This Is Your Netflix Watch List For The Month Of July & It's Black AF
Netflix just confirmed that our summer will get a little hotter thanks to the platform's upcoming premieres, which just so happen to be black AF.
Netflix has been adamant about their initiative to increase diversity as it refers to programming, and has resulted in a summer watch list for the ages. This year, the network announced it's initiative to connect organically with the black community by investing in original black content that is created by black industry professionals and I'm here for it.
Has it really been a whole year since the terror squad kicked down the doors and shut down the revolt at Litchfield Prison? Will a prominent black female comedian finally get a one-hour special? Is Menace II Society really as good of a movie as you remembered it to be? Find out next month on Netflix. Here's everything we have to look forward to:
1. Available July 27: Orange is the New Black
Season 6 is here and I can't hold my excitement. The highly-famed Netflix original makes its return on July 6, when we'll discover Daya's fate and find out if Taystee's crew ever truly got justice for our girl Poussey (RIP). If you're as anxious as I am for the show's multi-episode premiere, go back a few seasons and binge watch previous episodes to hold you over until the end of the month.
2. Available July 6: Menace II Society
The 1993 cult classic Menace II Society was a bold statement about the violence and drug infested reality that young black people in the hood were faced with in the 90's. If you're itching for a dose of nostalgia, take a trip to South Central with a young Jada Pinkett and Larenz Tate July 1.
3. Available July 20: Last Chance U: Indy
The Emmy-nominated docu-sports series follows compton-native Coach Jason Brown who transformed a Kansas city community college team with a consistent losing streak into potential NFL superstars. The third season premieres July 20 and will dive into the personal and professional lives of small town athletes with dreams way bigger than their hometown. The premiere will be a treat for our athletically inclined readers, and will serve as eye candy for readers like me who know nothing about sports.
4. Available July 13: How It Ends
How It Ends stars Forest Whitaker and Kat Graham and is a suspense thriller that focuses on a father and his estranged son-in-law as they race across the country to save the life of his daughter and unborn grandchild. The storyline seems generic until you throw in the fact that the world is ending and nobody seems to understand why: major plot twist. It premieres July 13.
5. Available July 3: The Comedy Lineup
So, Netflix hasn't quite picked up the hint that we're ready to see a comedy special starring a black woman that is less than a decade old, but, we'll give them some time to catch up. On the other hand, we can commend the network for shaking up the comedy game in terms of diversity as a part of their new series, The Comedy Lineup. The multi-part series will feature a diverse and melanin inclusive group of stand-up comics in 15-minute segments. Stars to look for include Sam Jay, the queer stand-up comedian and writer on Saturday Night Live who's making waves in the industry, and Michelle Buteau, a Caribbean-American podcast host with curves that hit just as hard as her punchlines.
6. Available July 13: Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain
Netflix is throwing it all the way back and releasing Kevin Hart's 2013 feature film where he opens up about fatherhood, horseback riding, and his wildly traumatic and hilarious childhood. Let Me Explain was a classic and was the origin of some of his most famous quotes, including "Alright, alright, alright." I hope you read that in your Kevin Hart voice.
7. Available July 6: Free Rein
For a more kid-friendly option, be sure to binge Free Rein. In the series, Zoe, played by Jaylen Barren (Shameless), is a biracial teen from Los Angeles who discovers a love for horseback riding after spending the summer with her British grandfather in England. The Netflix Original premiered last summer and is the recipient of awards from the NAACP and the Emmys. Season 2 of the series premieres July 6.
Featured image by Shutterstock
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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.
'He Said, She Said': Love Stories Put To The Test At A Weekend For Love
At the A Weekend For Love retreat, we sat down with four couples to explore their love stories in a playful but revealing way with #HeSaidSheSaid. From first encounters to life-changing moments, we tested their memories to see if their versions of events aligned—because, as they say, every story has three sides: his, hers, and the truth.
Do these couples remember their love stories the same way? Press play to find out.
Episode 1: Indira & Desmond – Love Across the Miles
They say distance makes the heart grow fonder, but for Indira & Desmond, love made it stronger. Every mile apart deepened their bond, reinforcing the unshakable foundation of their relationship. From their first "I love you" to the moment they knew they had found home in each other, their journey is a beautiful testament to the endurance of true love.
Episode 2: Jay & Tia – A Love Story Straight Out of a Rom-Com
If Hollywood is looking for its next Black love story, they need to take notes from Jay & Tia. Their journey—from an awkward first date to navigating careers, parenthood, and personal growth—proves that love is not just about romance but also resilience. Their story is full of laughter, challenges, and, most importantly, a love that stands the test of time.
Episode 3: Larencia & Mykel – Through the Highs and Lows
A date night with police helicopters overhead? Now that’s a story! Larencia & Mykel have faced unexpected surprises, major life changes, and 14 years of choosing each other every single day. But after all this time, do they actually remember things the same way? Their episode is sure to bring some eye-opening revelations and a lot of laughs.
