15 Must-See Movies This Black History Month
This country would not be where it is today without Black people. Black History is American History. We should celebrate Black American’s contributions to our country every single day. But if you’re extra, extra celebrating this month, here are some movies you should watch:
Malcolm X (1992)
Hulu, HBO Max
Directed by Spike Lee, Denzel Washington is Malcolm X.
In public school, they painted Malcolm as some angry guy inciting violence. This biopic shows him for the Human Rights Activist he was. The influence of the Nation of Islam is particularly fascinating.
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2020)
Netflix
This movie watches like a play because it was once a play. The dialogue and music are incredible. Viola Davis is 1000% diva and you’ll mourn Chadwick Boseman all over again when you see how great his acting is in this. Incredible! May he rest in power.
Whitney: Can I Be Me? (2017)
Hulu
I watched two Whitney documentaries in one night and I can’t remember which this was. One had more interviews than the other. Anyway, there are more than two and you should definitely watch them all! Whitney was, dare I say, the greatest pop singer of all time. She had a drug problem and she was a victim of domestic violence. I wish we had more empathy for her when she was alive. Tragic story of some fantastic talent.
LA92 (2017)
Hulu
Another documentary about the Rodney King story. I was born in 1992, so I don’t remember it. The cops brutalized Rodney and enraged everyone. Tale as old as time. But in 1992, people rioted in the streets. Very much like the reaction in 2020 after George Floyd’s murder — cars on fire, lots of loitering. To the press, Rodney, in fear, coins the phrase to the press “Can’t we all get along?” Chilling!
Ali (2001)
Netflix, Hulu
Will Smith plays Mohammed Ali! Malcolm X shows up in this film too. Both men were members of the Nation of Islam. And both gave themselves new names! The story of Mohammed Ali fighting the draft in court is particularly compelling.
Whose Streets (2017)
Netflix
A documentary highlighting community members of Ferguson, Missouri. They share their outrage over the murder of Michael Brown by officer Darrin Wilson. This was the murder that preceded the Black Lives Matter movement. An important watch.
Poetic Justice (1993)
Prime Video
A fun one starring Tupac Shakur, Janet Jackson, and Regina King. Tupac was such a sensitive artist! I was too young to appreciate him when he was alive. This movie was fun and romantic and made me nostalgic for the 90s.
Judas and the Black Messiah (2021)
Hulu, HBO Max
True story of how William O’Neill betrayed Fred Hampton, a leader of The Black Panther Party. I was also taught in grade school that the Black Panthers were violent and not heroes. This disappoints me! We weren’t taught that the colonists and their uprising was violent in the same way. This movie illuminates that was not the whole story.
Harriet (2019)
Peacock
OK: Move over Marvel! This movie is about a superhero. Harriet Tubman was such a badass. I liked this movie so much more than I thought I would. It’s a great story and there’s good action too. Pop some popcorn and get a deeper understanding of a story we all take for granted.
13th (2016)
Netflix
Roses are red, Doritos are savory. The U.S. Prison System is legalized slavery. A documentary about the 13th amendment and the school-to-prison pipeline. So powerful and disappointing. You get to see interviews with Angela Davis and Michelle Alexander, author of “The New Jim Crow.”
Moonlight (2016)
Hulu
Yes! More intersectionality! Another great story about a black boy’s journey to manhood and how he learns to accept himself. Highlights toxic masculinity and the hardships faced as a parentified child.
Quincy (2018)
Netflix
Filmed and directed by his daughter, Rashida Jones! An inside look into the life of the talented and prolific Quincy Jones. Black American History takes place in the background. Quincy’s musical career and love for his children are in the foreground.
Hidden Figures (2016)
Hulu
Black Women in STEM during Jim Crow. The NASA stuff is pretty cool, but I thought the computer stuff was more cool. This movie does a good job at showing the importance of diversity at work. And how our biases make us overlook great talent.
Antebellum (2020)
Hulu
This movie did a great job at highlighting how fucked up slavery was in a super creative way. It starts slow, but stick with it! Get ready for a sweet paradigm shift. You won’t believe it.
Da 5 Bloods (2020)
Netflix
Started with a Spike Lee movie, so I’ll end with one too. Four Black Veterans who return to Vietnam to commemorate their fallen friend. Be prepared for some gore. But a fascinating story about lifelong friendship and PTSD as Black Vietnam veterans.
