From BLACKstage to Harlem: How Tracy Oliver is changing Hollywood One Story at a Time

How Tracy Oliver is changing the game with Harlem and her unstoppable career.

Tracy Oliver is one of the distinct Black voices in the entertainment industry, crafting narratives that help amplify the perspectives of her community. With Harlem entering its third season—its first two episodes premiered on January 23rd on Prime Video—the show continues to focus on its four main leads as they continue their lives in Harlem, NYC, a mecca for Black culture.

Tracy Oliver has an impeccable track record dating back to 2011, creating projects that not only feel authentic in their execution but also help provide an entertaining escape from reality. It's a decorated career that has not only defied expectations but has continued to create top-notch entertainment that viewers have continued to engage with and flock to for some time.

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Looking back at Harlem creator Tracy Oliver's career

Coming from South Carolina, and holding a Master of Fine Arts in Producing from the USC School of Cinematic Arts, Oliver has constantly strived to thrive when it comes to storytelling.

Establishing the black theatre company, The Black Stage, she helped amplify black voices by trying to tell stories that helped highlight her culture and also give black talent a chance to shine.

Oliver's first big role came in The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl, in which she starred as Nina from 2011 to 2012.

She also earned a credit for writing and producing the series which is pretty much what started her career in Hollywood - through which she has been telling stories with Black talent in roles that are relatable yet provocative.

Oliver has also worked with Dan Fogelman on ABC's The Neighbors, leading her to become a staff writer on Starz's Survivor's Remorse. Oliver has also had some pretty impressive accomplishments when it comes to feature films; her first major project came when she collaborated with Kenya Barris on Barbershop: The Next Cut, featuring Ice Cube.

However, her biggest success with films came with Girls Trip in 2017. The film starred Queen Latifah, Regina Hall, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Tiffany Haddish - and had a script written by Oliver and Barris. It went on to earn over $140 million worldwide which made Oliver the first African-American woman to write a movie that grossed more than $100 million at the box office.

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Looking at Tracy Olivers' current day work

Following the release of Girls Trip in 2017, Oliver reteamed with Barris in 2019 for Little and even wrote her own solo feature The Sun is Also a Star. 2019 also saw her be the showrunner for First Wives Club; each of its episodes were exclusively directed by women, further propelling Tracy Oliver into a pioneering world of achievement.

Now, she is celebrated for creating the Prime Video half-hour comedy Harlem, which stars Meagan Good, Grace Byers, Shonique Shandai, Jerrie Johnson, and Tyler Lepley.

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What is Harlem about?

Harlem, as previously mentioned, is a new comedy by Tracy Oliver following four stylish and ambitious best girlfriends in Harlem NYC, a mecca of Black culture in America. Being on its third and final season, fans will get to see how these characters have evolved since season 2.

Harlem is a show that proudly wears its representation unapologetically and further establishes Oliver as a voice to keep an eye out for in Hollywood. Fans can check out the third and final season of Harlem on Prime Video right now.