Friendships Are Just As Important As Romantic Relationships, And These 15 Examples Prove Just How Beneficial Having A BFF Can Be

From Living Single to The Woman King, these women know the true meaning of friendship!

One of the ways that Black women have been resilient and found joy under the weight of an oppressive system is through their community of friends.

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Our friends are there for us to laugh with, joke with, and also lean on in times of trouble and traumatic experiences. In a world that can be hostile to Black women, having a community of friends has been tantamount to our well-being.

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I love seeing Black women on-screen enjoying life with their friends, so to celebrate Women’s History Month, I’ve taken a trip down memory lane to highlight some of my favorite Black female friendships from TV and movies.

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1. Insecure — Issa & Molly

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When Insecure premiered in 2016, it captivated the hearts of millions and received many accolades. A major part of the show's success was its portrayal of female friendships, especially between Issa and Molly, played by Issa Rae and Yvonne Orji. The two women were a source of strength and support for one another throughout the show, and our hearts broke when they went through a brief period of not speaking. Thankfully, it didn't last long, and they remained close friends till the end. And the fact that these women are close friends in real life, makes it even more special.

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2. Sister, Sister — Tia & Tamera

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One could assume that because Tia and Tamera were twins in Sister, Sister, they were destined to be best friends, but that wasn't the case for these two who didn't know about each other until a chance encounter. Growing up in different environments, Tia and Tamera butted heads but grew to lean on, and support one another. It was refreshing to see these two teenagers having each other's back while tackling common coming-of-age issues like body image, confidence, and relationships. 

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3. Harlem —Quinn, Camille, Tye, & Angie

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Harlem, a series on Prime, follows a group of friends in their 30s who met in college and are now living in Harlem, New York. As they navigate their careers, relationships, and life, they rely on one another for advice and companionship. The show highlights Black women thriving in their careers while also supporting their friends during their ups and downs. 

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4. Girlfriends — Maya, Toni, Joan & Lynn

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Girlfriends tells the story of four female friends: Joan, Maya, Lynn, and Toni as they navigate life's challenges. Despite their different personalities and upbringings, they experienced life through the good and bad moments, strengthening their bond each time.

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5. Run the World — Renee, Ella, Whitney, & Sondi

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From the creators of Living Single comes the show about four Black women — portrayed by Amber Stevens West, Andrea Bordeaux, Bresha Webb, and Corbin Reid — living in New York. Unapologetically Black, these women showed fierce loyalty and support to one another as they experienced different milestones in their careers, relationships, and life.

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6. Living Single — Synclaire, Maxine, Khadijah, & Regine

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Often said to be the Black version of the sitcom Friends (despite Friends being a ripoff of the show), Living Single centers on the lives of four bold, sassy, educated women living in Brooklyn. Their lives intersect as they share moments of joy, disappointments, and self-discovery while living single. 

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7. Girls Trip — Dina, Ryan, Sasha, & Lisa

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A wildly successful comedic film featuring Regina Hall, Queen Latifah, Tiffany Haddish, and Jada Pinkett Smith as they travel to New Orleans to attend Essence Fest, in hopes of rekindling their friendship. The best part of this film was seeing these women have fun with one another and be careless without having to live up to anyone's expectations.

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8. Set It Off — Cleo, Stony, Frankie, & T.T

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Who better to rob a bank with than your friends, right? In Set It Off, four friends come together, each with their reasons, to stage a bank robbery to provide a better life for themselves and their families. While an unconventional friendship, these women lived by the ride-or-die code.

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9. Hidden Figures — Katherine, Dorothy, & Mary

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Hidden Figures tells the real-life story of Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson, and Dorothy Vaughan — the integral role they played in the mathematics field while working at NASA during the Space Race. The film stars Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monáe, as they explore the misogyny and racism these women faced at NASA. Despite it all, they encouraged and motivated one another in a male-dominated field.

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10. First Wives Club — Bree, Hazel, & Ariel

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"Friendship is about the moments we share," and in this BET series, three women — each dealing with problems in their marriage — support and comfort each other as they juggle their lives and relationships. This show explores just how important platonic relationships can be.

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11. Sistas —Andi, Karen, Danni, & Sabrina

Tyler Perry Studios

Created by Tyler Perry, the show Sistas surrounds a group of single Black women as they take on the challenges of managing their friendships, dating, and their careers. The show dives deep into each woman's journey as they navigate the ups and downs life throws their way.

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12. Dear White People — Sam & Joelle

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Fashionably chic and exuding Black Girl Magic, Samantha White (Logan Browning) and Joelle Brooks (Ashley Blaine Ferguson) were friendship goals in Dear White People. They met in the comment section of the article Sam wrote titled, Don't Fall in Love with Your Oppressor, and  from there, the rest was history. Living together as roommates, they challenged and held each other accountable as friends throughout the show. 

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13. One on One — Breanna & Spirit

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You couldn't pull these two teenage girls apart! Spirit (Sicily) and Breanna (Kyla Pratt) were as thick as thieves in this show. As teen girls dealing with puberty and new relationships, they gossiped to each other about everything. Sure, there were moments where they both did some shady things to each other, but they were always able to communicate and mend their friendship. 

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14. Martin — Pam and Gina

Fox

While fans were definitely entertained by the bickering between Martin (Martin Lawrence) and Pam (Tichina Arnold), they also enjoyed the best friend dynamic between Pam and Gina (Tisha Campbell). Best friends in real life, Tisha and Tichina had great chemistry playing Pam and Gina and gave us plenty of laugh-out-loud moments on-screen. They didn't always agree, but they always held each other down.

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15. Lastly, Woman King — Izogie & Nawi

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The Woman King was the blockbuster movie last year that centered on female empowerment and sisterhood. Izogie (Lashana Lynch) was one of the veteran warriors who had Nawi (Theso Mbedu), one of the newest warrior trainees, under her wing. Although they weren't necessarily the best of friends, their relationship highlighted the power of mentorship and belonging in a sister circle.

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Is there a female friendship that stood out to you that didn't make the list? Tell us about it in the comments below!