Black History Month Movies

Just Mercy (2019):

Bryan Stevenson is a criminal defense attorney and civil rights activist. He is most well known for founding the Equal Justice Initiative, a non-profit organization that represents prisoners who may have been wrongfully convicted of crimes, prisoners who could not afford adequate representation, and others who may not have had access to a fair trial. “Just Mercy” features the story of attorney Bryan Stevenson who upon graduating from Harvard University, decides to head to Alabama to defend prisoners who had been wrongly convicted or did not have the financial resources for representation. “Just Mercy” focuses on the case of Walter McMillian, who has been sentenced to death for the murder of an 18-year-old girl despite overwhelming evidence of his innocence. While there aren’t any scenes of graphic violence, this is no easy watch. Not only does this film tackle systemic racism in the criminal justice system, it also deals with the heavily emotional experience of being wrongfully convicted and in particular, being on death row. This drama is rated pg-13 for some profanity and emotional situations, which are expected in any movie that involves racism. The story of Bryan Stevenson is both powerful and interesting, and we definitely suggest that you give it a watch.

Malcolm X (1992):

Malcolm X was a civil rights activist and a leader of the Nation of Islam that fought for civil rights and integrated Islam into the black community. Spike Lee’s, “Malcolm X” features the life of Malcolm X from his childhood up to his death in 1965. Oftentimes, we do not learn much about people like Malcolm X because he did not believe in the non-violent side of the civil rights movement. Malcolm X believed that violence was to be used to fight violence when necessary, and that non-violent protests would not be enough for the civil rights movements to succeed. The work of Malcolm X played a large role in the civil rights movement and it is just as important to learn about him as it is to learn about other activists. While this film is rated pg-13, it does contain a lof of profanity and several violent scenes. The casting, plot, and representation of Malcolm X in this movie are excellent and it is definitely worth watching.

Till (2022):

Emmet Till was a 14-year-old boy who was kidnapped and lynched after being accused of offending a white women outside of a  grocery store. “TIll” is not the story of Emmet’s death but rather the story of his mother, Mamie Till who fought relentlessly for justice for her son. One thing about this movie that stood out to me was that there was no violence towards black people on camera. This is a major difference between “Till” and other movies about the Black experience in America where violent acts towards black people are quite common. This is especially interesting because this film features one of the most brutal murders of the entire civil rights movement. “Till” does feature some profanity and graphic images of Emmet Till’s dead body, which may be disturbing. “Till” is currently available in theaters and for purchase on most streaming platforms.

• The Black Experience/Culture

Passing (2021):

“Passing” is a black n white, artsy drama about the black experience in the 1920s. The movie features a black woman who reunites with her friend from high school only to find out that her friend has been passing as white. As their lives become more and more intertwined, envy grows between the two childhood friends, which eventually leads to a tragic incident. The plot of this drama is excellent on its own but pay close attention, the hidden messages and unique style of this film give it a lot to unpack. There is some profanity, but very little violence in this film, however, younger audiences may have trouble reading into the deep messages that contribute to the plot.

Poetic Justice (1993);

This month’s issue is all about love, and our movie recommendations are no exception. “Poetic Justice” follows the story of Justice, a poet who is mourning the murder of her boyfriend. After her car breaks down, Justice is unable to get to Oakland for a convention on her own so she decides to tag along with her friend Lesha, Lesha’s boyfriend Chicago, and Chicago’s friend Lucky. After some initial issues, Justice and Lucky start to like each other, but Justice is not sure if she is ready to love again. The complexity of the characters and the intriguing plot of this love story make it an excellent watch, especially during this season of love. “Poetic Justice” is rated R for profanity and some acts of physical violence, however, there is no nudity and very few references to drugs and alcohol. All things considered, “Poetic Justice” is the perfect movie to watch if you’re in the mood for some romance this Valentine’s season.

Barbershop (2002):

If you happen to be one of the many people spending valentine’s alone this year and you’re looking for something to make you laugh, barbershop is the perfect film. The concept of a barbershop is simple, it’s a place for you to get a haircut. All it takes is one trip to the barbershop to experience the stories, arguments, and other routines of a barbershop to realize the unique community that every barbershop is. “Barbershop” features Calvin, a barber who inherited his father’s struggling barbershop and has decided to sell it to a loan shark. As Calvin experiences the beauty of a day in the life of a barbershop, he recognizes the beauty and community that his father has established. “Barbershop” is rated pg-13 for profanity, but doesn’t contain much violence or sexual references. If you enjoy this hilarious film, you may enjoy “Barbershop 2: Back in Business” and “Barbershop 3: The Next Cut”.