February is Black History Month. This month, it is crucial to gain greater awareness of the impact and celebrate the Black community’s accomplishments. By engaging with movies of Black talent, we are showing the media what we want to see in Hollywood, as the Black community and other communities of color are significantly underrepresented. Following the Black Lives Matter protests that transpired throughout the world last summer, consider that the catalyst for better understanding the nation and the systemic injustices that remain in effect. In honor of this, here are some fantastic films that can serve as educational tools of the disparities and entertainment classics of Black joy for this month and the months to follow.
- Selma
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This is a take on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s monumental march, along with other civil rights activists, from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. In the year 1965, African Americans faced an immense struggle in obtaining the ability to vote, so they decided to engage in a civil march to the capitol. The result of this march is the ratification of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. However, they were met with violence and blatant racism to achieve that.
- 13th
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13th is a documentary on the premise of the racial inequality that still exists in this nation. The film’s focal point is on the 13th Amendment and the criminal justice system that disproportionately impacts African Americans. This portrayal of the disenfranchisement Black Americans have endured, feared, and still undergo is vital to watch if you are interested in the injustices that remain prevalent in this country and ways to become informed on the issues at hand.
- Moonlight
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Moonlight is one of the most beautiful coming of age films I have ever seen. The story revolves around a young Black man named Chiron. He is a wounded soul who experiences various forms of love, hardship, and pain throughout the crucial ages of young manhood. From the upbringing of neglect, Chiron’s life does not turn into this dream in the end. Despite the setbacks he encounters, he continues to persist.
- Hidden Figures
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Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson are three mathematician African American women who worked at NASA and contributed their brilliance to the Space Race. The film shows the discrimination women faced during the 1960s and the brutal racial segregation that existed. Hidden Figures is a must-watch film that admires the work of Black women.
- Cinderella
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Who doesn’t love a live-action classic fairytale?? The casting for this production is immaculate! There is Brandy, Whitney Houston, and Whoopi Goldberg. Don’t get me started on the musical feature! Brandy plays Cinderella, who is a young woman under the authority of her malevolent stepmother. Through her constant servitude and suffering, Cinderella is rewarded with a fairy godmother who grants her a gift that would change her life. This is a wonderful film for families that spotlights a diverse and talented cast.
- Spider-Man: Into the Universe
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The comic book approach to this film distinguishes it from other animations and is one you will not forget! It is the story of a teenager named Miles Morales, who, like Peter Parker, was bitten by a spider and soon develops bizarre skills. One thing unique, though, is how charismatic Miles appears to viewers. He is a regular person who one day develops these changes overnight. Another exceptional detail of the film is the soundtrack!
- Girls Trip
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This is the perfect movie to watch if you need a good belly laugh! These four best friends decide to take a trip to New Orleans, Louisiana, for a girls’ trip (hence the name). The trip is anything but normal and accurately portrays a wild vacation with your besties. What could go wrong!
- Friday
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Quite possibly the funniest film I have ever seen. Ice Cube and Chris Tucker take viewers on the venture of a chaotic Friday. Craig Jones, who Ice Cube plays, was fired from his job and is left to gather the money he is obligated to repay. His friend Smokey, played by Chris Tucker, decides to help Craig in this unfortunate situation. Along with the peculiar characters, their adventure to collect the sum of money by the end of the day is hectic, to say the least.
- Judas and the Black Messiah
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Newly released, this film calls attention to the Black Panthers’ contributions, specifically chairman Fred Hampton. Hampton, a leader who passed at the young age of 21, demonstrated strength as a young adult to coordinate and operate an organization. This movie is valuable historically, but much of the social issues mentioned are still applicable today.
Happy Black History Month!