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Art is most effective when it reflects the world around us, provides insight into other people's lives, teaches us something about our past so we don't forget where we come from, or serves as a mirror to our own life. If we're lucky, it'll be all of the above. Adding more diverse films to your repertory, regardless of your background, tells Hollywood how much we want them, so let Black History Month be the spark for committing to changing up your movie night menu. Not only will viewing more Black history movies help you understand more about the subject. It also contributes to the cause of harmonizing media with the reality of the world we live in.
This needs to change now. Putting our money, time and most importantly our eyes into it is one of the finest ways to show production firms that we want more diverse films: that are directed by and starring African-American actors.
Here is my list of the most iconic movies in Black cinema and documentaries about Black history that you should watch!
1. Malcolm X
3hr 22m
Drama
(1992 Film)
A memorial to the controversial black activist and leader of the black liberation movement. During his imprisonment in the 1950s, he descended to his lowest point, becoming a Black Muslim and later a leader in the Nation of Islam. His assassination in 1965 created a legacy of ethnic pride and self-determination.
After seeing the movie, I realized that we do have the capacity to change our own life, and that fate does not have all of the cards. The film is both inspirational and informative, as well as entertaining, as films must be in order to be anything else.
2. Pay It No Mind: Marsha P. Johnson
54m
(2012 Documentary)
Marsha P. Johnson was a groundbreaking trans activist, Stonewall initiator, Andy Warhol model, drag queen, prostitute, hungry actor, and Saint who was a downtown NYC presence from the 1960s until her untimely death in 1992. Johnson's middle initial, P, meant for "Pay It No Mind," and she persevered throughout her life.
Today Marsha’s legacy lives on within the LGBTQ community and beyond.
Watch here:
3. Moonlight
1h 51m
(2016 Film)
Drama/LGBT/Semi-autobiographical
Juan, a drug dealer, mentors Chiron, a young African-American child, and instructs him to forge his own path. Juan's wisdom has a lasting impact on him as he grows up in Miami.
It portrays the narrative of a young Black guy coming to terms with his attraction to other males, based on Tarell Alvin McCraney's unpublished play 'In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue'
On top of that, it was the first film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture with an all African-American cast, as well as the first featuring a homosexual lead character.
Why is it worth a watch?
Every second of the film is extremely detailed and beautiful. Whether it's the captivating narrative, the gorgeously photographed scenes, or the gripping performances from the whole ensemble, the film excels in every category. It is a narrative of a person's journey through significant life events.
4. I Am Not Your Negro
1h 35m
(2016 Documentary)
Through Baldwin's recollections of civil rights leaders Medgar Evers, Malcolm X, and Martin Luther King Jr., as well as his own views of American history, the video covers the history of racism in the United States.
I Am Not Your Negro is an explosive picture of how far we've come and how far we still have to go. It's an essential documentary about writer/theorist/cultural and film critic/icon James Baldwin, is well worth anyone's time, but especially so during the chaos of The Now.
5. Judas and the Black Messiah
2h 5m
(2021 Film)
Drama/Crime
“I am a revolutionary!”
The film follows Fred Hampton, the leader of the Panthers' Illinois branch, through the last year or so of his life. He was only 21 years old when he was slain by Chicago cops during an FBI-planned raid on his flat in 1969.
Why you should watch it
The play Judas and the Black Messiah is a call to action: a revolution will never come unless we work together and commit to it. It's not just about you or me; it's about all of us. It's thrilling to witness a film depict history in such a way that it's still painfully relevant now.
The Black Lives Matter and anti-fascist rallies that we are seeing now are in the lineage of the Panthers' efforts. One can't help but believe that we've been given this picture now because we're now ready to confront history as it was, rather than how it's been taught to us through the years.
6. Soul
1h 40m
(2020 Film)
Family/Adventure
Joe is a middle-school band director whose life hasn't gone quite as planned. His primary love is jazz, and he's very talented at it. However, when he journeys to another dimension to assist someone in discovering their true calling, he quickly learns what it means to have soul.
Soul is truly a visual and auditory delight. In this film, jazz music takes center stage, offering a captivating soundscape rooted in African-American history and culture. Soul earned the Golden Globe and Academy Award for Best Original Score for a cause, let's just say.
7.Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
1h 34m
(2020 Film)
Drama/Musical
“The mother of the blues.”
The drama is set at a recording studio in 1920s Chicago and explores problems of race, art, religion, and white producers' historical abuse of Black recording artists. The title of the play is a reference to Ma Rainey's song of the same name, which is about the Black Bottom dance. It's a personal, dramatic experience about art and its place in society, with excellent writing and a Boseman performance guaranteed to make you cry.
