Black to the Future

Not to be confused with Back to the Future.

Black to the Future is a 2009 television mini-series produced by VH1, that talks about history of events and trends about black people, for Black History Month. The show is hosted by David Alan Grier.

Recurring segments

• Brothers with Badges: Ice-T talks about black actors that portrayed police officers in the given decade.
• The Most Groovetastic Songs: Chilli lists three popular songs in the given decade.
• Catchphrases of Color: Jesse Jackson re-lives popular phrases in the given decade.
• Cosmic Girl: Sir Mix-a-Lot discusses girls he liked in the given decade.
• Fashions of the Decade: Downtown Julie Brown show us fashion outfits in the given decade.
• Whatta a Man: Salt and Pepa talk about guys they liked in the given decade.
• Funniest Fellas: Loni Love lists funny celebrities in the given decade.
• Soul Sisters: Fantasia Barrino shows us the best girl singers in the given decade.

Topics covered by decade

Notice: Throughout the specials they discuss various movies and TV shows and spoil the endings of them.

The 70s

• Good Times (1974–1979)
• The Jackson 5
• Afro
• Stevie Wonder
• The Wiz (1978)
• Sanford and Son (1972–1977)
• The White Shadow (1978–1981)
• Harlem Globe Trotters (founded in 1926, but found more success in the 70's)
• Soul Train
• The Jeffersons (1975–1985)
• Shaft (1971)
• Funk music
• Roots (1977)
• Barry White
• What's Happening!! (1976–1979)

The 80s

• Mr. T
• Break dancing
• Diff'rent Strokes (premiered in 1978, but gained more exposure in the 1980s)
• New Edition (created in 1978, but began their exposure in the 1980s)
• Jesse Jackson's 1984 presidential campaign
• 227 (1985–1990)
• Michael Jackson (began his solo career in 1971, but hit his peak in the 1980s)
• Rap
• Mike Tyson
• Eddie Murphy's "Party All the Time" (1985)
• Whitney Houston
• The Color Purple (1985)
• Lionel Richie
• Hollywood Shuffle (1987)
• Do the Right Thing (1989)

The 90s

• Martin (1992–1997)
• Waiting to Exhale (1995)
• Michael Jordan (began playing pro ball in 1984, but hit his peak in the 1990s)
• Hootie & the Blowfish (founded in 1986, but gained more exposure in the 90's)
• House Party (1990)
• Low-alcohol beer
• The Arsenio Hall Show (premiered in 1989, but gained more exposure in the 90's)
• Family Matters (premiered in 1989, but found exposure in the 90's)
• Million Man March
• Dr. Dre and Snoop Doggy Dogg
• Boyz n the Hood (1991)
• Mary J. Blige
• Living Single (1993–1998)
• Tae Bo
• Los Angeles riots of 1992
• In Living Color (1990–1994)

The 2000s

• I Am Legend (2007)
• Williams sisters
• Nelly's "Hot in Herre" (2002)
• Girlfriends (2000–2008)
• Chappelle's Show
• Usher's "Yeah!" (2004)
• Tyra Banks
• Undercover Brother (2002)
• Beyoncé (Gained success in the late 90's with Destiny's Child, but her solo career flourished in the 2000s)
• Barry Bonds
• Ray (2004)
• Mariah Carey's The Emancipation of Mimi (2005)
• Barbershop (2002)
• Kanye West
• Barack Obama

External links

• Black to the Future at VH1.com