In New York two detectives of the 87th precinct are initially baffled by the brutal, ritualistic slayings of several young women. Through good detective work and clues left at the crime scenes by the psychopathic killer, they are able to deduce who the killer's next victim will be. A tense chase ensues as they try to prevent him from continuing his bloody rampage

In Harlem in 1987, Claireece "Precious" Jones is a 16-year-old African American girl born into a life no one would want. She's pregnant for the second time by her absent father, and at home she must wait hand and foot on her mother, an angry woman who abuses her emotionally and physically. School is chaotic and Precious has reached the ninth grade with good marks and a secret – she can't read.

A reporter returns to his Florida hometown to investigate a case involving a death row inmate.

Cecil Gaines was a sharecropper's son who grew up in the 1920s as a domestic servant for the white family who casually destroyed his. Eventually striking out on his own, Cecil becomes a hotel valet of such efficiency and discreteness in the 1950s that he becomes a butler in the White House itself. There, Cecil would serve numerous US Presidents over the decades as a passive witness of history with the American Civil Rights Movement gaining momentum even as his family has troubles of its own. As his wife, Gloria, struggles with alcoholism and his defiant eldest son, Louis, strives for a just world, Cecil must decide whether he should take action in his own way.

Emma is a busy doctor who sets up a seemingly perfect arrangement when she offers her best friend Adam a relationship with one rule: No strings attached. But when a fling becomes a thing, can sex friends stay best friends?

Billie Holiday spent much of her career being adored by fans. In the 1940s, the government targeted Holiday in a growing effort to racialize the war on drugs, ultimately aiming to stop her from singing her controversial ballad, "Strange Fruit."

Joey and Alice have hardly enough to keep their heads above water. Alice's wealthy parents disapproved of their daughter marrying Joey but after a while, they had to admit that, together with Emily, their 6 year old little girl, they were a happy family. After Alice's sudden death, Joey takes care of Emily the best he can but doesn't manage too well. After losing his job, he reluctantly agrees with Emily going to live with her grandparents. But Emily isn't happy. When Joey finally realizes this, he fights back.

A woman and her children seemingly live the idyllic suburban dream, but unbeknownst to their neighbors and friends, the kids are being brutally abused by their father who is unable to control his temper.