She is acutely aware that they pay her less than she deserves, and has learned to bargain for every inkling of fairness or favor that she is owed — With a star-studded cast and equally impressive names behind the camera, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom was one to watch. It debuted on Netflix in December 2020 to much less fanfare than deserved, but made waves all the same, with flawless performances and a narrative both timely and timeless.