Black 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 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

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

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

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