Black Excellence: 15 Movies, Books And Shows To Watch
Are you in need of movies, books, and TV shows that will help with the education of black history, the black lives matter movement and more? We have compiled a list of 15 entertainment resources ranging from black cinema and black authors to black-led TV shows. See below for all our picks:
Movies
13th
Ava DuVernay’s eye-opening documentary explores the corrupt incarceration system in the United States. The film details the criminalisation of black people, starting from when slavery was abolished up to 2016.
The Hate You Give
The 2018 film follows Starr Carter, a 16-year-old girl who witnesses her friends murder at the hands of a police officer and the subsequent aftermath.
If Beale Street Could Talk
This romantic/drama film follows Clementine Rivers and Alonzo Hunt, a New York black couple living in the 1970s. After facing the repercussion of a false conviction, Clementine fights for her partner in this moving story of love, loss and the fight for justice.
LA 92
The 2017 documentary explores the 1992 Los Angeles riots. Featuring unseen footage, the film takes viewers through the racially charged events, leading up to the city’s six days of protests.
The Last Black Man in San Francisco
This 2019 film centres around a young black man and his battle with gentrification in his childhood neighbourhood. Between the cinematography, acting, and score, ‘The Last Black Man in San Francisco” is a must-watch.
Books
Becoming:
Michelle Obama’s bestselling memoir explores her path from Chicago’s South Side, to Princeton and Harvard, and finally as “head mom in chief” at the White House.
The Color Purple:
First published in 1982, this Pulitzer-winning novel focuses on the societal and racial struggles that African-American women faced in the 1930’s American south. TW for sexual assault.
The Stars and the Blackness Between Them:
This piece of young adult fiction tells the story of a sapphic Trinidadian girl sent to Minneapolis, interweaving magical realism with powerful questions.
The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness:
Written by a civil rights litigator, this book tackles America’s systemic racial discrimination, mass incarceration, and why black men in America are often socio-economically disadvantaged.
Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race:
This work threads together how gender, societal standing and prejudice impact the racially-focused discussions held not only in the UK but across the world.
Television
When They See Us
The limited series is based off the true story of the Central Park 5. ‘When They See Us’ takes viewers into the case of the five black men from Harlem that were falsely prosecuted for a crime they did not commit.
Dear White People
Based on the 2014 movie of the same name, Netflix’s ‘Dear White People’ is a groundbreaking show that follows the lives of a community of black students at the fictional ivy league college Winchester University. The show explores how these dynamic characters navigate race issues in present-day America, while also exploring the inner workings of their friendships and relationships.
Insecure
Created by writer and actress Issa Rae, Insecure follows Issa Dee and her best friend Molly Carter and their experience as black women in Los Angeles. Touching on topics of love, mental health, the fragility of friendships and more, Insecure is a show that is full of laughs and discussions that need to be heard.
Chewing Gum
London-based comedy Chewing Gum is a series about Tracey Gordon and her desire to break free from her family’s conservative restraints and explore the world. It’s light-hearted, incredibly funny, and it explores the religious black British experience.
Atlanta
Singer-rapper Childish Gambino leads this comedy-drama, following the life of college drop out Earnest Marks who adopts the role of manager and agent for his cousin’s rap career. The show features a fantastic soundtrack and tackles life in the Atlanta rap scene.