Episode 4: Soy & Osei – A Love Aligned in Purpose
From a chance meeting at the front door to 15 years of unwavering love, faith, and growth, Soy & Osei prove that when two souls are aligned in love and purpose, nothing can shake their foundation. Their journey is a powerful reminder that true love is built on mutual support, shared values, and a deep connection that only strengthens with time.
Each of these couples has a unique and inspiring story to tell, but do their memories match up? Watch #HeSaidSheSaid to find out!
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Are You & Your Partner Financially Compatible? Here’s How To Tell.
With nearly half of all marriages that end in divorce citing finances as the nail in the coffin to deading their relationship, financial compatibility is one aspect of long-term compatibility that doesn't get talked about enough. Beyond the circular 50/50 discourse and whatever hot-button issues regarding providers and the like, at its core, financial compatibility is about how well your financial behaviors, values, and long-term goals align with those of your partner.
More than it is about how much money a person makes or doesn't make, financial compatibility focuses on how you think about money, how you spend your money, and most importantly, how you plan for the future with your money. Think, questions about money mindsets, spending habits, debt, budget, etc. Are you a saver and he's a spender? Do you see money as a tool for freedom? Does he see it as something to hold on tightly to as a means of survival? Can you talk about your financial goals and plans openly?
Knowing if you and your partner are financially compatible can save a lot of heartache, a lot of headaches, and a lot of money in the end. Keep reading for a few key indicators to pay attention to and learn whether or not you and your partner are truly aligned financially.
Signs You’re Financially Compatible
1. You can talk about money without judgment.
Conversations about money aren't something you dread. You're able to talk to your partner freely and openly about money matters, like debts, bills, the budget, etc., even when it is uncomfortable. There is an understanding that talking about money doesn't have to be something you're on the defense about, instead it's an opportunity for transparency, clarity, and solutions.
2. You respect each other's money personalities.
What is a money personality? According to Ken Honda, author of Happy Money, a money personality is our "approach and emotional responses to money" and there are seven money personalities we can fall under. These personalities can help us understand our own relationship with money, as well as our partner's. For example, maybe you're someone who likes to treat yourself to a fancy dinner once a month and your partner is someone who believes ordering takeout and not cooking meals at home is a cardinal sin.
When you can respect each other's money personalities, neither approach is subjected to judgment and shifts can be made in each other's spending habits as needed and from a place of love versus guilt or shame.
3. You agree on what it means to have "financial security."
Whether it’s building a stacked emergency fund, paying off debt before putting a downpayment on a home or being able to splurge on a baecation without checking your account balance before the bill arrives, your definitions of what it means to be financially secure are in sync, or at least compatible enough to reach a compromise.
4. You are not each other's "financial parent."
You’re not constantly teaching, fixing, or stressing out over what the other person is doing with their money. Although I fast-forwarded through a lot of the most recent season of Love Is Blind, I did pay attention to Virginia and Devin and money seemed to be a recurring theme in their conversations. It was clear Virginia had her ish together when it came to money and her financial plans for the future and Devin was not quite on her level.
Though she said no at the altar for additional reasons, I could also see how sis could eventually get very tired of being her partner's second mama, so to speak. And that's the thing about being your partner's "financial parent," eventually, you could end up feeling like you are one-half of a "parenting" or "teaching" dynamic with your partner instead of feeling like you're equals in a partnership.
5. You make financial decisions with each other in mind, not for each other.
Whether it’s booking a trip, deciding which debt to tackle first, saving up for a big purchase, or planning out your next move, there’s a mutual respect for each other’s input. Those shared goals might look like wealth, freedom, stability, or just a debt-free life that feels soft and secure.
You don’t have to be chasing the same bag in the same exact way, but you do need to be aligned on the vision. What you're building should feel like a joint venture with shared effort and purpose, not one of y’all making major money moves like you're still single. Making financial decisions is not just about where the money goes, it's about where you’re going together.
6. You're aligned when it comes to the big stuff.
Financial compatibility extends to the long-term of money management. The legacy, structure, and shared responsibility that comes with decisions like shared accounts, estate planning, having babies, or even blending families. Will you split bills or combine income? Who’s taking time off if you have a child? How do y’all feel about generational wealth or investing for your family’s future? You and your partner have had the real conversations.
These conversations can’t wait until after the wedding or until after a baby’s here. They’re the foundation for how you function as a unit, and if you're not aligned, or at least willing to get on the same page, that incompatibility can cause friction in the end that love alone can't fix.
Love is cute and all, but building an empire together? That’s the real flex. Tap into our new series Making Cents to see what financial compatibility really looks like when love and legacy go hand in hand.
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