In the wake of the tragic deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd, there have been worldwide protests and calls for police reform. Books like How to Be an Antiracist have been topping the best seller charts. A lot of people are waking up to the injustices the black community has faced for a long time. People are also hungry for information, knowledge, and understanding. If you’re looking for movies that will help give you insight, here are my reccomendations. These are the movies that have touched me. Let’s start with two movies that made me want to be a better person.
Fruitvale Station
Before Creed and Black Panther, this was director Ryan Coogler’s first collaboration with actor Michael B. Jordan. The movie dramatizes the last day in the life of Oscar Grant III who was the victim of a police shooting. The filmmakers avoid the temptation of turning Grant into a saint and instead present him as a flawed, three-dimensional human being. One that’s in the middle of getting his life together. Which makes his death all the more tragic. You’ll find yourself wanting to treat people kinder the day after you watch this one.
The Hate U Give
Amandla Stenberg plays Starr, a teenage girl who watches her best friend get shot by a police officer. Afterwards, she struggles with whether to speak up or not. Russell Hornsby portrays one of the greatest on-screen fathers since Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird. This underrated film got shut out of all the awards shows, but I think Stenberg and Hornsby should have been nominated. This was a movie that really made me look at my own prejudices and start to make some changes.
Just Mercy
This movie features another stellar Michael B. Jordan performance. Eventually, the Academy is going to stop ignoring him and give him an Oscar. Based on a true story, Jordan plays civil rights lawyer Bryan Stevenson who works to free a wrongly convicted man on death row. This movie reveals some of the shocking racism currently happening in our judicial system. For a deeper dive, check out both Stevenson’s book and the book I’m currently reading The New Jim Crow.
Moonlight
Moonlight is the story of a gay man from childhood to adult told in three episodes. We see him as a boy, as a teenager, and as a man. As some critics have pointed out, one of the things that makes this movie unique is the portrayal of tenderness between black men. Mahershala Ali won Best Supporting Actor for his performance as a drug dealer who takes a shy outcast under his wing. One of the highlights of the film is Ali teaching the child how to swim. Janelle Monáe is awesome in one of her first movie roles. This sweet, touching character study beat out La La Land for Best Picture.
I Am Not Your Negro
This documentary is based on James Baldwin’s unfinished manuscript Remember This House which was to chronicle the lives and assassinations of his close friends Medgar Evers, Malcolm X, and Martin Luther King. Samuel L. Jackson narrates Baldwin’s words in between interview clips of the late author.
Roots (2016)
The original Roots miniseries debuted in 1977. Based on Alex Haley’s novel, it was a major pop culture phenomenon. It featured an all-star cast and told the story of Haley’s family history through many generations. (I’m still amazed that he was able to trace his family history so far back at a time without all the genealogy websites and tools we have today.). In 2016, the miniseries was remade for modern audiences. Why do I reccomend the 2016 version? Well, it’s the one I’ve seen all the way through. Unfortunately, when I started watching Roots around age 11, I didn’t make it past about the time Ben Vereen’s character shows up. I blame ADD. Either version is probably a powerful watch, but I can vouch for the 2016 version as it’s fresh in my head. It captures the horrors of slavery and racism. It’s also a story about family, ancestry, and identity.
12 Years a Slave
Based on a true story, Chiwetel Ejiofor plays Solomon Northup, a free man who was kidnapped and sold into slavery. This is another movie that really drives home the horrors of slavery. It’s not an easy watch but it’s a necessary film. It won Best Picture and Lupita Nyong’o won Best Supporting Actress.
If Beale Street Could Talk
Based on the James Baldwin novel, this movie tells the story of a young couple in love. When Fonny gets falsely arrested, his pregnant girlfriend Tish fights to clear his name. Regina King won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. This was director Barry Jenkins’ follow up to Moonlight.
BlacKkKlansman
John David Washington plays Ron Stalworth, a black detective who managed to infiltrate and expose the KKK. While the movie has darkly comic elements, its portrayal/exposure of racism is disturbing. The footage at the end is haunting and serves as a reminder that the war against racism is far from over. A masterpiece from director Spike Lee.
I have tried to avoid feel-good white savior movies like The Help and Green Book in my selection process. I made an effort to choose films that may challenge the viewer.
On my to-watch list:
Do the Right Thing
I first saw this movie around age 13 when I was too young to fully comprehend it. I watched it again several years ago but don’t feel like I got the full effect of it. I need to rewatch it in light of current events. Spike Lee just released a short film called “Three Brothers.” It combines footage of Radio Raheem, Eric Garner, and George Floyd.
Selma
David Oyelowo gave amazing performances in The Queen of Katwe and A United Kingdom. Somehow I never saw him as Martin Luther King in Selma though. He’s another actor who is overdue for an Oscar.
Black lives matter. Black stories matter. Black films matter.
Here are some more resources if you want to make a difference:
Places to donate to:
Black Lives Matter is working to eradicate white supremacy and violence inflicted on black communities.
The American Civil Liberties Union is fighting to end police brutality and defending the right to protest.
Trans Women of Color Survival Fund
All black lives matter. At least 19 black trans women died due to violence last year according to Vice.com. The fund assists with food, car fare, hygiene products, clothing, and more.
Books to read:
How to be an antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
As Mashable.com says, being “not racist” isn’t enough. This book tells you how to become antiracist.
The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander
This fascinating read talks about what’s wrong with our current prison system and police procedures. It talks about how certain laws are biased against colored people. (The war on drugs was really a war on black people.) If you want to understand why people are talking about defunding the police and what that might look like, check out this book.
Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson
Stevenson’s autobiographical tale that was the basis for the movie.
The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin
If you enjoy I Am Not Your Negro, check out this collection of two powerful essays. One is a letter written to Baldwin’s nephew on the hundredth anniversary of emancipation. The other deals with race and religion.
Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria: and Other Conversations About Race by Beverly Daniel Tatum, PH.D.
A book about the psycholgy of racism.
I know I haven’t been posting much lately. I’m hoping to have some new posts in the coming weeks dealing with my first trip back to the movies, what the Oscars might look like this season, and the Hanna-Barbera cinematic universe, To stay in the know, please subscribe to the newsletter and like the Facebook page. You can also find my posts for RunPee here.