In 1968, Ellen Holly became the first Black lead on a soap ("One Life to Live") while the true breakthrough roles had to wait until the '80s with Darnell Williams and Debbi Morgan on "All My Children," then the '90s, with Kristoff St. John on "The Young and the Restless."

Beyond the Gates is the first soap opera to be greenlit in 25 years. The story is led by an affluent Black family named the Duprees, starring actress Tamara Tunie, who plays matriarch, Anita Dupree and actor Clifton Davis who plays patriarch Vernon Dupree.

With a powerhouse cast and an all-star creative team, this is more than just another soap opera—it’s a long-overdue cultural moment.