1. Foxy Brown
When it comes to #blackgirlpower, it doesn’t start any earlier than Pam Grier with Foxy Brown. At a time when black folks couldn’t get hero roles, Grier was kicking butt and taking names on screen.
2. Crooklyn
Quick, name a “coming-of-age” story about a Black girl? Right, it’s “Crooklyn” — Spike Lee’s ode to growing up in the 70’s through the eyes of a little Black girl and it is magical.
3. “Set It Off”
From Vivica to Latifah to Jada, the star wattage in this “Girlz n the Hood” flick cannot be denied.
4. “Alien vs. Predator”
OK, here us out before you make a face. The “Alien” and “Predator” franchises are HUGE and when they combined them, they essentially handed the reigns to Sanaa Lathan as the lead bad-ass with a gun. If that ain’t Black Girl Power we don’t know what is.
5. Akeelah and the Bee
Remember when we implied “Crooklyn” was the only coming-of-age story about black girls? We lied. “Akeelah” is an excellent story about a girl learning how to use words to navigate some of life’s hardest lessons.