Collage by Sammy Bates
Looking for a great way to celebrate Black History Month? Look no further than these films. They chronicle Black history and culture and celebrate the brilliant artistry of Black actors, writers, directors and filmmakers.
1. Nickel Boys
Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name, this film is one of the best and most unique films of the past year. It chronicles the lives of two young, Black boys in Florida who meet while attending a reform school. The first-person perspective shooting style immerses the audience into these experiences as Director RaMell Ross blends documentary footage and narrative fiction.
2. 12 Years a Slave
Directed by Steve McQueen, “12 Years a Slave” follows the story of real-life abolitionist Solomon Northup based on his 1853 slave memoir. Its honest and brutal depiction of slavery gained critical acclaim as it received the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2013. This film was responsible for the introduction to the now iconic Lupita Nyong’o. It garnered her a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award as well.
3. 13th
This 2016 documentary is a thorough analysis of the systemic racism entrenched in mass incarceration. Activists, scholars and politicians weigh in on and contextualize the history of the phenomenon.
4. When They See Us
This Netflix limited series chronicles the true story of the “Central Park Five,” a group of five young, Black boys who were falsely accused and imprisoned for the rape of a jogger in 1989 in New York.
5. Selma
Winner of the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Motion Picture, “Selma” follows Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his followers’ march from Selma to Montgomery which led to the singing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
6. Malcolm X
Directed by legendary Black Filmmaker Spike Lee, “Malcolm X” is a biographical drama following iconic black activist Malcolm X.
7. Judas and the Black Messiah
Led by the Academy Award-winning performance of Daniel Kaluuya, this film tells the true story of FBI informant William O’Neil’s infiltration of the Chicago chapter of the Black Panther party led by chairman Fred Hampton.
8. Till
Based on the foundational Black history story of 14-year-old Emmett Till, who was brutally lynched to death in 1955, this film takes a unique angle positioning the film from the perspective of his mother, Mamie Till. It follows his mother’s fight for justice not only for her son but for racial equality at large as she bravely uses her tragedy as an example.
9. Blindspotting
Written by and starring Daveed Diggs, of Hamilton fame, “Blindspotting” is a fictional story of a man named Colin who is in his final three days on probation following prior incarceration. Police brutality is viewed through a modern lens and explored in depth as Colin witnesses a shooting firsthand.
10. Just Mercy
Based on his autobiographical novel, this story follows the story of Bryan Stevenson as he goes to Alabama to defend people who do not have proper representation or have been falsely accused of a crime. The story surrounds him taking on Walter McMillan, a wrongly accused Black man on death row, in 1987, and the remarkable work he did which ultimately saved Walter’s life
11. Hidden Figures
“Hidden Figures” tells the true story of three brilliant, Black women working at NASA. It spotlights their incredible accomplishments and achievements in aiding the first person to orbit the earth, John Glenn. It covers the discrimination, trials and tribulations of their revolutionary work as women of color.
12. If Beale Street Could Talk
From legendary writer/director Barry Jenkins, this film adapts one of James Baldwin’s seminal works. While the criminal justice system is a plot point, the heart and soul of this film lie in the beautiful Black love story at the center.
13. I Am Not Your Negro
Narrated by Samuel L. Jackson, this documentary explores the history of racism in the United States. It does this primarily through the unfinished manuscript of “Remember This House” by James Baldwin.
14. Blackklansman
Set in 1970s Colorado, Blackklansman details the true story of Ron Stallworth, the first African-American officer hired at the Colorado Spring Police Department, and his infiltration inside the local chapter of the Ku Klux Klan.
15. The Color Purple
This iconic fixture of culture and society, both in film and on Broadway, spans over 40 years of life with Celie, a Black woman living in the South, facing bigotry and ultimately being sold by her abusive father into marriage with a cruel farmer. The story, originated by Alice Walker in her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, has seen countless adaptations with immense talent and received critical acclaim in all its incarnations.
16. Get Out
Though not historical or biographical, this groundbreaking thriller is spearheaded by writer/director Jordan Peele in his directorial debut. The utilization of the psychological horror genre to depict social and political issues of racism was revolutionary. It was unlike anything ever done before. It broke the record for the highest-grossing debut of a writer/director based on an original screenplay.
17. American Fiction
This 2023 Best Picture Nominee follows a novelist as he navigates and realizes the exploitative and ignorant nature of the publishing industry as well as the consumer appetite for stories that perpetuate harmful stereotypes about Black people rather than something honest or authentic to and for Black authors.
18. Summer of Soul
“Summer of Soul” is a documentary about the Harlem Culture Festival in 1969. It is a jubilant celebration of all of the talent, history, culture and music.
19. John Lewis: Good Trouble
This documentary follows the life and work of civil rights activist and current United States Congressman John Lewis. It chronicles his life and legacy in his over 60 years of work tackling civil rights and voting rights among many other causes.
20. Harriet
“Harriet” is a film adaptation of the iconic American freedom fighter Harriet Tubman and her work in the Underground Railroad. Both her escape from slavery and her liberation of hundreds of other slaves take center stage. Nominated for Best Original Song, “Stand Up” performed by Cynthia Erivo is a profoundly beautiful and haunting anthem.
21. Rustin
“Rustin” tells the true story of Baynard Rustin, advisor to Martin Luther King Jr. as he fights injustice and pursues racial equality. As an openly gay, Black man, Rustin faces incredible prejudice and discrimination both through racism and homophobia. As a result, Rustin had largely been skimmed over in discussions of this portion of history. This film shines a light on him, his life and his contributions which have gone unnoticed for far too long.
22. The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson
This Netflix documentary re-examines the life and death of Black, transgender legend Marsha P. Johnson. It follows an investigation into her 1992 death which was originally ruled to be a suicide despite suspicious circumstances which indicate a murder.
23. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
In his last performance before his death, Chadwick Boseman stars alongside Viola Davis in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”. The film focuses on legendary Blues singer Ma Rainey and her band as they record their music.
24. Moonlight
The 2016 Academy Award Best Picture-winning film “Moonlight” chronicles the life of a young, Black man named Chiron. It follows Chiron through three separate timelines and periods of his life. The intersection of Black-male identity and queerness is a major theme explored beautifully throughout the film. It was the first LGBTQ mass-marketed film with an all-black cast.
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