Black History Month film suggestions

By Jamel Watson

February has come again and it’s that time to celebrate the achievements and advancements made by African Americans with the celebration of Black History Month. From strides in the field of politics, to critical breakthroughs in medicine, black men and women have provided some of the most important accomplishments in history. I have the strongest belief that black history should not be limited to a single month, but should be taught and celebrated year around, as black history is truly American and World history, however as we often see, non-white history is unfortunately still stunted and pushed aside, so we must make sure this month has a recognition of all aspects of black culture in excellence. I am here to provide a snapshot of some recent films that were either written by, directed, or star brilliant black creatives as a way to give you a jumping-off point for the month. Hopefully, this will inspire more exploration in not just the creative aspect of black history, but a deeper desire and appreciation of the culture as a whole.

One Night In Miami…(2020): Based on a stage play by Kemp Powers, the film centers on a meeting between four pillars of the 1960s civil rights movement--singer Sam Cooke, football legend Jim Brown, boxing great Muhammad Ali, and activist Malcolm X--on the night of Ali’s heavyweight championship win over Sonny Liston in 1964. The film is directed by Regina King, in her directorial debut and stars Leslie Odom Jr. as Cooke, Aldis Hodge as Brown, Eli Goree as Ali, and Kingsley Ben-Adir as Malcolm X. King’s direction gives the film life as most of the film takes place in a single location, akin to the stage play it’s based on, and the performers all have amazing chemistry, with the stand outs being Odom and Ben-Adir, as they have some of the most poignant confrontations and discussions in the film, as it relates to the power that each man has earned and how they should use it for the advancement of the struggle. Since its release in late 2020, the film has garnered a wealth of praise, particularly for King’s direction and the strong performances of the lead actors.

Get Out (2017): Another feature film directing debut, this time from comedian Jordan Peele, “Get Out” centers on a young photographer named Chris Washington and his meeting of his girlfriend’s family and the insanity that follows. Starring Daniel Kaluuya, Allision Williams, Lil Rel Howery, Bradley Whitford, and Catherine Keener, the movie has elements of the classic “Stepford Wives” mixed with a lot of themes involving identity and race. The idea of black people and blackness as a whole are viewed as something that can be stolen, perverted, and warped, in addition to the uncomfortable nature of being a black person in an environment of mostly white people. Pay close attention to two elements of the film, the words used by Allision Williams character Rose and the entire garden party scene, both highlight key elements of the film such as manipulation and attitudes towards people seen as “liberal”. The film received numerous accolades and was showered with praise, with Peele netting an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, as well as nominations for Best Actor and Best Picture.

Hidden Figures (2016): Closing things out on a more upbeat note, “Hidden Figures” tells the story of three brilliant black mathematicians and the critical role each played during the height of the US vs USSR space race during the 1960s. Starring Taraji P. Henson as Katherine Johnson, Octavia Spencer as Dorothy Vaughan, and Janelle Monae as Mary Jackson, we get to know each woman personally, see their struggles in both their personal and professional lives, and the vital work that each was able to do. Katherine Johnson was so critical during the initial Mercury missions, that John Glenn refused to fly without her verifying the calculations for the launch. The film is bolstered by a score from Hans Zimmer and Pharrell Williams and ably directed by Theodore Melfi and anchored by strong performances by Henson, Spencer, and Monae, with Spencer receiving an Academy Award nomination for her role.

Those are my suggestions for films to get a start with this Black History Month, but there are plenty of others that are there for your viewing pleasure. If you truly want to celebrate the month properly, look into donating to important causes as it relates to black culture, take time to consider others, and always remember to treat others well. Thank you for reading and continue to have a marvelous day!

“If we accept and acquiesce in the face of discrimination, we accept the responsibility ourselves and allow those responsible to salve their conscience by believing that they have our acceptance and concurrence. We should, therefore, protest openly everything… that smacks of discrimination or slander.” —Mary McLeod Bethune, Educator, 1875-1955

You can follow Jamel Watson on Instagram and Twitter, @Jamel727.