9 Movies for Celebrating Black History Month

A perfect film for spotlighting black resistance – this year’s Black History Month theme. The film explores the 1955 lynching of 14-year-old Emmett Till through his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, and her relentless pursuit of justice. Following the death of her son, Mamie decided to have an open casket and asked a press photographer to document the funeral. The horrifying photographs showed the world how violent racial hatred was plaguing the U.S., which ultimately helped spark the civil rights movement.

Spotlights the real-life, all-female group of warriors called the Agojie that protected the African kingdom of Dahomey in the 1800s. When they’re faced with a new threat to their way of life, General Nanisca trains the next generation of recruits to fight against the foreign enemy. This is the first time Hollywood has dramatized the compelling history of the Agojie, and one of the few films depicting pre-slavery African history.  “For so long, Hollywood has only ever framed Africa in stereotypical ways,” Aje-Ori Agbese, an expert on African cinema at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, told Ms. magazine. “So [The Woman King], centered on African women and African history, will generate a conversation.”

The film follows two siblings who run a horse ranch on the outskirts of Los Angeles, specializing in training horses for movies. But when they discover something wonderful and sinister in the skies above them, everyone tries to profit from the otherworldly phenomenon. Similar to Peele’s previous two films, this movie once again includes sharp satire with a commentary on human’s need for spectacle, through the lens of a spectacle itself.

The very first mainstream black superhero film, “Black Panther” became a cultural phenomenon when it premiered – opening up the dialogue and personal reflections about black identity in America. Featuring nearly an all-black cast, helmed by a black director, set to a black soundtrack and using an African storyline, the film’s success and thought-provoking discussion on black empowerment demonstrates the importance of diverse representation in Hollywood.

“Respect” is a biographical musical drama highlighting 20 years in the life of Aretha Franklin. Starring Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson, the Queen of Soul was so much more than simply a music icon. This bio spotlights her influence over black history – and history in general – including her significant civil rights activism.

This Shaka King film tells the story of Black Panther Party leader Fred Hampton and William O’Neal, the party member who gave info to the FBI that led to Hampton’s eventual death at the hands of the Chicago police during a raid in 1969. Not only is the film a captivating watch, it’s also serves as a great catalyst for discussion around political and social justice issues of today. “You could call these movies timely, except that the issues they confront, from the exploitation of Black American culture to white supremacy in law enforcement, have never not been timely,” wrote NPR. “As Hampton notes in a speech that seems to describe this fractious nation at any given moment: ‘America's on fire right now, and until that fire is extinguished, don't nothing else mean a damn thing.’”

Modern cinema often lacks proper representation of black fathers – showcasing them as absent or problematic instead of a positive, active influence in their lives. That’s not the case with “King Richard.” The tennis biopic spotlights Richard Williams, father of Serena and Venus Williams, and his unyielding devotion to helping his daughters excel in a predominantly white sport.

Janelle Monae stars as Veronica, a successful author, mother and spouse who finds her world turned upside down when she is abducted and enslaved on a plantation run by what appears to be Confederate soldiers. Veronica must find the strength to stay alive and the courage to help others who have been enslaved find a way out of this mind-numbing living nightmare. “Antebellum” is one-part thriller, one-part social commentary on how racism impacts our culture and continues to divide us.

Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy and message of peaceful protests, “Selma” is the true story of the bold civil rights march King led from Selma to Montgomery to address voting rights in 1965. The movie itself made history when its director, Ava DuVernay, became the first black female director to have her film nominated for the “Best Picture” Oscar.

Ahead of the viewing, promote a writing competition inspired by MLK Jr.’s infamous “I Have a Dream Speech.” Have participants write about what inspires them to change the world, then ask them to come up one by one before the screening to share their written words with the audience. Tally up votes during the movie and announce the winner after the credits roll.

Teach teens about historical African American leaders, inventors and artists with “Who Am I?” Bingo! Start the activity with background on each of your leaders, then test students’ knowledge by calling out the facts Bingo style. Make sure to have prizes on hand for the winners.

Ask one of the local schools to lend their choir for a special performance dedicated to songs of the Civil Rights movement. See if there’s a local historian who can share background information before each song.

All of these films are available for your Black History Month programming!

View our entire collection of Black History Month films or contact us to learn more!