Black to the Future (TV series)

Commentators

• Debbie Allen
• Afrika Bambaataa
• Fantasia Barrino
• Ty Barnett
• Garcelle Beauvais
• Tyson Beckford
• Eric Benet
• Ahmed Best
• Alonzo Bodden
• Boyz II Men (Wanya Morris and Shawn Stockman)
• Bobby Brown
• Downtown Julie Brown
• Michelle Buteau
• Nick Cannon
• Jordan Carlos
• Hosea Chanchez
• Common
• Lavell Crawford
• Affion Crockett
• Mark Curry
• Tommy Davidson
• Bill Dawes
• Earthquake
• Dean Edwards
• Karith Foster
• Marina Franklin
• B.D. Freeman
• Godfrey
• Jessica Golden
• Macy Gray
• David Alan Grier
• Kyle Grooms
• Tiffany Haddish
• Kadeem Hardison
• Jeremy Hassell
• John Henton
• Ice-T
• Jesse Jackson
• Jim Jones
• Leslie Jones
• Khalil Kain
• Kool Moe Dee
• Kenny Lattimore
• Tom Lister, Jr.
• Faizon Love
• Loni Love
• Luenell
• MC Lyte
• Kathleen Madigan
• Method Man
• Jerry Minor
• Finesse Mitchell
• Modern Humorist (Michael Colton and John Aboud)
• Garrett Morris
• Phil Morris
• Tia Mowry
• Musiq
• Chuck Nice
• Patrice O'Neal
• Prince Paul
• Keith Powell
• Kevin Powell
• Donnell Rawlings
• Ray J
• Christopher Reid
• Salt-n-Pepa
• Stuart Scott
• Amanda Seales
• Keesha Sharp
• Sherri Shepherd
• Rondell Sheridan
• Sir Mix-a-Lot
• Sherrod Small
• Janell Snowden
• Hal Sparks
• Aries Spears
• Rozonda Thomas
• Guy Torry
• Harvey Walden IV
• Jimmie Walker
• George Weisgerber
• Elon James White
• Kym Whitley
• Hal Williams
• Michelle Williams
• Gina Yashere

Recurring segments

• Brothers with Badges: Ice-T talks about Black actors that played police officers in the given decade.
• The Most Groovetastic Songs: Chilli lists three popular songs in the given decade.
• Catchphrases of Color: Jesse Jackson lives through popular phrases in the given decade.
• Cosmic Girls: Sir Mix-a-Lot discusses women he liked in the given decade.
• Fashions of the Decade: Downtown Julie Brown shows us fashion styles in the given decade.
• Whatta Men: Salt-N-Pepa talk about guys they liked in the given decade.
• Rants: Each celebrity gives an opinion on a topic that was covered by the given decade.
• Funniest Fellas: Loni Love lists funny comedians the given decade.
• Soul Sisters: Fantasia Barrino shows us the best female singers in the given decade.

Topics covered by decade

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

The 1970s

• Good Times
• The Jackson 5
• Afro
• The Wiz
• Sanford and Son
• Soul Train
• Funk
• The Jeffersons
• Barry White
• Shaft
• What's Happening!!
• Stevie Wonder
• The White Shadow
• Harlem Globetrotters
• Roots

Brothers with Badges of the 1970s: Clarence Williams III, Cleavon Little, and Richard Roundtree

The Most Groovetastic Songs of the 1970s: "Let's Get It On" by Marvin Gaye, "Le Freak" by Chic, and "We Are Family" by Sister Sledge

Catchphrases of Color of the 1970s: "Dy-no-mite!", "Hey, hey, hey!" (Fat Albert), and "Elizabeth, I'm comin'"

Cosmic Girls of the 1970s: Tina Turner, Thelma Evans, and Donna Summer

Fashions of the 1970s: Dashikis, bell-bottoms, afro picks, gold lame, platform shoes, relaxed hair, polyester suits, and shiny alligator shoes

Whatta Men of the 1970s: Billy Dee Williams, Sidney Poitier, and Julius Erving

Sir Mix-a-Lot's Rant on Funk

Funniest Fellas of the 1970s: Flip Wilson, Garrett Morris, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Richard Pryor

Soul Sisters of the 1970s: Gloria Gaynor, Patti LaBelle, and Gladys Knight

The 1980s

• Mr. T
• Breakdancing
• Diff'rent Strokes
• New Edition
• Jesse Jackson's 1984 presidential campaign
• 227
• Michael Jackson
• Rap
• Mike Tyson
• "Party All the Time" by Eddie Murphy
• Whitney Houston
• The Color Purple
• Hollywood Shuffle
• Lionel Richie
• Do the Right Thing

Brothers with Badges of the 1980s: Carl Weathers, Eddie Murphy, and Philip Michael Thomas

The Most Groovetastic Songs of the 1980s: "Don't Worry, Be Happy" by Bobby McFerrin, "Super Freak" by Rick James, and "Mary, Mary" by Run-D.M.C.

