Watch The Black Hamptons

The Black Hamptons is a new comedy-drama series that premiered on BET+ in 2022. Set in the exclusive Hamptons community on Long Island, the show follows a group of affluent Black New Yorkers as they navigate work, romance, and family life against the backdrop of this historically white and wealthy enclave.

At the center of the show are long-time Hamptons residents the Brittons, led by patriarch Stephen, a successful hedge fund manager, and his wife Cherise, a powerful attorney. They appear to have it all with their lavish lifestyle, elite social circle, and seemingly perfect family. However, beneath the surface, cracks are beginning to show in their meticulously crafted façade. Their daughter Elle struggles to break free from her parents' rigid expectations and live life on her own terms. Meanwhile, the Brittons' son Marcus returns home after being away and disrupting the family dynamics.

Adding to the mix are the Brittons' close friends, including nouveau-riche power couple Alvin and Yvette, who acquired their wealth quickly and aren't quite as easily accepted into the old-money Hamptons scene. Free-spirited artist Margot finds herself at a crossroads in life and love. Ambitious entrepreneur Anderson navigates tricky business deals and even trickier romantic entanglements. And longtime Hamptonite Sylvia tries to maintain her elite social standing amid shifting family circumstances.

Throughout the first season's 10 episodes, The Black Hamptons explores larger themes of community, race, class, and how the characters both embrace and struggle with the trappings of wealth and success. Romantic relationships are challenged and loyalties tested as buried secrets, old grudges, and painful truths emerge. The show combines juicy soap opera melodrama with nuanced social commentary, all told through the lens of ambitious, aspirational Black professionals claiming their own seat at the table in this rarefied world.

With lavish mansions, exclusive parties, and stunning fashion as the backdrop, creator Mike "Mouse" Jones brings the affluent Black experience to life on the show, thoughtfully examining race and class dynamics along the way. The ensemble cast features actors Jackee Harry as the grande dame of the Hamptons social scene, with Kyle Lydell as Stephen Britton, Stacey Dash as Cherise Britton, and newcomers like Kayla Smith Bumpus as Elle Britton. Behind the scenes, executive producers like Carl Weber lend their storytelling talents.

Critically praised upon release as a fresh voice in Black storytelling, The Black Hamptons offers a new perspective on the one percent, championing the rise of a new Black elite while also questioning the cost of success and inclusion into traditionally white spaces. Equal parts escapist fantasy and social commentary, the show's first season ends on juicy cliffhangers for these rich and ruthless characters, leaving viewers eagerly awaiting the next chapter in this compelling new series. With evocative writing, a talented cast, and lavish production values, The Black Hamptons brings something bold and different to the TV landscape.

The Black Hamptons is a series that ran for 2 seasons (12 episodes) between July 1, 2022 and on BET+