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10 Movies And TV Series That Show The Black Perspective Through History (And Get It Right)
These rarely told stories educate us about the past but also motivate us to keep pushing for change.
Film and TV play a vital role in forming perspectives, informing identities and educating people.
Traditionally, an overwhelming absence of Black stories, coupled with the lack of Black representation on screen and also behind the camera, have done serious disservice to the history and legacy of Black people.
There is such an accumulation of brilliant Black narratives waiting to be told, that we must no longer accept the vision of white storytellers to frame them adequately for us. While there are, of course, excellent Black filmmakers out there, they have had to grapple with the double-edged sword of attempting to correct existing depictions of Black people told, historically, through a white lens, while also pushing forward lesser heard voices, and all while encountering racial discrimination themselves.
So, while certain Black narratives have made it to the big and smaller screens, the spectrum for what they show has tended to be narrow. Much of the time, precedence is given to depictions of Black suffering - award-winning dramas 12 Years A Slave, Selma and Long Walk To Freedom coming to mind. Portrayals of Black history have also typically been centred around the African American, ignoring the experiences of African and European Black people.
Depicting the brutal realities of parts of Black history is crucially important, but it is not fully representative of the richness and multi-layered nature of Black experience.
For Black History Month 2020, we have rounded up a list of films, and some series, which show something of the multifaceted Black perspective through history. If you haven't seen them, add them to your watchlist today.
These rarely told stories educate us about the past but also motivate us to keep pushing for change. They chime well with today’s continuing pursuit of equality, justice and diversity.
Hidden Figures
Hidden figures centres on the integral contribution of three female African American NASA scientists.
Their (true) story transcends segregation and discrimination to show the brilliance of Black women and is a prime example of their 'hidden' achievements, all too often erased through history.
In an empowering film of friendship and Black excellence, we learn of the phenomenal achievements of Katherine Jonson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer) and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monae), three Black women responsible for the successful orbit of astronaut John Glenn.
Where to watch: Disney Plus
Daughters Of The Dust
Julie Dash's film made American history as the first full-length movie directed by a Black woman to have a widespread theatre release.
The film provides a rich history of the Gullah (or Gee-chee) people who, despite slavery, holdfast to their roots through culture and religion and in particular chronicles the Peazant family who live on Saint Helena Island in South Carolina. The 1991 film, which is aesthetically stunning, even inspired Beyoncé, who took creative inspiration from the film for her Lemonade visual album.
Where to watch: BFI
Belle
A film about a Black British female... heiress? Imagine!
Belle is a touching romance film based on the real-life events of Dido Elizabeth Belle (played by Gugu Mbatha-Raw), the illegitimate child of a former African slave and a British admiral.
Directed by British Ghanaian filmmaker Amma Asante (who also directed United Kingdom) Belle is an authentic example of a film which delves into the British history of slavery and racism. The drama showcases the extraordinary story of Dido who mirrored a complex social inequity during her time.
Where to watch: Rent on Amazon Prime Video
Self Made: Inspired By The Life Of Madam C.J. Walker
The story of Madam C.J. Walker (played by Oscar winner Octavia Spencer), the first female self-made millionaire in the US, is captured beautifully in a four part series. Walker went from a 'washer woman' to a millionaire, thanks to her ambitious hair care business.
The film deals with complex issues, like colourism within the Black community, in bringing to life this true story. With an inspirational narrative throughout, the film is a great example of a Black woman defying the odds to make history.
Where to watch: Netflix
La Noire De
Translating to The Black Girl, Senegalese director Ousmane Sembène emerged in the 1960s with his debut film, heralded as one of the first groundbreaking films from sub-Saharan Africa to hit the international stage.
Despite the production obstacles of the times, Sembène‘s chilling drama is loosely based on a newspaper report, telling the story of Diouana (M’Bissine Thérèse), a Seneglese woman who moves from her country to work for a wealthy white family in France.
Instead of thew new opportunities she anticipates, she finds herself trapped in the apartment of her employer's home succumbed to devastating hangover legacies of colonialism in a postcolonial era, while also battling cultural fetishisation and appropriation. The film, simple with a dramatic end, speaks volumes to the lingering poisonous effects of European racism.
Where to watch: YouTube
Moonlight
Based on a partially autobiographical play by Tarell Alvin McCraney, Moonlight made history as the first all-Black cast film to win an Oscar.
The indie film received eight nominations at the Oscars and became one of the first films based on a Black LGBTQ character to win the Best Picture award. Moonlight illuminates the often-marginalised experiences of Black gay men. Through a heart-warming storyline about masculinity, race and coming of age, Chiron (Alex Hibbert), a young boy, grows up in 1980s Miami navigating his way through life in a world that he feels does not understand him. Barry Jenkins' film is a sensational movie that has redefined the history of indie cinema.
Where to watch: Rent on Amazon Prime Video.
When They See Us
Veteran filmmaker, and a master of representation and the Black experience, Ava DuVernay tells the story of the 'Central Park Five' in this limited series.
It is based on the real life accounts of the wrongful arrests and charges of five young boys, Korey Wise (Jharrel Jerome), Yusef Salaam (Ethan Herisse) Raymond Santana (Marquis Rodriguez), Kevin Richardson (Asante Blackk) and Antron McCray (Caleel Harris), over the sexual assault of a white female jogger.
A gripping tearjerker of a story exposing the biases of the US judicial system.
Where to watch: Netflix
Harriet
The life of African-American Abolitionist Harriet Tubman is brought to the screen thanks to British actress Cynthia Erivo in this 2019 movie.
Tubman, a much lesser known historical figure in the UK, was born into slavery on a plantation in the early 19th century, later escaping and liberating hundreds of other slaves via an underground railroad. The courageous story is a great education on a phenomenal woman.
Where to watch: NOW TV/Sky Cinema
Jemima And Johnny
This movie is directed by South African anti-apartheid activist, member of the ANC and filmmaker Lionel Ngakane, during his exile in London, with Ngakane portraying the ongoing racial divides both in his home country and in the UK.
Released in the mid-1960s, Jemima and Johnny tells the touching story of friendship between two children; Jemima, who has just moved to London from Jamaica, and Johnnie, a white boy whose father belongs to a white nationalist group. The newfound friendship between Johnnie and Jemima portrays childlike innocence, depicting playfulness and kindness in their camaraderie juxtaposed with the existing racism of 1960s London.
This moving film shares how the two kids evoke unity through their community, and undergo adventures together against the backdrop of a racially divided city.
Where to watch: BFI Player
Farming
A period in history often glazed over is presented in Faming. In the 1960s and 70s in England, several Nigerian children were fostered and given to white parents in exchange for payment in a system referred to as 'farming'.
The 2018 movie is an autobiographical film based on the real-life experience of Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, who was 'farmed' out by his parents to a white British family in Tilbury, Essex. The film captures Enitan's (Damson Idris) horrific experience of racism, battling his identity - including transitioning into a member of a racist skinhead gang - and his journey to self-love.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
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