# Black to the Future (TV series)

Black to the Future is a 2009 television miniseries that originally aired on VH1 from February 24 to February 27, 2009. The show, which is a spin-off of the I Love the... series, discusses the history of events and trends about African Americans and is hosted by David Alan Grier. The title is a reference to the 1985 comedy film, Back to the Future.

## 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 movies and TV shows and spoil the endings of them.

### The '70s

* 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!", 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 '80s

* 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", and "What you talkin' 'bout, Willis?"
Cosmic Girls of the 1980s: Lisa Bonet, Holly Robinson, 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, and Chaka Khan

### The '90s

* 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, 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!", 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, En Vogue, and Angie Stone

### The '00s

* 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
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, Jill Scott, and Toni Braxton