Queen Sugar

This article is about the television series. For the novel from which it is adapted, see Queen Sugar (novel).
Queen Sugar
GenreDrama
Created byAva DuVernay
Based onQueen Sugar
by Natalie Baszile
Starring
Theme music composerMeshell Ndegeocello
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons7
No. of episodes89
Production
Executive producers
Running time37–65 minutes
Production companiesWarner Horizon Television
Harpo Films
Forward Movement
Array Filmworks (Season 4)
Original release
NetworkOprah Winfrey Network
ReleaseSeptember 6, 2016 (2016-09-06) –
November 29, 2022 (2022-11-29)
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Queen Sugar is an American drama television series created and executive produced by Ava DuVernay, with Oprah Winfrey serving as an executive producer. DuVernay also directed the first two episodes. The series is based on the 2014 novel of the same name by American writer Natalie Baszile.[1] Queen Sugar centers on the lives of three siblings in rural Louisiana (Rutina Wesley, Dawn-Lyen Gardner, and Kofi Siriboe) who must deal with the aftermath of their father's sudden death and decide the fate of his 800-acre sugarcane farm. The mainstream themes in the series often accompany episodes centered on racial profiling, the long reach of chattel slavery in American history and the inequities in the criminal justice system, and other issues related to African Americans.[2]

The show holds a 93% approval rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes and has won two NAACP Image Awards and 12 total nominations.[3][4] Critics have praised the racially progressive show for storylines that tackle universal issues such as culture, class, and gender, while highlighting elements that address specific concerns of African-American society as expressed by the show's predominantly black cast.[5]

Queen Sugar airs on Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) and premiered on September 6, 2016.[1][6][7] In January 2021, ahead of the fifth season premiere, the series was renewed for a sixth season,[8] which premiered on September 7, 2021.[9] Ahead of the sixth season finale, it was announced that the series was renewed for a 13-episode seventh and final season, which premiered on September 6, 2022.[10][11]

  1. ^ a b Andreeva, Nellie (February 2, 2015). "Oprah Winfrey to Co-Star in & Co-Create With 'Selma' Filmmaker Ava DuVernay 'Queen Sugar' OWN Drama Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 4, 2015. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  2. ^ Greene, Adrienne (June 24, 2017). "Queen Sugar Deepens Its Complex Family Portrait". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on August 14, 2018. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference :2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Penrice, Ronda Racha (June 20, 2018). "Oprah Winfrey Network's 'Queen Sugar' has quietly become one of TV's most racially progressive shows". Opinion. NBC News. Archived from the original on August 12, 2018. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  6. ^ Jagernauth, Kevin (February 2, 2015). "Ava DuVernay Reteams With Oprah Winfrey For Drama Series". The Playlist. Archived from the original on February 2, 2015. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  7. ^ Petski, Denise (June 30, 2016). "Ava DuVernay & Oprah Winfrey's 'Queen Sugar' Gets Fall Premiere Date On OWN". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on July 1, 2016. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference S6Renewal was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference S6Premiere was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference FinalSeason was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference S7Premiere was invoked but never defined (see the help page).