In no particular order, I have decided to present 10 MUST see movies on Netflix with African-American leads. If you have never seen these movies, you my friend are in need of a weekend movie BINGE. Whether you grab a partner or watch them by yourself, taking the time out of your busy schedule to see these films, will be well worth it!
1. The wood
This movie tells the tale of three lifelong friends reminiscing on their childhood as they prepare for their best friend’s wedding. This movie displays a story of young black men who aren’t into gangs or drugs. If you ever needed to know what true friendship looks like, this is the movie for you.
2. Why do fools fall in love
Why do fools fall in love is the dictionary definition of “Men are Trash”. What’s worse is it’s based on the true story of rock and roll/R&B singer and songwriter, Frankie Lymon. This movie illustrates the life and legacy that the lead singer of the group titled “The Teenagers” left behind.
3. Nappily ever after
Sanaa Lathan plays the lead character, Violet Jones as she comes to terms with finding her identity as an African-American woman. This is a must watch for black women. It truly illustrates how big of an impact our hair sometimes unnecessarily has on our lives.
4. Burning sands
Burning sands or should I say “crossing those burning sands” signifies completing a pledging “process”, also known as being “on- line” for a sorority or fraternity. In this film, Trevor Jackson plays a character that is proud to pledge an African-American fraternity. This movie touches on the hardship of the fraternity and anti-hazing rules. This is truly a must watch.
5. When they see us
The Central Park 5 is one of the most powerful cases in the United States. If you have never heard of this case, you need to google it immediately! Then set aside some time to watch this Emmy Award nominated docuseries. It tells the story of Korey Wise, Kevin Richardson, Antron McCray, Yusef Salaam and Raymond Santana. You won’t be able to keep your eyes off of the screen while watching this thought provoking miniseries, brought to us by Ava Duvernay. When They See Us will evoke every emotion from you.
6. 13th
This is another important documentary that everyone MUST watch. Ava DuVernay touches on the history of racial inequality in America. This film goes into detail about the disproportionate amount of African-American males that are in prison in the United States of America.