8. I May Destroy You
Drama
(2020 series)
Season one = 12 EP
I May Destroy You follows Arabella Essiedu (Michaela), a TV writer who tries to go on with her life after being drugged and raped. Michaela gave a talk at the Edinburgh International Television Festival in 2018 on her experience as a real-life sexual assault survivor.
This film is packed with strong performances, new writing, and breathtaking photography support the comedy-drama. Worth a watch!
9. Black Art: The Absence of Light
1h 25m
(2021 Documentary)
A documentary based on David Driskell's exhibition Two Centuries of Black American Art.
Black Art: In The Absence of Light is a celebration of African-American art. Sam Pollard, a veteran documentarian, directs this look at that groundbreaking show and all the artists who were influenced by it.
10. High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America
Cuisine/Culture/Society
(2021 Documentary)
Season one = 4 EP
There aren't many shows that focus on Black Americans' contributions to the culinary world, but Netflix's High on the Hog does an excellent job of it, transporting you back and forth in time through food and culture. Stephen Satterfield, the host, goes to Benin and throughout the United States in four episodes, meeting with, relishing, and learning about Black cooks from the past and today. Check it out to learn about Gullah traditions, an 1800s Wall Street oyster enterprise, and the US's 200-year-old roots of mac & cheese.
11. Atlanta
Comedy/Drama
(2016 TV show)
3 Seasons
Earn (Donald Glover) attempts to redeem himself in the eyes of his ex-girlfriend Van (Zazie Beetz), who is also the mother of his daughter Lottie; as well as his parents and his cousin Alfred (Brian Tyree Henry), who raps under the stage name "Paper Boi," throughout his everyday life in Atlanta, Georgia. Earn has no money and no house after dropping out of Princeton University, so he alternates between residing with his parents and his ex-girlfriend. When he finds that his cousin is on the edge of popularity, he makes an effort to reconnect with him in order to better his and his daughter's lives.
12. Insecure
Comedy
Five seasons
(2016 TV show)
The embarrassing experiences and raunchy difficulties of a modern-day African-American lady are chronicled in this film. Issa and Molly, two female protagonists who have been best friends since their college days at Stanford life of his daughter, unpacked stories of the black female experience from the perspective of two female protagonists, Issa and Molly, who have been best friends since their college days at Stanford.
13. Summer of Soul
1hr 58m
Music/Culture/Society
(2021 Documentary)
Thousands of people visit the Harlem Cultural Festival over the course of six weeks in the summer of 1969 to celebrate Black history, culture, music, and fashion.
Why worth a watch?
This Sundance award-winner is a one of a kind experience to see, revealing a treasure trove of heart-racing, heart-stopping live music show (originally filmed by TV veteran Hal Tulchin) that has never been seen for half a century.
14. The Harder They Fall
2h 17m
Western
(2021 Film)
"The Harder They Fall" appears to be a vengeance thriller about a guy chasing for the killer of his parents. But there's a lot more behind that. It's a love tale about two guys who, as a result of their loss, are trapped in a never-ending cycle of violence. It's a scenario in which the hunter and the prey are essentially the same person, culminating in a tear-filled climactic showdown.
The Harder They Fall works well as a modern revival Western. It's stylish from here to well over there, and believe me, that's quite a distance. Sure, it wears its inspirations on its sleeve, but it also features brilliant direction and performances from an all black cast. This isn't just diversity, but history in the making.
15. BlacKkKlansman
2h 8m
(2018 Film)
Drama/Crime
Ron Stallworth is the Colorado Springs Police Department's first African-American investigator. Stallworth, determined to create a name for himself, embarks on a perilous journey to infiltrate and expose the Ku Klux Klan. The investigator quickly enlists the help of a more experienced colleague, Flip Zimmerman, in the life-changing undercover probe. They join forces to bring down the radical hate group, which is attempting to clean its speech in order to appeal to a wider audience.
BlacKkKlansman has a lot of source material to work with because it's based on a genuine story. Directors have a propensity to stick to the book's rhythm, but this time the pacing is nicely translated to film. There are no forced or superfluous storylines, and the occasional injection of comedy makes it easy to watch.
