Black History on Film: Documentary and Feature Films about the African-American Experience

History | Culture, Music & the Arts | Biography | Feature Films | Films for Children

HISTORY

 

Africans in America (1998)

A four part series portraying the struggles of the African people in America. Narrated by Angela Bassett. From PBS.

America Beyond the Color Line (2003)  

Henry Louis Gates Jr. travels to the east coast, the deep South, inner city Chicago, and Hollywood to investigate modern black America and interview influential Americans including Colin Powell, Quincy Jones, Samuel L. Jackson, Alicia Keys, Maya Angelou, Willie Herenton and others.

America's Black Warriors: Two Wars to Win (1998) VHS

The video features numerous African-American WWII veterans, who speak with brutal honesty about the prejudice they encountered and the battles they fought.

Black Indians: An American Story (2000) VHS

Explores what brought Native Americans and African Americans together, what drove them apart, and the challenges that they face today. Narrated by James Earl Jones.

The Black West (1993) VHS

Presents the history of blacks in the old West through feature film clips, rare archival photography, and exclusive interviews with descendants of Western icons. Narrated by Danny Glover.

4 Little Girls (1998)  

The story of the four young girls who were murdered by a bomb blast at the 16th St. Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama in 1963. Produced and directed by Spike Lee.

The History of Great Black Baseball Players (1990)  VHS

Examines the accomplishments of great black baseball players from the infancy of the old Negro National League in 1920, through its heyday in the 1930's and 40's and from the first appearance of a black player in the major leagues to the emergence of today's superstars.

Hoop Dreams (1994)

This documentary follows two inner-city basketball phenoms' lives through high school as they chase their dreams of playing in the NBA.

Images & Realities (1998) VHS

This outstanding series of programs focuses on important contemporary issues facing African-Americans today. Narrated by Louis Gosset Jr.

The Journey of the African-American Athlete (1996)  VHS

Captured here are some of the finest achievements in sports history: Joe Louis, Muhammed Ali, Michael Jordan, Jackie Robinson and Jesse Owens. Narrated by Samuel L. Jackson.

Liberia: America's Stepchild  (2003)  VHS

From Haitian slave revolts and the American Colonization Society to the 1997 election of Charles Taylor to the presidency and his corrupt administration, this program looks at events leading from the founding of Liberia and its history up through the twentieth century.

Martin Luther King: "I Have a Dream" (2005)

Contains King's entire inspirational speech in Washington D.C. on August 28, 1963. Special features: "The big march" (1963); "March on Washington" (1963); "The march twenty years later" (1983). From the Black History Collection.

The Massachusetts 54th Colored Infantry

Chronicles the formation and battlefield heroics of the first all-black Union regiment, the Massachusetts 54th Colored Infantry. Highlights of this documentary include archival daguerreotypes, tintypes, lithographs, and commentary by various historians. Narrated by Morgan Freeman.

The Murder of Emmett Till (2003) VHS  

The shameful, sadistic murder of 14-year-old Emmett Till, a black boy who whistled at a white woman in a Mississippi grocery store in 1955, was a powerful catalyst for the civil rights movement. Although Till's killers were apprehended, they were quickly acquitted by an all-white, all-male jury and proceeded to sell their story to a journalist, providing grisly details of the murder. Three months after Till's body was recovered, the Montgomery Bus Boycott began.

Not Your Usual Black History Special (1999) VHS

Discusses achievements and contributions by blacks in the United States. Featured: boxer Joe Louis; early black filmmakers; Todd Duncan, who played the first Porgy; slave quilts; and the Civil War Colored Regiment.

The Promised Land (1995)  VHS

Documents the migration of rural Southern blacks from the segregated South to Chicago. Includes historical footage and personal interviews. Narrated by Morgan Freeman.

Safe Harbor (2003) 

In the same way fog envelops a town, the Underground Railroad is clouded by myth and obscured by legend. Neither underground nor a railroad, it was an illegal network to help slaves escape to freedom.

