As life imitates art and art imitates life, representation in media becomes a significant hallmark in depicting the realities of our diverse society. According to a 2020 study from the University of Southern California, only 15.7% of the top 100 movies of 2019 included a Black speaking character, and only 43 had a female lead. To celebrate Black History Month and International Women’s Day, we’ve put together a short list of representations of Black women on and off the screen.

Abbott Elementary (2021-present)

Comedy fans may not be a stranger to Abbott Elementary; multiple awards, commercial success, and a stacked cast precede it. But with Quinta Brunson’s knack for comedy, witty writing, and a story that shines light on Black education in America, it’s hard for us not to recommend enrolling at Willard R. Abbott Elementary School.

When They See Us (2019)

Written and directed by Ava DuVernay (one of the only Black female directors to be nominated for Best Picture), When They See Us follows the 1989 true crime case of a woman’s sexual assault in Central Park from the point of view of the five Black teenagers who were wrongfully accused. Irreverent and earnest, it explores the widespread impact of racial profiling in America’s justice system and how it impacts Black communities beyond an individual level.

That’s So Raven (2003-2007)

Many who grew up with Disney Channel would be familiar with That’s So Raven. It may come off as another goofy sitcom, but its sincere depiction of intricate relationships among Black families, friendships, and romance makes it a reliable choice for a feel-good binge-watching night in.

The Proud Family (2001-2005)

We apologize in advance for putting another Disney Channel show in this list. But although The Proud Family may seem like another feel-good animated series from our childhood, rewatching it as adults leaves a lot more to glean, from the underpinnings of Black father-daughter relationships and how race plays a big part in the formative years of one’s childhood. A revival, subtitled Louder and Prouder, is currently in production for its third season.

Moesha (1996-2001)

Though billed as a sitcom, Moesha—starring the icon Brandy Norwood—delves into profound topics, ranging from family dynamics, race relations, and teen sexuality. The latter is particularly explored through a special episode in season two, “Labels,” which achieved the milestone of being the first Black-cast sitcom to feature an episode about teenage queerness.

Empire (2015-2020)

In an industry where most Black-focused shows are comedies, Empire strikes as a worthy addition in the dramatic sector, led by an ensemble cast that includes Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard. Set against a backdrop of New York’s hip hop music and entertainment business, the series may often come off as clichéd or unoriginal, but the melodrama and stellar performances prevent it from feeling uninspired.

Pose (2018-2021)

As polarizing as Ryan Murphy shows past and present are, none of them has been quite as immaculately done as Pose. Co-written by Janet Mock and Steven Canals, it is a sincere love letter to the trailblazers of queer history. You won’t miss the token White boy present across all of Murphy’s projects (which in this show is frequent collaborator Evan Peters), but he is far from being the main focus. The narrative is driven instead by the lives of queer folk—Black trans women specifically—within the African-American and Latinx ball culture of New York City.