movies to watch for black history month
Image via @brenna_anastasia
It’s Black History Month–a time to honor the contributions African Americans have made throughout history. And with awards season in full swing, there’s no time like the present to celebrate the work of talented black filmmakers and storytellers. That’s why we’ve curated a list of must-see films, from blockbuster superhero films to documentaries. Here, 7 movies to watch for Black History month–and any other time of year.

1. Black Panther

You couldn’t really make it through the past year without hearing about this comic book blockbuster. The tale takes place in Wakanda, a black empire hidden from the rest of the world, and centers on T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman), the son of the king who returns to ascend the throne after his father dies. A battle follows the arrival of Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan) and puts the fate of Wakanda and the rest of the world at risk. Director: Ryan Coogler

2. If Beale Street Could Talk

From the director of 2017’s Best Picture Moonlight and based on the book by James Baldwin, this film is set in early 1970s Harlem and follows the relationship of 19-year-old Tish (Kiki Layne) and 22-year-old sculptor Fonny (Stephan James). They become engaged, Tish subsequently becomes pregnant, and the two families are thrown into turmoil as Fonny is falsely accused of rape. Check out Regina King’s Oscar-nominated supporting actress turn as Tish’s mom Sharon. Director: Barry Jenkins
3. Blackkklansmen

This film, based on actual events, earned Spike Lee his first best director Oscar nomination. As the first black detective in the Colorado Springs Police Department in the early 1970s, Ron Stallworth (John David Washington) succeeds at the seemingly impossible mission of infiltrating and exposing the local chapter of the Ku Klux Klan. You have to see it to believe it. Director: Spike Lee

4. Mudbound

Set during World War II, this Netflix original tells the story of neighboring black and a white families struggling as farmers in the Mississippi Delta. Racism and the harsh realities of the Jim Crow era heighten the tension, despite the families’ shared plights, as does the friendship between a black and white veteran from each family. Director: Dee Rees

5. Selma

Despite the Civil Rights Act of 1964 legally desegregating the South, discrimination still made registering to vote extremely difficult for black people. Selma, Alabama was a focal point in the battle for voting rights and this film depicts the heroic march of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (David Oyelowo) and his followers from Selma to Montgomery. Facing violence along the way, the group pressed on and eventually saw the signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by Lyndon Johnson, a major victory for the civil rights movement. Director: Ava Duvernay 

6. Roxanne Roxanne 

Roxanne Shante was a legendary Queens MC who pioneered the art of battle rapping in New York City during the 1980s. Her single “Roxanne’s Revenge” helped her become one of the first major female MCs at the age of 14. The biopic explores her struggles with rivals and life in the projects while ascending to fame. Director: Michael Larnell

7. Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise

This seven-part autobiographical series celebrates the extraordinary life and work of poet Maya Angelou. Through her own words, archival photographs and videos, the film gives a personal look into her incredible life–and her journey from the Depression-era South to the world stage. Directors: Rita Coburn Whack and Bob Hercules

 

How are you celebrating Black History Month? Tell us in the comments!