Written by St. Law U Contributor: Maya Mackey (’24)
One of my favorite things about studying Film and Representation is the opportunity to learn by watching movies—both viewing them through a critical lens, as well as for the purpose of being entertained. Films may also be used as effective teaching tools by exposing viewers to different perspectives. As we celebrate Black History Month this February, I created a list of eight movies to watch to learn about Black culture and history, listed chronologically by release date. Of course, it wasn’t easy to narrow my list down to just eight movies. There are so many notable films and television programs directed and written by talented persons of color. These are only a few movies (most of which are directed by and feature people of color) that educated me.
1. Do the Right Thing (Lee, 1989)
Do the Right Thing is written and produced by one of the most influential directors of our time—Spike Lee. This film features the protagonist Mookie (played by Spike Lee), who works at a local pizzeria owned by an Italian man, Sal Fragione, and his two sons, Vito and Pino. The inside of Sal’s restaurant showcases a Wall of Fame, depicting Italian actors and actresses. Because the shop is situated in a predominantly black neighborhood, local resident Buggin’ Out (played by Giancarlo Esposito) thinks that Sal should have more pictures of famous people of color. As tensions rise and more characters are introduced, Mookie has to decide between keeping his job at Sal’s pizzeria or staying true to his beliefs. This movie is one of the first to exhibit police brutality, along with serious questions of racism, making it still extremely relevant in today’s world.
2. Boyz N the Hood (Singleton, 1991)
In Boyz N the Hood, protagonist Tre Styles is sent to live with his father, Furious Styles (played by Laurence Fishbourne), in Los Angeles. Furious teaches Tre about respect and hard work, and in the meantime, Tre quickly becomes friends with many of the other kids living in his neighborhood. Early on, Tre learns that his friends–Doughboy (Ice Cube) and Ricky (Morris Chestnut)–don’t have the necessary resources and support to avoid the prominent and dangerous drug and gang culture in their community. However, Tre is fortunate to have a father that instilled important values within him. This coming of age story is one of my favorites—it made me laugh and cry—a genuinely moving and relatable film about growing up in an impoverished neighborhood.
3. Friday (Gray, 1995)
One Friday, protagonist Craig Jones has a lot going on—he’s just gotten fired from his job, he isn’t getting along with his girlfriend, he has a crush on the girl next door, the neighborhood bully has it out for him, and to top it all off, his best friend Smokey owes a local drug dealer money. Smokey and Craig experience the collision that is Urban life—getting high, confronting crackheads, and dealing with lower-level violence—all the while attempting to secure 200 dollars by the end of the day so that Smokey can pay his plug and make it to Saturday. This movie spans the course of a singular Friday, one that Craig will be sure to remember for a long time. This movie is a comedy and another coming of age story—brilliantly told and managing to be relevant to the conversation while being extremely enjoyable.
4. 12 Years a Slave (McQueen, 2013)
Based on true events, 12 Years A Slave is the tale of a free black man living in Saratoga Springs, tricked and kidnapped by two white men who sell him into slavery in the South. For twelve years, Solomon experiences the full cruelty of slavery—he goes by the name of “Platt,” and he shifts from owner to owner, earning a little appreciation everywhere he goes with his fantastic ability to play the violin. Solomon is forced into the hands of a brutal plantation owner and almost loses any existing hope that he may see his family again. Solomon must adapt to slave-life and must act as though he isn’t educated. He struggles with what remains of his dignity, all the while witnessing the horrors of enslavement firsthand. This movie is captivatingly powerful, heartbreaking, and suspenseful all at once. I don’t say this lightly: This. Movie. Is. A. Must. Watch.
5. Hidden Figures (Melfi, 2016)
Based on real events, Hidden Figures portrays three brilliant African American women that worked at NASA—Katharine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson,) Dorothy Vaughn (Octavia Spencer,) and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monae)—and accomplished one of the most memorable feats of intellectual ability in American history: launching the astronaut John Glenn into orbit, all while facing discrimination, segregation, and sexism in the workplace. Hidden Figures tackles the topics of intersectionality and prejudice while simultaneously portraying the true and concealed story of the three black women that inspired national confidence by pushing the United States far ahead in the Space Race. Johnson, Vaughn, and Jackson remain legends in the science community, not just for their work at NASA but for their determination to succeed in fields typically dominated by white men (and often, white women.)
6. Moonlight (Jenkins, 2016)
In this coming of age story, we witness three chapters of protagonist Chiron’s life, from when he is an elementary-age child to an adult. Growing up gay and black, Chiron faces pressure and discrimination from all sides; toxic masculinity constantly lurks in the shadows, and Chiron must learn to rely on his community as his mother battles addiction. These three chapters will forever define Chiron’s identity—three chapters in which we watch Chiron learn about trust, kindness, and self-acceptance. This movie explores intersectionality, sexual and racial identity, and masculinity theory—not to mention, it won the Academy Award for Best Picture at the 2017 Oscars.
7. The Hate U Give (Tillman, 2018)
Based on the best-selling novel The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, the brave Starr Carter grapples with her “double-sided” identity—the way she acts at her majority-white private school is quite different from how she acts in her impoverished mostly-black neighborhood. Everything changes when Starr witnesses police brutality firsthand, and a white law enforcement officer fatally shoots her childhood best friend, Khalil, in front of her. Starr faces immense pressure from all forms of society surrounding her—the pressure to speak up, the pressure to stay quiet—and she is forced to decide to use her voice and stand up for what’s right. Given the recent resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement, this movie is extremely relevant—and it will make you question yourself and your beliefs. This film gave me all of the feels; I cried, laughed, was angry, and was inspired…you get the gist. The book is also fantastic, be sure to give it a read before watching the movie and compare and contrast how Starr Carter struggles with racism, white privilege, the subject of intersectionality and identity conflicts. This film was one of the best of 2018, and I don’t have enough wonderful things to say about it—powerful, moving, and relatable to young audiences, a great watch without a doubt.
8. Green Book (Farrelly, 2018)
It’s 1962, and famous African American pianist Dr. Don Shirley requires a driver (and protection) as he travels on a concert tour throughout the South of the United States. Dr. Shirley hires Italian-American Tony Lip hailing from the Bronx as his driver, and the two form a strange relationship despite their differences and prejudices. Lip and Shirley confront racism and segregation in the heart of the South, where many African Americans are suffering from widespread social injustice and oppression. Both Tony and Dr. Shirley learn about themselves throughout the journey, gaining new perspectives with every couple of miles traveled. Each reconsiders how their identities have been altered because of it. I felt that it was imperative for me to mention this movie, as the actor who plays Tony Lip is St. Law U alumna, Viggo Mortensen—you may also know him as Aragorn from The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Besides that, however, this movie is a wonderful display of camaraderie and stands as a reminder that friendships may form due to the most unexpected circumstances.
As we amplify Black voices throughout February (and beyond!), support some creative and talented directors, producers, and actors of color by watching a few of these classic films. For me, movies remain a significant source of enjoyment and education. Not only will you be glad you watched these titles—you’ll learn something too.