16. 12 Years A Slave
2h 14m
(2013 Film)
Drama/History
Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery in the South in the years leading up to the Civil War. As he strives to survive and keep some dignity while being subjected to the abuse of one wicked master (Michael Fassbender), he receives surprising generosity from another. Then, in the 12th year of his harrowing struggle, Solomon has a fortuitous encounter with a Canadian abolitionist who alters his life forever.
Despite its difficulty, 12 Years a Slave is well worth viewing, especially with older children and teens. It's moving, and the extremely superb acting and writing keep you on the edge of your seat as you feel an inkling of Solomon's agony develop in your own heart.
17. Juice
1h 35m
Crime
(1992 Film)
Bishop (Tupac Shakur), Q (Omar Epps), Steel (Jermaine Hopkins), and Raheem (Khalil Kain) are four Harlem pals who dabble in little crime before deciding to go big by robbing a convenience store. Bishop, the group's magnetic commander, wields the weapon. Q, on the other hand, has distinct goals. He aspires to be a DJ and was scheduled to perform the night of the heist. Unfortunately for him, in a game where everything is on the line, Bishop isn't ready to accept no for an answer.
18. Them
Drama
(2021 TV Series)
Season one = 9 EP
Them is a brutal picture of racial fear in the 1950s, centered on a Black family who relocates to Compton, Los Angeles, at the time a predominantly white suburb. I'm not going to lie: each episode will leave you scared, afraid, angry, or extremely uneasy. While the Amazon anthology series is similar to the recent genre of popular semi-supernatural Black horror films, such as Jordan Peele's Get Out (which is on our list below) and Us, it has sparked far more debate among audiences, with many claiming that the excessive violence is exaggerated and exploits Black trauma. The series' masterful mix of both mystical and historical realism to convey how everyday anti-Black racism affects the mind kept me watching.
19. Glory
2h 2m
(1989 Film)
War/Drama
Following the Battle of Antietam, Col. Robert Gould Shaw (Matthew Broderick) is given command of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, the United States' first all-African-American regiment.
Shaw assembles a powerful and proud regiment with subordinate officer Cabot Forbes (Cary Elwes), which includes fugitive slave Trip (Denzel Washington) and wise gravedigger John Rawlins (Morgan Freeman).
The unit fights to be placed in the thick of battle after being relegated to mundane physical chores at initially.
If you're interested in the American Civil War and the historical events that occurred during that time period, "Glory" is a must-see film. It's not only a fun movie, but it's also informative. This is unquestionably a classic film.
20. Dope
1h 43m
(2015 Film)
Comedy/Drama
Malcolm (Shameik Moore) and his buddies Jib (Tony Revolori) and Diggy (Kiersey Clemons) are high school seniors who connect over hip-hop culture from the 1990s, their schoolwork, and making music in their own punk band. Malcolm and his friends end up to a drug dealer's birthday party after a chance encounter with Dom; when the setting gets violent, they run — with the Ecstasy that Dom had hidden in Malcolm's backpack. As the teens try to avoid armed gangsters after the stockpile, a crazy adventure begins.
Dope is the epitome of what a coming-of-age tale should be: a story that blends cultures, values, and the present with the past. Growing up is, in some ways, about examining who raised you, the current views around you, and what you enjoy before selecting who you want to be. That's what Malcom and Dope do when they're not geeking out about 90's hip hop. The ultimate result is a lighthearted and emotional tale that blurs the barriers between color, genre, and, most crucially, expectation.
21. Straight Outta Compton
2h 27m
(2015 Film)
Drama/Crime
In 1988, a pioneering new group changes and influences hip-hop forever, revolutionizing music and mainstream culture: N.W.A
The brutally honest picture of life in Southern Los Angeles on N.W.A's debut studio album, "Straight Outta Compton," has sparked debate. Ice Cube (O'Shea Jackson Jr.), Dr. Dre (Corey Hawkins), Eazy-E, DJ Yella, and MC Ren make their way through the business with the help of experienced manager Jerry Heller, gaining fame, money, and a place in history.
Why worth watching?
The film offers more than just how an iconic movement started. The acting performances, tempo, music, and plot are all fantastic. I'd gladly watch it again and suggest it to anybody interested in learning more about how society perceived rap, hiphop, and black culture.
22. Love & Basketball
2h
(2000 Film
Romance/Sport
Monica (Sanaa Lathan) and Quincy (Omar Epps) are childhood friends who want to play professional basketball. Quincy is a natural talent and a born leader, while his father, Zeke (Dennis Haysbert), plays for the Los Angeles Clippers. Monica is fiercely competitive, yet she can be excessively passionate on the court at times. Over time, the two develop feelings for one another, but their distinct paths to basketball success threaten to split them.
