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Throughout the history of media, there’s been a significant lack of television shows with storylines, humor, and characters that reflect a diverse experience.
It’s only recently that we’ve seen an uptick in inclusivity. The success of shows like black-ish, The Wire, and Fresh Off the Boat have made way for shows like The Chi, Atlanta, and Insecure to succeed. And who do we have to thank for that? The folks in the writers’ room.
Here are some of the writers of color who are giving us the incredible stories we see on television.
Michael Che
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Named one of Rolling Stone’s “50 Funniest People,” BuzzFeed’s “50 Hottest Men in Comedy” and Variety’s “Top 10 Comics to Watch,” Che is a name to know in television for sure. He’s currently a co-head writer for Saturday Night Live and co-anchor of the show’s “Weekend Update” segment.
Lena Waithe
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After the year that this South Side Chicago native has had, she needs no introduction. She came into notoriety as an actress and co-writer for Masters of None, making history when she won the Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series and became the first Black woman to do so. She also premiered her first television series on Showtime, The Chi, which she wrote and executive produced.
Hiro Murai
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The Tokyo-born filmmaker is best known for his music videos for artists such as Childish Gambino, Earl Sweatshirt, Lupe Fiasco, and more, but his biggest feat is his work on Donald Glover’s comedy-drama, Atlanta. His most recent accomplishment? Directing Gambino’s latest project, internet sensation “This Is America.”
Courtney A. Kemp
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This writer got her start in the writer’s room for the early aughts hit The Bernie Mac Show, but became better known for her writing on The Good Wife. Later, she came up with the idea for drama-thriller TV series, Power, which is currently in its fifth season and has recently been renewed for a sixth.
Hasan Minhaj
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Championing his own personal stories with racism, immigrant parents, and more, this American comedian and actor is currently a senior correspondent on The Daily Show. Other notable accomplishments he has to his name include his Netflix special, Homecoming King, and his feature as a speaker at the 2017 White House Correspondent’s Dinner.
