marking the end of the reproductive years.”
“I haven't crossed over the next phase just yet, but I think part of it is when you hear any form of menopause, you automatically think of your mother or grandmother. It feels like an old-person thing, but for me, I was 37 and like not understanding what that really meant for me. And I don't think we focus so much on the word menopause without understanding that perimenopause is just the time before menopause,” she tells us.
Gabrielle Union
Photo by Brian Thomas
"But you can experience a lot of the same things during that period that people talk about, that they experienced during menopause. So you could get a hot flash, you could get the weight gain, the hair loss, depression, anxiety, like all of it, mental health challenges, all of that can come, you know, at any stage of the menopausal journey and like for me, I've been in perimenopause like 13, 14 years. When you know, most doctors are like, ‘Oh, but it's usually about ten years, and I'm like, ‘Uhh, I’m still going (laughs).’”
Conversations about perimenopause, fibroids, and all the things that are associated with women’s bodies have often been considered taboo and thus not discussed publicly. However, times are changing, and thanks to the Gabrielle’s and the Tia Mowry’s, more women are having an authentic discourse about women’s health. These open discussions lead to the creation of more safe spaces and support for one another.
“I want to be in community with folks. I don't ever want to feel like I'm on an island about anything. So, if I can help create community where we are lacking, I want to be a part of that,” she says. “So, it's like there's no harm in talking about it. You know what I mean? Like, I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change. I'm just getting better and stronger and more intelligent, more wise, more patient, more compassionate, more empathetic. All of that is very, very welcomed, and none of it should be scary.”
The Being Mary Jane star hasn’t been shy about her stance on therapy. If you don’t know, here’s a hint: she’s all for it, and she encourages others to try it as well. She likens therapy to dating by suggesting that you keep looking for the right therapist to match your needs. Two other essential keys to her growth are radical transparency and radical acceptance (though she admits she is still working on the latter).
"I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change."
Gabrielle Union and Kaavia Union-Wade
Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images
“I hope that a.) you recognize that you're not alone. Seek out help and know that it's okay to be honest about what the hell is happening in your life. That's the only way that you know you can get help, and that's also the only other way that people know that you are in need if there's something going on,” she says, “because we have all these big, very wild, high expectations of people, but if they don't know what they're actually dealing with, they're always going to be failing, and you will always be disappointed. So how about just tell the truth, be transparent, and let people know where you are. So they can be of service, they can be compassionate.”
Gabrielle’s transparency is what makes her so relatable, and has so many people root for her. Whether through her TV and film projects, her memoirs, or her social media, the actress has a knack for making you feel like she’s your homegirl. Scrolling through her Instagram, you see the special moments with her family, exciting new business ventures, and jaw-dropping fashion moments. Throughout her life and career, we’ve seen her evolve in a multitude of ways. From producing films to starting a haircare line to marriage and motherhood, her journey is a story of courage and triumph. And right now, in this season, she’s asking, “What’s next?”
“This is a season of discovery and change. In a billion ways,” says the NAACP Image Award winner. “The notion of like, ‘Oh, so and so changed. They got brand new.’ I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
"I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
She continues, “So I'm just trying to figure out what's next. You know what I mean? I'm jumping into what's next. I'm excited going into what's next and new. I'm just sort of embracing all of what life has to offer.”
Look out for Gabrielle in the upcoming indie film Riff Raff, which is a crime comedy starring her and Jennifer Coolidge, and she will also produce The Idea of You, which stars Anne Hathaway.
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Feature image by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images