Why watch it now?
The themes of gender equality in Love & Basketball is as potent as the message of race — albeit the racial and economic overtones are far more veiled.
23. Miss Juneteenth
1h 43m
Drama
(2020 Film)
'Miss Juneteenth' is more socially observant and yet a light-on-its-feet drama than 'Dumplin,' another recent (and still charming) film about a pageant parent at odds with her kid.
Turquoise is a young, stubborn single mother seeking to encourage her adolescent daughter while navigating her own wrecked fate, played by Nicole Beharie.
It's not only very well-shot, but it's gripping from beginning to end, as debut writer/director Channing Godfrey Peoples subtly blends depressing racial history into the small-town Texas backdrop and Turquoise's personal journey.
In all, Miss Juneteenth Is a gentle beautiful film that celebrates Black Girlhood.
24. One Night in Miami
1h 50m
(2020 film)
Drama/Political
Cassius Clay meets Jim Brown, Sam Cooke, and Malcolm X in Miami on the night of February 25, 1964, to address the responsibilities of being successful black men amid the civil rights struggle.
"One Night in Miami" showcases that conflict is only a tiny element of the story. There are a lot of Black movies influenced by history that are tinged by grief, but there aren't many that are easy and secure in celebration, leaving the audience with a sense of growing delight and pride.
One of them remarks at one point that Black power, a term that white Americans have come to fear, is neither disrespectful nor violent. He defines power as a world in which we are free to be ourselves. For the first time, King is using her authority as a director, and what we've seen so far makes us want to participate in future projects.
25. Queen & Slim
2h 12m
(2019 Film)
Drama/Romance
When a police officer pulls Slim and Queen over for a minor traffic infraction, their first date takes an unexpected turn. Slim steals the officer's gun and shoots him in self-defense as the situation intensifies. Slim and Queen believe they have no choice but to flee and dodge the authorities now that they have been labeled cop murders by the media. The unwitting criminals quickly become a symbol of anguish, dread, sadness, and agony for people all throughout the country as a video of the episode goes viral.
This film is usually gratified as a classic to watch during Black History Month. However, I do agree with an article by a talented writer called Courtney on Medium.com. It goes like this, 'Queen & Slim Isn’t For Black People'. This great analysis showcases another perspective that many don't think about when it comes to the central themes of this film.
Nevertheless, Queen and Slim uses symbolism in the from of a rhetorical question to compel African Americans to recognize their potential while also telling them that they are the only thing preventing them from reaching it, so that issues like police brutality, poverty, and racism may be addressed.
26. Boyz n the Hood
1h 52m
(1991 Film)
Crime/Drama
Tre (Cuba Gooding Jr.) is assigned to live in dangerous South Central Los Angeles with his father, Furious Styles (Larry Fishburne). Tre's friends Doughboy (Ice Cube) and Ricky (Morris Chestnut) are drawn into the neighborhood's booming drug and gang culture, with increasingly tragic results, despite his hard-nosed father instilling proper values and respect in him and his devout girlfriend Brandi (Nia Long) teaching him about faith.
Boyz n the hood is relevant to Black History Month because it compelled viewers to realize structural oppression, from poverty to the police, as well as the manner in which these young guys were victims of their surroundings. We don't need to go into how widespread the police violence shown in the 1991 film is currently in 2021.
27. Freedom Riders
2h
History
(2010 Documentary)
From May through November 1961, more than 400 black and white Americans journeyed across the South in a nonviolent act of protest, defying Jim Crow laws that separated the transportation system. This tragic documentary chronicles their ordeal, including the beatings, incarceration, and horrendous bigotry they faced as a result.
Why you should watch it?
Freedom Riders is an inspiritional, yet frightening and powerful true story tthat changed America forever.
The legitimacy of the American Civil Rights Movement was reinforced by them and their actions, as well as the violent reactions they elicited. They drew national attention to the contempt for federal law and the use of local violence in the South to impose segregation.
Watch here:
28. Blindspotting
1h 35m
(2018 Film)
Drama/Comedy
Blindspotting is a film that will stay with you for a long time.
The film explores themes of racism and gentrification (especially in the San Francisco Bay Area), with shocking humour thrown in for good measure.
This makes it not only a fun work of art, but also an essential one that depicts the devastating effects of institutional racism on communities and individuals.
Its message reaches beyond the Bay Area to a nation that has long ignored the consequences of its policies and the ongoing marginalisation of people of colour.
I hope you enjoyed the list!
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