Catchphrases of Color of the 1980s: "Did I do that", "I pity the fool" (Mr. T), and "What you talkin' 'bout, Willis? (Gary Coleman)"

Cosmic Girls of the 1980s: Lisa Bonet (The Cosby Show), Holly Robinson Peete, and Vanessa Williams

Fashions of the 1980s: Asymmetrical haircut, door bangers, leather bomber jacket, tracksuit, kangol, Adidas, African medallions, dreads, and the nefertiti hat

Whatta Men of the 1980s: Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Al B. Sure!, and LL Cool J

Patrice O'Neal's Rant on 227

Funniest Fellas of the 1980s: Bill Cosby, Eddie Murphy, Robert Guillaume, and Whoopi Goldberg

Soul Sisters of the 1980s: Tina Turner, Sade (The Sweetest Taboo), and Chaka Khan

The 1990s

• Martin
• Waiting to Exhale
• Michael Jordan
• Hootie & the Blowfish
• House Party
• Forty-ounce beer
• The Arsenio Hall Show
• Family Matters
• Million Man March
• Dr. Dre and Snoop Doggy Dogg
• Boyz n the Hood
• Mary J. Blige
• Living Single
• Tae Bo
• 1992 Los Angeles riots
• In Living Color

Brothers with Badges of the 1990s: Reginald VelJohnson (Carl), Chris Tucker, and Wesley Snipes

The Most Groovetastic Songs of the 1990s: "What is Love" by Haddaway, "Mo' Money, Mo' Problems" by The Notorious B.I.G., and "Creep" by TLC

Catchphrases of Color of the 1990s: "Homey don't play that", "Show me the money!" (Cuba Gooding Jr. from Jerry Maguire), and "Whoomp, there it is!"

Cosmic Girls of the 1990s: Toni Braxton, Mariah Carey, and En Vogue

Fashions of the 1990s: Overalls, HBCU sweatshirt, Halle Berry haircut, Jordans, gear from Cross Colors, high-top fade, baggy jeans, timberlands, and bandanas

Whatta Men of the 1990s: Lenny Kravitz, Djimon Hounsou, and Denzel Washington

Chilli's Rant on Waiting to Exhale

Funniest Fellas of the 1990s: Bill Bellamy, Charles S. Dutton, Mark Curry, and Sinbad

Soul Sisters of the 1990s: Erykah Badu (Tyrone), En Vogue, and Angie Stone (No More Rain)

The 2000s

• I Am Legend
• Williams sisters
• "Hot in Herre" by Nelly
• Girlfriends
• Chappelle's Show
• "Yeah!" by Usher
• Tyra Banks
• Undercover Brother
• Beyoncé
• Barry Bonds
• Ray
• Mariah Carey's The Emancipation of Mimi album
• Barbershop
• Kanye West
• Barack Obama

Brothers with Badges of the 2000s: Denzel Washington, Anthony Anderson, and Ice-T (Law & Order)

The Most Groovetastic Songs of the 2000s: "In da Club" by 50 Cent, "I'm Sprung" by T-Pain, and "It's Goin' Down" by Yung Joc

Catchphrases of Color of the 2000s: "King Kong ain't got nothin' on me!", and "Wazzup?"

Cosmic Girls of the 2000s: Mya, Condoleezza Rice, and Halle Berry

Fashions of the 2000s: Diamond Grillz, black T, Air Force Ones, Members Only jacket, puff vest, body tattoos, fine suit, matte link, and a clothing line with a name

Whatta Men of the 2000s: Derek Jeter, 50 Cent, and Kobe Bryant

Mark Curry's Rant on Barry Bonds

Funniest Fellas of the 2000s: Bernie Mac, Steve Harvey, Tracy Morgan, and Chris Rock

Soul Sisters of the 2000s: Alicia Keys (Fallin'), Jill Scott, and Toni Braxton

References

References

1. Reynolds, Mike. (February 20, 2009). "VH1 Celebrates African-Americans With "Black To The Future"".
2. MacLeish, Jessica. (September 30, 2019). "How VH1's 'I Love the' Created a Generation of Culture Students".