It’s happened to all of us.
You stumble across a Black TV show that’s so good it pulls you in from the first episode. The writing is sharp, the characters feel like family, and you devour every season like it’s your last meal.
But just as you become incredibly invested, when you’re debating plot twists in the group chat and daydreaming about the next season, the unthinkable happens. The show gets axed—usually right after the mother of all cliffhangers. Ugh!
And we know Hollywood is cutthroat, but somehow, Black-led or Black-produced series always seem to get the short end of the stick. In fact, a staggering 80% of the time, Black shows are the ones getting axed.
And yes, sometimes viewership numbers play a role, but as Issa Rae pointed out in her Net-A-Porter cover interview, networks “don’t view Black stories as a priority.”
That’s exactly why Rae and a growing number of film executives—especially those in the DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) category—are taking matters into their own hands, going independent to ensure Black culture and storytelling continues to thrive on screen without network approvals.
But as we cross our fingers for the next Issa Rae or Shonda Rhimes masterpiece (and pray they last more than five seasons), let’s pour one out for these brilliant Black shows that were taken from us far too soon.
Related: 12 Remarkable Black History Movies And TV Shows You Can Watch All Year Long
Black Cake
No one was more heartbroken than I was when Black Cake got canceled.
It was one of the most beautiful and intriguing shows of our time (hey, zillennials). I mean, the storyline, the characters, the cultural depth—this show was truly OWN’s finest production.
So, Hulu, why did you cancel it? We had so many unanswered questions!
How To Die Alone
I’ll be honest: I haven’t watched How To Die Alone yet (sorry, Natasha, I love you).
But if the absolute chaos on X and Reddit is anything to go by, I probably should have. People are livid that Hulu (yet again!) pulled the plug on this show, and from what I’ve seen, they have every right to be.
Sidenote to Hulu… please bring it back. #puppydogeyes.
Love Is…
When OWN fell out of love with this show, I shed tears. It was as if someone had torn my heart apart because… what?!
And yeah, it wasn’t without its flaws, but the love and career success story of Yasir and Nuri was one I needed to see evolve. Oprah, I’ll never forgive you for this one.
South Side
Englewood!
Honestly, nothing made me laugh harder than this gem of a show. It was Black joy, creativity, and comedy at its finest.
Like, do you remember when Alderman Gayle read a book that was a spoof of O.J Simpson’s If I Did It, but instead, it was written by Lightfoot and titled If I Won It?
Pure comedic genius! But that’s exactly what this show brought. It gave us the kind of laughs that felt like an inside joke among family, and for that, it’ll always be missed.
Harlem
Nooooooooo *deep breathes* Noooooooooooooo!
I, Teresa, will never, ever, EVER, be over this cancelation, ending, or whatever you choose to call it ( I’m personally going with cancelation because…vayolence). This was NOT supposed to be goodbye. Not yet.
But since I lack both the capital and the power to force Prime into giving us another season, ’ll just resign myself to saying, So long, my Queens. Until we meet again! *proceeds to sob uncontrollably*.
Related: These 6 Bold “Harlem” Looks Have The Internet On A Chokehold – Shop Them At An Unbeatable Bargain!
Lovecraft Country
Now, word on the street is that Lovecraft Country ended due to a toxic work environment—but me and half of Reddit call BS.
This show was the epitome of greatness, and the proof is the number of fans (Black, white, Latino, Asian, Indian, African, you name it) who’ve put HBO on their hit list due to the lack of a second season.
Now, HBO, can you do what’s right and give the fans what they’ve been waiting for for so long? We’ll sign anything, just give it to us!
The Get Down
Did you see this one coming? I didn’t.
It came, got us screaming, “I’m Shaolin Fantastic, The Lady Killing Romantic,” then poof. It was gone! Netflix, I hope you feel this deep, unrelenting side-eye.
Our Kind Of People
No, hear me out. If a powerful, beautifully melanated cast like this—Yaya DaCosta, Morris Chestnut, Ryan Nicole Brown, Debbie Morgan, Lance Gross, and McKinley Freeman—doesn’t get a second season, then what hope do the rest have?
NGL, this cancellation was beyond disappointing. A cast this good deserved so much more.
Rap Shit!
When EmilyCottontop reported this show’s cancelation, the internet lost it!
Sure, some argued that season one had its slow moments, but season two? Season two was everything! Issa Rae and her team leveled up and delivered, only for Max to leave us hanging with all those unresolved cliffhangers. Supremely unfair.
I mean, Game of Thrones wasn’t exactly givin’ in its first two seasons either, but it still got the chance to grow. So why not extend the same grace to Rap Sh!t?
Run The World
Gonna be forever mad about this one, too, NGL. Because tell me why Starz decided to give it the boot just as the fan base was growing?
It’s like they saw us thriving and said, ‘Yeah, let’s ruin that.’ Goes to show Black people can never have nice things.
Everything’s Trash
Phoebe Robinson gave us a hilarious, messy, and oh-so-relatable take on millennial life, and we deserved more of it! I mean, we barely got to see her character figure things out.
At this point, I just want to know who we need to talk to for a revival.
Riches
Dynasty meets Family Business meets Succession, and it still got canceled? Gerarrahia, man!
This show had all the makings of a long-running hit: wealth, drama, power, love, culture, and yet Prime Video decided to pull the plug before we could see the Richards empire implode? Make it make sense!
Underground
They did not what? Approve the subject matter of the show. So they did what? Canceled a Black show just to keep things “neat and tidy” for the white folk. Typical America.
Now you get why Kendrick did what he did during his Super Bowl LIX performance. Because America will always find a way to silence our stories.
All American: Homecoming
It may not have reached the same heights as its predecessor, but All American: Homecoming carved out its own loyal fanbase and earned solid reviews.
Unfortunately, that still wasn’t enough to save it, as the show never made it to a fourth season.
The Wonder Years: The Reboot
How will we ever find out where the Williams family ended up if you cancel the show, ABC?????? You had one job!
Love Life
If I had a dollar for every time someone said they felt robbed of seeing the full evolution of William Jackson Harper and Jessica Williams’ love story, I’d be rich enough to fund season three myself.
But then again, HBO never lets us thrive in peace.
My Wife & Kids
I won’t even get into this one because I don’t want to hear y’all say, “your age is showing.”
All I can say is that I haven’t felt a lack of closure like this since my ex-BFF left me on read.
61st Street
With powerhouses like Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor and Courtney B. Vance leading the charge, you’d think 61st Street would stand a chance at seeing five to eight seasons. But nope—just one season in, and it was cut short.
Eish…Hollywood, do better!
Raising Dion
Really confused as to why a show based on a Black kid superhero learning to harness his powers for good was canceled, but okay.
Pimp My Ride
I just miss this show, okay? And not for nothing, but the car I inherited from my mom could really use a glow-up.
Xzibit, you there?
