Hollywood Black Book: The Biggest Screenwriters

The best African-American screenwriters.

Shonda Rhimes accepting the Directors Guild Diversity Award:  - “We’re a little pissed off because there still needs to be an award. Like, there’s such a lack of people hiring women and minorities that when someone does it on a regular basis, they are given an award.”  (Photo: Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic)
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Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil - This behind-the-scenes dynamic duo (Mara writes, Salim directs) is responsible for some of our favorite entertainment, from TV shows such as Being Mary Jane, Girlfriends, and The Game to movies like Sparkle. But it took forging out on their own with Akil Productions to get Hollywood to realize two doesn't come for the price of one. "If you want us both, you have to pay us both," Mara says. Still sounds like a deal to us. (Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images)
Tyler Perry - Growing up in New Orleans, Perry's childhood was defined by abuse, suicide attempts and homelessness. But he turned his pain into gain when his plays — which he wrote as a means of dealing with his trying circumstances — started making millions. The rest is like a fairytale. By his early 30s, Perry was a millionaire many times over and Hollywood's most unlikely mogul. (Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images)/content/dam/betcom/images/2011/09/Celebs-09.16-09.30/092211-news-celebs-john-singleton-directs.jpg

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Spike Lee - Not only is Spike Lee a critically acclaimed director, he's a great writer as well. He has written several of his movies, including Mo' Better Blues, Malcolm X and Bamboozled.  (Photo: John Ricard / BET)

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