Black female actors—and the characters they portray—have been essential to the success of TV since the medium’s earliest days, and yet Hollywood has been slow to celebrate their achievements. Case in point: When Gail Fisher won an Emmy award in 1970, she became the first Black woman to do so in the event's 21-year history.
Television has come a long way in the decades since, but there's still progress to be made. The following shows cover some of the most pivotal and groundbreaking roles for Black women on TV. While not a comprehensive list, these shows represent the leaps and bounds of change seen over the decades—and the possibilities still to come. These TV firsts show the expanding dimensions of Black women on screen, and I invite you to revisit the shows that helped change the conversation, below.