The Underground Railroad (1998)

This is the thrilling story of the struggle to break the bonds of slavery in the American South. Narrated by Alfre Woodard.

The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till

The culmination of a 10-year investigation to uncover the details behind the nightmarish 1955 Mississippi murder of Emmett Louis Till, an African-American Chicago teenager. Till's death sparked the American Civil Rights Movement.

The Voyage of La Amistad: A Quest for Freedom (1998)   VHS

Amistad and then as they stood trial in a strange land, taking their case all the way to the Supreme Court with various abolitionists and former president John Quincy Adams leading the way.

 

CULTURE, MUSIC AND THE ARTS

 

Against the Odds: The Artists of the Harlem Renaissance (1998) VHS

Harlem in the 1920s and 1930s was the scene of a passionate outburst of creativity by African-American visual artists. This documentary tells how black artists triumphed over the prejudice and segregation that kept their work out of mainstream galleries and exhibitions, and recalls the vibrancy of Harlem in the roaring twenties. Narrated by Joe Morton.

Alice Walker (1989)  VHS

Alice Walker reads from Revolutionary Petunias and Other Poems, and other works, and is interviewed at her home by journalist Evelyn White. From the Lannan Foundation Literary Series.

The Art of Romare Bearden (2003)

This film traces Bearden's entire career, including his paintings and watercolors of the 1940's, experimental collages of 1964, large scale murals and late landscapes. Featuring commentary by friends including Wynton Marsalis, Albert Murray, and Emma Amos. Narrated by Morgan Freeman with readings by Danny Glover.

A Century of Black Cinema (1997)  VHS

This program takes you on an illuminating journey through the careers of the finest Afro-American entertainers ever to grace the silver screen.

Chicago Blues (1986) VHS

Traces the evolution of blues music from its origins in the rural south to the contemporary electric sound shaped in the ghettos of Chicago.

God's Trombones: A Trilogy of African-American Poems (1994) VHS

Features three inspirational sermons of the old-time black preachers taken from James Weldon Johnson's book of poetry titled God's Trombones. Narrated by James Earl Jones and Dorian Harewood.

Gospel: Rhythm of the Heart (2001) VHS

Traces the history of this resilient genre from the 'Father of Gospel' Thomas A. Dorsey and the legendary Mahalia Jackson to the stars of today.

A Great Day in Harlem (1994)

A great day in Harlem tells the story of Art Kane's famous 1958 group photograph of the jazz greats of the period. Includes home movie footage of that day of the musicians arriving and greeting each other the morning of the shoot. Also includes conversations with musicians and archival performance footage.

The Harlem Renaissance: The Music & Rhythms that Started a Cultural Revolution (2004)

Featuring commentary from historians and the performers themselves, this program traces the roots of the music of the Harlem Renaissance, its social impact on society and its eventual acceptance in mainstream culture.

Ishmael Reed (1989) VHS

Reed reads from his New and Selected Poems and his novel The Terrible Threes. Includes portions of an interview with poet Lewis MacAdams. From the Lannan Foundation Literary Series.

Jazz (2000)

Documentary exploring the history of jazz from its beginnings through the 1990's, including the stories of many of its creators and performers. Narrated by Keith David. A Ken Burns film.

John Lee Hooker Come and See about Me  (2004)  

"Come and see about me" illustrates the career of John Lee Hooker through complete archival performances of his most popular songs, many featuring special guests. Includes tributes to "The king of the boogie" from a number of the guests and comments from John Lee Hooker himself.

Porgy and Bess (1992)      

Video adaptation of the Glyndebourne Festival Opera stage production directed by Trevor Nunn. The Gershwins' classic musical drama portrays the lives of the occupants of Catfish Row. Includes synopsis in English, French, German and Italian.

Sonia Sanchez (1990)  VHS

Sonia Sanchez is a dynamic poet, playwright, activist, and teacher. She reads from Homegirls & Handgrenades and Under a Soprano Sky and is interviewed by poet Lewis MacAdams. From the Lannan Foundation Literary Series.

