Biography
Neema Barnette is an American film and television director and producer. Born in New York City on 14 December 1949, she trained at the High School of Performing Arts and earned a BA from the City College of New York and an MFA from New York University. She began her career in theatre before moving into television and film.
Barnette was the first African-American woman to direct a primetime sitcom and the first to secure a three-picture deal with Sony Pictures. She has directed episodes of series including The Cosby Show, Gilmore Girls (2000), 7th Heaven, Luke Cage, Blindspot and Black Lightning. Her feature films include Civil Brand (2002) and Woman Thou Art Loosed: On the 7th Day (2012). She founded Harlem Girl Productions in 1990 and has received a Peabody Award, an Emmy Award and NAACP Image Awards.
