Black Girls Rock: African Americans on the Big Screen

Image: heskorpionshow.com

STORY BY CIERRA HARPER, FNN REPORTER, WOODRIDGE BUREAU

FNN CELEBRATES BLACK HISTORY: FEB. 18, 2014.  Wonder why we are seeing more and more African-American women on the big screen? The reasons for this is because of the writers. Some of the most known and entertaining shows on television has the best writers ever and you know they are African American women—such as Mara Brock Akil, the creator of “Being Mary Jane”, “Girlfriends”, “The Game,” and “The Jamie Foxx Show”. Mara Brock Akil was also the creator of the movie “Sparkle” which was a huge box office winner starring the late Whitney Houston. All those shows are top shows that fans enjoy watching every week.

The TV show “Girlfriends” was created in 2000, and first aired on television on September 11, 2000. The cast of “Girlfriends” consists of all African-American women who households around the country have grown to love and relate to. The ratings for this television show are out the roof! Many African-American women really loved this show, but sadly the TV show was cancelled in 2008. Now you can catch reruns every night on BET.

Mara Brock Akil’s work has brought so much entertainment to the industry. Her work has taught our African-American females that their dreams can come true. She was honored and presented with the "Black Girls Rock Award" in 2013 for her amazing work as a writer. Today, she has over 4 million viewers with her new show “Being Mary Jane” starring Gabrielle Union.

Let’s not forget Shonda Rhimes who is the phenomenal writer of “Scandal”, “Grey's Anatomy" and "Private Practice". Her television dramas are a favorite of so many on ABC. “Scandal” starring Kerry Washington, is the first TV drama with a black lead actress. Shonda Rhimes was named as one of Time Magazine’s " People Who Shape the World". She has been nominated for three primetime Emmy Awards, and has won five Image Awards.

These African-American females are making their dreams come true one step at a time by rocking their talents and showing us all the power in the pen.

Cierra Harper is an 8th grade scholar at Friendship Woodridge Academy.