Debra Lee: Digital Era Offers Hope for Black Storytelling

It’s tough to witness the progress made in Black programming facing setbacks. Former BET CEO Debra Lee recently voiced her concerns at the AFROTECH™ Conference 2025, acknowledging the sting of seeing shows rooted in Black culture being canceled. From “61st Street” and “South Side” to various Black-led shows on CBS and NBC, the trend is disheartening.

The Fight for Diverse Programming

Lee expressed how hurtful it is to see this progress under attack, emphasizing the importance of diverse programming for societal understanding. “It’s very hurtful to see the progress we’ve made in Black programming and programming targeted to the Black community, but also programming we hope all people will watch,” she shared. “It’s very hurtful to see that under attack.”

Despite these challenges, Lee remains optimistic, pointing to evidence that audiences are hungry for diverse content. She cited the success of projects like the movie ‘Sinners’ and the Netflix series ‘Forever,’ both of which achieved high ratings, proving there’s a significant demand for programming that reflects a wider range of experiences.

Digital Platforms: A New Frontier

Lee’s perspective is deeply informed by her own journey, recalling a childhood in the segregated South where seeing Black faces on screen was a rare treat, often limited to Saturday mornings with shows like “Soul Train.” Today, she finds encouragement in the rise of digital storytelling, which is creating new avenues for Black creators. She specifically highlighted Issa Rae and Keke Palmer as inspiring examples.

Issa Rae’s journey, starting with the web series “The Mis-Adventures of Awkward Black Girl” before landing the hit HBO show “Insecure,” is a testament to the power of digital platforms. Similarly, Keke Palmer’s launch of KeyTV, a digital network dedicated to creators of color in 2022, showcases how independent producers can build their own spaces. “Digital has made it possible for independent producers to have their own platform, like what Keke is doing. I really admire what she’s doing,” Lee stated.

The Call to Action: Show Up and Support

Lee stressed that for Black programming to thrive on established networks and streaming platforms, audiences must continue to demand it. “It’s up to the executives at those platforms to really make sure it happens, not to be focused on just one subset of an audience,” she urged. Supporting Black creativity, she believes, requires active participation.

Her call to action is clear: show up. Whether it’s at movie theaters, supporting shows on Netflix or HBO, or attending events like the AFROTECH™ Conference, our presence matters. “Doing conferences like this, supporting each other, would be my call to action. And to get Black programming, we have to show up,” Lee concluded. “We can’t expect people to do things for us.”