Being Mara Brock Akil: Representations of Black Womanhood on Television examines the body of work of Mara Brock Akil, the showrunner who produced Girlfriends, The Game, Being Mary Jane, and Love Is__. The contributions to this volume are theoretically anchored in Patricia Hill Collin’s Black Feminist Thought, with a focus on how Brock Akil’s shows intentionally address Black humanity and specifically provide context for Black women’s lived experiences and empathy for Black womanhood by featuring woman-centered characters with flaws, strength, and complexity. Shauntae Brown White and Kandace L. Harris have compiled a volume that analyzes themes that define Black womanhood and examines audience reception of and social media interaction with Brock Akil’s work.

Contributions by: Imani M. Cheers, Kandace L. Harris, Tina M. Harris, Natasha R. Howard, Ronald L. Jackson, Mia Moody-Ramirez, Candace P. Parrish, Lisa M. Paulin, Roslyn M. Satchel, Katie D. Scott, Shavonne R. Shorter, Morgan W. Smalls, Shauntae Brown White