DOCUMENTARIES & BIOPICS
REQUIRED VIEWING
13th, a Netflix documentary exposing racial inequality within the criminal justice system. The film explores the "intersection of race, justice, and mass incarceration in the United States" and is titled after the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which in 1865 abolished slavery throughout the United States and ended involuntary servitude — except as a punishment for conviction.
I Am Not Your Negro, a documentary envisioning the book James Baldwin was never able to finish, connects the Civil Rights Movement to the #BlackLivesMatter movement and traces the ways that black representation has evolved over time.
Let It Fall, a documentary looking at racial tensions in Los Angeles and the riots over the Rodney King verdict. This is, first and foremost, a story about human beings, those who lived during a time when the worsening state of L.A.’s most economically-constricted communities, and the increasingly negligent or destructive attitude toward them by the city’s police, were bound to result in violence.
When They See Us (Netflix) In 1989 a jogger was assaulted and raped in New York's Central Park, and five young people were subsequently charged with the crime. The quintet, labeled the Central Park Five, maintained its innocence and spent years fighting the convictions, hoping to be exonerated. This limited series spans a quarter of a century, from when the teens are first questioned about the incident in the spring of 1989, going through their exoneration in 2002 and ultimately the settlement reached with the city of New York in 2014.
The Loving Story — recounts the lives, arrest, trial and conviction of a white man named Richard Loving and his part-black, part-Cherokee fiancée Mildred Jeter in the 1950s, a time when interracial marriage was a felony crime in 21 states, including Virginia.
Whose Streets — An account of the Ferguson uprising as told by the people who lived it. The filmmakers look at how the killing of 18-year-old Michael Brown inspired a community to fight back and sparked a global movement.
The Innocence Files (Netflix) — The untold personal stories behind eight cases of wrongful conviction that the Innocence Project and organizations within the Innocence Network have uncovered and worked to overturn.
Time: The Kalief Browder Story — A Netflix series that documents how the criminal justice system tragically failed 16-year-old Kalief Browder, who spent three years in Rikers Island jail awaiting trial — two of those years in solitary confinement — after being arrested for allegedly stealing a backpack.
Teach Us All (Netflix)— Through case studies in Little Rock, New York City, and Los Angeles, Teach Us All seeks to bring the critical lessons of history to bear on the current state of U.S. education and investigate: 60 years later, how far have we come — or not come — and how do we catalyze action from here?
SUPPLEMENTARY VIEWING
The 1965 debate between James Baldwin and William F. Buckley
King in the Wilderness — (HBO) chronicles the final chapters of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life, revealing a conflicted leader who faced an onslaught of criticism from both sides of the political spectrum.
The Lessons of Hatyi — a one-hour documentary which examines the unique history of Black self-sufficiency and political power in the United States from its origins just following President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 up to the second inauguration of America's first Black President 150 years later
Slavery By Another Name is a 90-minute documentary that challenges the belief that slavery ended with the Civil War.
America to Me — A 10-episode limited series that tells the story of one year at Chicago's Oak Park and River Forest High School and lays bare the overwhelming issues that people of color face in the American school system.
Harriet — Based on the thrilling and inspirational life of an iconic American freedom fighter, Harriet tells the extraordinary tale of Harriet Tubman's escape from slavery and transformation into one of America's greatest heroes.
Malcolm X (biopic) — Anchored by a powerful performance from Denzel Washington, Spike Lee's biopic of legendary civil rights leader Malcolm X brings his autobiography to life with an epic sweep and a nuanced message.
Who Killed Malcolm X? — a six-part documentary series that investigates the disturbing mysteries surrounding the assassination of one of the most dynamic American leaders of all time.
What Happened, Miss Simone? — The story of classically trained musical genius, chart-topping chanteuse, and Black Power icon Nina Simone — one of the most influential, beloved, provocative, and least understood artists of our time.
Quincy — An intimate look at the life of Quincy Jones, a music industry giant and unique force of nature in music and popular culture for 70 years, who transcended musical and racial boundaries; his story is inextricably woven into the fabric of Black America.
O.J.: Made in America — This 2016 documentary isn't only a rehashing of the events surrounding the infamous O.J. Simpson trial where he was acquitted of murdering his ex-wife and her friend, but it also gives the trial some context through the lens of race relations in America. It examines the heightened racial tension between the LAPD and the black community following the acquittal of the police officers who viciously beat Rodney King, while simultaneously examining the celebrity of OJ Simpson.
Explained: The Racial Wealth Gap — Cory Booker and others discuss how slavery, housing discrimination and centuries of inequality have compounded to create a racial wealth gap.
A Ballerina’s Tale — the incredible, behind-the-scenes story of how Misty Copeland overcame a tumultuous upbringing and near career-ending injuries to become one of the most revered dancers of her generation
Say Her Name: The Life and Death of Sandra Bland explores the death of Sandra Bland, a politically active 28-year-old African American who, after being arrested for a traffic violation in a small Texas town, was found hanging in her jail cell three days later. Dashcam footage revealing her arrest went viral, leading to national protests. The film team followed the two-year case beginning shortly after Bland's death, exploring the questions of what really happened to her, and what we may learn from her tragedy.
Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution — Filmmaker Stanley Nelson examines the rise of the Black Panther Party in the 1960s and its impact on civil rights and American culture. Made over the course of seven years, the documentary features over 25 interviews with surviving Panthers members, FBI informants, journalists, and more.
Becoming — Join former first lady Michelle Obama in an intimate documentary looking at her life, hopes and connection with others as she tours with "Becoming."
3 ½ Minutes, Ten Bullets — Filmed over a period of 18 months, 3 ½ Minutes, Ten Bullets tells the story of Jordan Davis, a black 17-year-old who was murdered by a white man at a gas station who took issue with the volume of the teenager’s music. It details the journey of Jordan Davis’ parents from grief to activism, and explores public opinion on Florida’s “Stand Your Ground Law.”
Traffic Stop (short) — Traffic Stop tells the story of Breaion King, a 26 year-old African-American school teacher from Austin, Texas who is stopped for a routine traffic violation that escalates into a dramatic arrest.
The Black Power Mixtape: 1967-1975, a 2011 documentary film that examines the evolution of the Black Power movement in American society from 1967 to 1975 as viewed through Swedish journalists and filmmakers.
Baltimore Rising — (HBO) In the wake of Freddie Gray's death in police custody, peaceful protests and destructive riots erupted as the city awaited the fate of six police officers involved in the incident. Baltimore Rising follows activists, police officers, community leaders and gang affiliates, who struggle to hold Baltimore together.
The House I Live In, a 2012 documentary film about the War on Drugs in the United States.
Olympian Pride, American Prejudice — the story of the 18 Black athletes who participated in the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games during the Jim Crow era
LA 92 — When the four cops who killed Rodney King were named not guilty, it sparked a protest movement lasting several days in Los Angeles. This new documentary of the incident features new and rarely seen archival footage.
Versailles '73 looks back at one of the biggest moments in fashion history, remembering the once-in-a-lifetime fashion show where five American designers went up against five French designers in 1973, and event that signaled the rise of Black models like Pat Cleveland and changed the way people saw the fashion industry forever.
Dark Girls takes a hard look at the biases and attitudes that dark-skinned women face all over the world. Through skin lightening, countless women actively try to make their skin lighter in the hope that it will lead them to a better life. Filmmakers Bill Duke and D. Channsin Berry then examine how white women go to tanning beds, get Botox, and undergo plastic surgeries to make them look "more ethic."
