Black History Month: TV & Film
Black History Month: Week 2
Welcome to Week 2 of Black History month, where we are curating collections to celebrate the past, present, and future of the African diaspora. Each week, we’ll spotlight Black authors, Black-produced films, Black-owned businesses in Indiana, and more.
This week, we’re focusing on film. From educational documentaries, to Black-produced/directed film, to television or movies with Black lead actors and actresses, we’ve got what you need.
Documentaries
13TH
Combining archival footage with testimony from activists and scholars, director Ava DuVernay's examination of the U.S. prison system looks at how the country's history of racial inequality drives the high rate of incarceration in America. This piercing, Oscar-nominated film won Best Documentary at the Emmys, the BAFTAs and the NAACP Image Awards.
Watch the limited series on Netflix.
When They See Us
Based on a true story that gripped the country, When They See Us chronicles the notorious case of five teenagers of color, labeled the Central Park Five, who were convicted of a rape they did not commit. The four part limited series focuses on the five teenagers from Harlem – Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana and Korey Wise. The series spans 25 years, highlighting their exoneration in 2002 and the settlement reached with the city of New York in 2014.
The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson
Who killed Marsha P. Johnson? She was one of the icons of the gay rights movement in the 1960s, the self-described "street queen" of NY's gay ghetto, and founded the Transvestites Action Revolutionaries with fellow luminary Sylvia Rivera. When Johnson's body was found in the Hudson River in 1992, police called it a suicide and didn't investigate. In David France's new documentary, trans activist Victoria Cruz seeks to uncover the truth of her death while celebrating her legacy.
Watch on Netflix
Television
Discovery is true to its Star Trek history, breaking existing ceilings with its inclusive and diverse cast. When Discovery debuted in 2017, Sonequa Martin-Green became the first black woman to lead the 50-year-old franchise. The series also features the franchise’s first openly gay officers, non-binary characters, and more.
Black-ish follows an upper middle class African-American family led by Andre 'Dre' Johnson (Anthony Anderson) and Rainbow Johnson (Tracee Ellis Ross). The show revolves around the family's lives, as they juggle several personal and sociopolitical issues.
The show has been so successful that it’s spun off two additional shows and has 6 seasons.
Atlanta
The series follows Earn during his daily life in Atlanta, Georgia as he tries to redeem himself in the eyes of his ex-girlfriend, who is the mother of his daughter, as well as his parents and his cousin Alfred, who raps under the stage name "Paper Boi". Having dropped out of Princeton University, Earn has no money and no home and consequently alternates between staying with his parents and his girlfriend. Once he realizes that his cousin is on the verge of stardom, he desperately seeks to reconnect to improve his life and the life of his daughter, Lottie.
Created-by , Produced-by, and Stars Donald Glover
Movies/Film
The Green Book
Dr Don Shirley is a world-class African-American pianist, who is about to embark on a concert tour in the Deep South in 1962. In need of a driver and protection, Shirley recruits Tony Lip, a tough-talking bouncer from an Italian-American neighborhood in the Bronx. Despite their differences, the two men soon develop an unexpected bond while confronting racism and danger in an era of segregation.
Selma
“SELMA” is the story of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s historic struggle to secure voting rights for all people – a dangerous and terrifying campaign that culminated with the epic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, and led to President Johnson signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
The Hate U Give
Starr Carter is constantly switching between two worlds: the poor, mostly black, neighborhood where she lives and the rich, mostly white, prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Now, facing pressures from all sides of the community, Starr must find her voice and stand up for what's right.