Jurnee Smollett-Bell (born Jurnee Diana Smollett , October 1, 1986) is an American actress. She began her career as a child actress appearing on television sitcoms, with her most significant regular role being on On Our Own (1994–1995). She received critical acclaim and Critic's Choice Award for playing Eve in the 1997 independent drama film Eve's Bayou .

Tracee Ellis Ross (born Tracee Joy Silberstein ; October 29, 1972) is an American actress, model, comedian, director and television host, best known for her lead role as Joan Clayton in the comedy series Girlfriends (2000–2008) and Dr. Rainbow Johnson in the comedy series Black-ish (2014–present).

Vivica Anjanetta Fox (born July 30, 1964) is an American actress, producer and television host. Fox began her career with roles on the daytime television soap operas Days of Our Lives (1988) and Generations (1989–91), subsequently shifting to the prime-time slot starring opposite Patti LaBelle , in the NBC sitcom Out All Night (1992–93). Fox's breakthrough came in 1996, with roles in two box-office hit films, Roland Emmerich 's Independence Day and F. Gary Gray 's Set It Off .

Jo-Issa Rae Diop (born January 12, 1985), known as Issa Rae , is an American actress, writer, director, producer, and web series creator. She first garnered attention for her work on the YouTube web series Awkward Black Girl . She subsequently gained further recognition for creating, co-writing, and starring in the HBO television series Insecure . For her performance in Insecure , she has received two Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy and a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series .

Pamela Suzette Grier (born May 26, 1949) is an American actress . Grier became known in the early 1970s for starring in a string of women in prison and blaxploitation films such as The Big Bird Cage (1972), Coffy (1973), Foxy Brown (1974), and Sheba, Baby (1975). She starred in Quentin Tarantino 's film Jackie Brown , for which she received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress . She has also been nominated for a SAG Award , as well as a Satellite Award for her performance in Jackie Brown . Grier is also known for her work on television; for six seasons, she portrayed Kate 'Kit' Porter on the television series The L Word . She received an Emmy nomination for her work in the animated program Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child . Rotten Tomatoes has ranked her as the second-greatest female action heroine in film history. Director Tarantino remarked that she may have been cinema's first female action star.

Cicely L.Tyson (born December 19, 1924) is an American actress and former fashion model . She is best known for playing strong African-American women on screen and stage throughout her career. She is the recipient of three Primetime Emmy Awards , four Black Reel Awards , one Screen Actor Guild Award , and one Tony Award . Tyson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom , the highest civilian honor in the United States in November 2016.

Sharon Ann Leal (born October 17, 1972) is an American actress and singer. She is known for her roles in movies such as Dreamgirls , This Christmas , Why Did I Get Married? , Why Did I Get Married Too? and her roles on the television shows Legacy , Guiding Light , and Boston Public .