Tyler Perry has created yet another space for Black women to shine.
BET has greenlit a new series from the actor, producer and director dubbed Sistas, which follows a group of single Black women from different walks of life who bond over their dating lives, friendship bonds and demanding careers.
The series is the second show created under Viacom’s exclusive multi-year partnership deal with Perry under BET and will premiere later this fall. The show stars actresses J Smith, Ebony Obsidian, Mignon Von, and Novi Brown.
Earlier this summer, BET announced the development of Perry’s first original series for the network, The Oval.
His achievements were also recognized at the 2019 BET Awards this past June, where the actor, writer, and director was presented with the Ultimate Icon Award.
“While everybody else is fighting for a seat at the table, talking about ‘Oscars so white, Oscars so white,’ I said, ‘Y’all go ahead and do that,’” he said in his acceptance speech. “While you’re fighting for a seat at the table, I’ll be down in Atlanta building my own.’ Because what I know for sure is that if I could just build this table, God will prepare it for me in the presence of my enemies.”
He also shared an amazing story about the history behind the location of his studio.
“I built it in a neighborhood that is one of the poorest Black neighborhoods in Atlanta so that young Black kids could see that a Black man did that, and they can do it too,” said Perry. “The studio was once a Confederate Army base — and I want you to hear this — which meant that there were Confederate soldiers on that base, plotting and planning on how to keep 3.9 million Negroes enslaved. Now that land is owned by one Negro.”