Sisterhood on Screen: Celebrating Fierce Black Female Friendships in Pop Culture

Iconic female bonds we can’t stop talking about

Friendship in storytelling is ubiquitous and for good reason: when we see characters navigating their friendships, we can relate and put ourselves in their shoes. We bond ourselves to characters who are on an adventure together, and witness the ups and downs of their kinships. For Black History Month, we wanted to highlight films and TV series that showcase a particular kind of friendship: Black female friendship. Shows and movies about the relationships between Black female characters are essential to pop culture, as they portray a full spectrum of the Black experience between women instead of falling into the “Black Best Friend” trope of semi-diverse casting. These all-Black friendship dynamics on screen portray nuances of the Black experience, and celebrate these unique relationships. We put together a list of shows and movies that celebrate these friendships, and would love to hear about your favorites in the comments!

Issa and Molly, Insecure

Issa Rae is the co-creator and star of the TV show Insecure, for which she won multiple Golden Globe and Emmy Awards. Partially based on her web series Awkward Black Girl, Insecure follows the character Issa Dee, her boyfriend Lawrence, and her best friend Molly. The show focuses on the perspective of the Black female experience, as Issa and Molly face internal struggles as well as ups and downs in their own relationship. Their friendship as portrayed in the series was heralded by critics and fans as very real with fans taking sides in their debates. They even–spoiler!-weather a traumatic breakup in later seasons, and their dynamic as friends is incredibly relatable.

Recently, Rae’s production company Hoorae released One of Them Days–a movie about two friends who must secure rent money because one of their boyfriends wasted it, which has been a huge box office hit. The success of Insecure and this film demonstrates Issa Rae’s specific flair for putting stories about Black female friendship out into the world.

Sam and Joelle, Dear White People

The 2017 dark comedy Dear White People is based on–and a continuation of–the 2014 film of the same name. The series is about the growing racial tensions at a fictitious top notch college. The characters Samantha White and Joelle Brooks share a deep and complex friendship. Sam, the outspoken and passionate host of the Dear White People radio show, often finds herself at the center of controversy, while Joelle, her loyal and witty best friend, provides support, humor, and a grounding presence. As often happens with best friends, Joelle sometimes struggles with feeling like she’s in Sam’s shadow, and her efforts in the friendship sometimes aren't reciprocated as fans would like to see. Still, Sam and Joelle’s relationship is tested by personal ambitions, romantic entanglements, and social pressures. Throughout it all, their bond remains strong.

Girls Trip

The 2017 film Girls Trip is one of the most talked about and beloved films about Black female friendship. Starring Tiffany Haddish, Jada Pinkett Smith, Regina Hall and Queen Latifah, it is about four friends, nicknamed the Flossy Posse, that reunite after a long time apart in New Orleans to attend the ESSENCE Music Festival. The story was written by three friends who based the film off of their own friendship adventures, and some believe it is the ultimate movie about Black female friendship. What makes this story special is it follows friends over 40 who have drifted apart and come back together at a new stage in their respective lives. Though time has passed, they rediscover their bonds, not without some ups and downs—a relatable scenario. Girls Trip is a hilarious comedy, but it is filled with levity that not only made it an enormous box office hit, but a film that has fans coming back to it again and again. A sequel is in the works.

Living Single

The sitcom Living Single, created by Yvette Lee Bowser, was a groundbreaking show that aired from 1993 to 1998. It follows the lives of six close-knit friends living in a Brooklyn brownstone in two separate apartments. The dynamic of the four female friends–Khadijah (Queen Latifah), Synclaire (Kim Coles), Régine (Kim Fields), and Maxine (Erika Alexander)-is the heart of the show. The sitcom was unique, elevating the lives of twentysomethings cohabitating in New York and served as a strong representation of successful Black professionals in mainstream culture. Its sharp humor and relatable storylines-and often delving into serious topics and social commentary–made the show a top-rated program consistently for the entirety of its run through 1998.

Living Single was a cultural touchstone that paved the way for the future ensemble comedy Friends, which became a ratings juggernaut. The concept of Friends was eerily similar to that of Living Single, and comparisons between the two shows continue to this day. Friends was heavily promoted and took over the zeitgeist, while Living Single didn’t get as much attention. Cast member Kim Coles, commenting on the disparity, stated in an interview, “the big difference is the melanin.” Still, Living Single paved the way for other ensemble shows about single ladies living, working, and getting through each day with their friends by their sides.

Harlem

The dramedy Harlem premiered in 2021, and finishes its final season in 2025. It has been referred to as the Black Sex and the City, as the show follows four ambitious and dynamic female friends that met at New York University and now are in their thirties. They rely on each other for support through life, balancing careers and relationships while living in Harlem in New York City. Camille (Meagan Good), is a driven anthropology professor struggling to balance her career and personal life; Tye (Jerrie Johnson), is a successful yet guarded tech entrepreneur who founded a popular queer dating app; Quinn (Grace Byers), is a stylish and optimistic fashion designer searching for purpose and love; and Angie (Shoniqua Shandai), is a bold, free-spirited singer and actress determined to make it big. Set against the rich cultural backdrop of the Harlem neighborhood, the show isn’t wholly reflective of every Black experience and recycled character archetypes–and that’s what makes it special.

Rap Sh!t

Rap Sh!t is a comedy-drama series created by Issa Rae that follows two estranged high school friends, Shawna (Aida Osman) and Mia (KaMillion), who reunite to form a rap group in Miami. Shawna is a socially conscious aspiring rapper struggling to gain recognition, while Mia is a single mother and entrepreneur trying to build a better life. As they navigate the male-dominated music industry, social media fame and how technology factors into their lives, and personal conflicts, they also must balance their ambitions with reality. The show explores themes of friendship, identity, and the complexities of chasing success while living in the digital age. Set against the backdrop of Miami’s vibrant hip-hop scene, the show infuses sharp social commentary alongside an authentic portrayal of women in rap. Unfortunately, Rap Sh!t was canceled after two seasons, leaving some to heavily lament the disappearance of shows that celebrate the nuances of the Black experience. Rap Sh!t is a window into a specific world, one that speaks to a particular audience that is eager to see their culture represented on screen.

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