Chapter 13: Working in Shondaland: Representations of African American Women in Leadership

Thursday evening programming holds a special significance in American television. Networks command high prices for advertising slots on Thursday nights as companies make one last marketing attempt before the weekend. Currently, ABC’s Thursday night programming consists entirely of dramas produced by ShondaLand, the production company of Shonda Rhimes. The lineup of Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and How to Get Away with Murder draws millions of viewers each week. A striking theme among these shows is the inclusion of strong female roles portraying women who are successful in their respective professional arenas. Further, many of Rhimes’s key characters are African American women.