Feb 16

Feb 16 Viewing Recommendations for Black History Month

Viewing Recommendations for Black History Month

Here, in the middle of February, we are celebrating Black History Month. Given the summer that we just witnessed and the affirmation that racism, unfortunately, remains alive and thriving in the United States, it is imperative that we aim to educate ourselves as much as possible on matters of black history as well as confronting the problems of the present. Here are my recommendations for films (both nonfiction and fiction, but all true at their hearts) that will encourage reflection on the black experience in this country. I grouped films as I felt them speaking and reacting to one other in my viewing, but, of course, they all are participants in an endless dialogue about the complicated and intertwined black experience in America. For those of us who wish to see a better world the first step is understanding the core of the issues at hand, so I sincerely hope you take the time to seek out some of these titles.

History and Legacy of American Slavery:

12 Years a Slave (2013, dir. Steve McQueen)

13th (2016, dir. Ava DuVernay)

Civil Rights Leaders:

Malcolm X (1992, dir. Spike Lee)

Selma (2014, dir. Ava DuVernay)

I Am Not Your Negro (2016, dir. Raoul Peck)

Neighborhoods, Gentrification, and Cultural Identity:

A Raisin in the Sun (1961, dir. Daniel Petrie)

The Last Black Man in San Francisco (2019, dir. Joe Talbot)

The (In)Justice System:

If Beale Street Could Talk (2018, dir. Barry Jenkins)

Just Mercy (2019, dir. Destin Daniel Cretton)

LGBTQ+:

Paris Is Burning (1990, dir. Jennie Livingston)

Tangerine (2015, dir. Sean Baker)

Moonlight (2016, dir. Barry Jenkins)

Microaggressions: A Comedy-Horror Double Feature:

Get Out (2017, dir. Jordan Peele)

Sorry to Bother You (2018, dir. Boots Riley)

Even More Spike Lee (Because He’s That Good):

Do the Right Thing (1989, dir. Spike Lee)

BlacKkKlansman (2018, dir. Spike Lee)

Da 5 Bloods (2020, dir. Spike Lee)

What films and series do you recommend watching during Black History Month? What are your ideas for fostering conversation about race in your own life? Let us know in the comments below, and keep up the learning and growing!