Today it was announced that Mara Brock Akil has inked a multi-year deal with Netflix to write and produce original scripted projects and other creative projects for the streaming service. This comes as no shock, as Mara as been pushing out quality Black content since the 90's.
She began her career working on the short-lived Fox series, South Central, starring Larenz Tate, Tina Lifford, and Tasha Scott. After the show's cancellation, Mara then went on to become a writer on the hit UPN show, Moesha. Both Moesha and South Central were co-created by Ralph Farquahr. During her tenure on Moesha, she was also able to write on a few episodes of The Jamie Foxx Show. Moesha ran from 1996 until 2001, and by the turn of the millennium, Mara Brock Akil ventured out on her own and created the eight seasons long sitcom, Girlfriends.
This is where we enter, the Mara Brock-Akil Universe.
Girlfriends (2000-2008)
In 2000, she gives us the Black female centered sitcom, Girlfriends, focused on on the lives of 4 early 30-something women as they navigate life through friendships, relationships, and careers.
The Game (2006-2009, 2011-2015)
During the airing of Girlfriends, The Game premiered in 2006, and followed the life of Joan's cousin, Melanie Barnett, and her football player boyfriend, Derwin Davis as they figure out the life of the pro-football world. The show had a 2 year hiatus as they changed networks, moving from the CW to BET.
Being Mary Jane (2013-2019)
BET also picked up Brock-Akil's Being Mary Jane in 2013, starring Gabrielle Union. The show first aired as a television movie on BET and turned into a full fledged series that ended it's run in 2019.
Love Is_ (2018-2018)
Love Is _ aired on the OWN Network in 2018 and followed the lives of a Black couple grappling their careers and family in the entertainment industry.
Black Lightning (2017-Present)
Since 2017, Brock-Akil has been co-executive producing the CW super hero show, Black Lightning. The CW show follows the life of Jefferson Pierce and his family, as they work together to protect their secret identities as the DC super hero, Black Lightning, Lightning, and Thunder, while simultaneously saving their community.
Congratulations to Mara Brock-Akil on her brand new deal. The 20th anniversary of Girlfriends is on September 11th and that is also when it begins streaming on Netflix.
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