Visions of Gospel volume one (2002)

A collection of the best gospel music performances including Bishop T.D. Jakes & The Potters House Mass Choir, Beverly Crawford, Smokie Norful and many more. Your faith will be charged as you experience gospel music at its best!

BIOGRAPHY

Alice Walker, Author (1994)  VHS

Biography of the author of The Color Purple. From the Black Americans of Achievement Collection II.

Citizen King (2004)

"In exploring the last few years of his life, this ... American experience production traces King's efforts to recast himself by embracing causes beyond the civil rights movement, by becoming a champion of the poor and an outspoken opponent of the war in Vietnam. Tapping into a rich archive of photographs and film footage and using diaries, letters, and eyewitness accounts of fellow activists, friends, journalists, political leaders and law enforcement officials, this film brings fresh insights to King's impossible journey, his charismatic leadership and his truly remarkable impact."

Gordon Parks' "Visions": The Images, Words and Music of Gordon Parks (1986) VHS

The life story of award-winning photographer, composer, director, filmmaker and author, Gordon Parks.

Half Past Autumn: The Life and Works of Gordon Parks (1999) VHS

Examines the photography, poetry, writing, music and life of Gordon Parks. Narrated by Alfre Woodard.

The Jackie Robinson Story (1950)

Gives an autobiographical account of Robinson's journey through the Jim Crow sports establishment to baseball's major leagues. Robinson plays himself in a film that frames vignettes of racial prejudice against the personal courage of the first baseball player to break the color barrier in the Major Leagues. With Ruby Dee and Louise Beavers.

Jacob Lawrence: An Intimate Portrait (1993) VHS

Documents the life and work of Jacob Lawrence, through interviews with the painter, his wife Gwendolyn Knight, colleagues, and critics, interwoven with examples of his work.

Jesse Owens: Champion Athlete (1994) VHS

Biography of the athlete Jesse Owens, gold-medal winner at the Berlin Olympics in 1936. From the Black Americans of Achievement Collection II.

Jim Brown : All American (2003)

Spike Lee directs this moving portrait of Jim Brown and his days in the spotlight, first making football history as one of the 20th century's greatest athletes, and later as the star of numerous Hollywood features.

Kofi Annan Center of the Storm  (2003) VHS

Filmmaker David Grubin follows United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan in 2002 as he flew to Afghanistan to encourage reconstruction efforts, to Norway to accept the Nobel Prize, and to East Timor to declare its independence, and even when the Secretary-General travels to Sesame Street to teach conflict resolution. Includes interviews with Kofi Annan and others.

Marian Anderson (1995)  VHS

A biography of virtuosa Marian Anderson. From the American Women of Achievement Video Collection.

Marcus Garvey: Look for Me in the Whirlwind (2001) VHS

Uses a wealth of archival film, photographs and documents to uncover the story of this Jamaican immigrant who between 1916 and 1921 built the largest black mass movement in world history. Narrated by Carl Lumbly.

Matthew Henson: Explorer (1994)  VHS

Chronicles the life of Arctic explorer Matthew Henson. From the Black Americans of Achievement Collection II.

Paul Robeson: Here I Stand (1999)  VHS

Presents the life and achievements of Paul Robeson, an athlete, actor, singer, and scholar. Narrated by Ossie Davis.

Sojourner Truth, Antislavery Activist (1992)  VHS

Black historians and others comment on the life of Sojourner Truth, who was born a slave in New York state, freed by law in 1827, and went on to become a preacher and supporter of women's rights and antislavery. From the Black Americans of Achievement Collection.

Toni Morrison (1987)  VHS

A profile of the novelist, author of Beloved.

Unforgivable Blackness : The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson (2005)  

Tells the story of Jack Johnson, who was the first African American boxer to win the most coveted title in all of sports - Heavyweight Champion of the World. Includes his struggles in and out of the ring and his desire to live his life as a free man.

Wilma Rudolph (1995) VHS

Biography of the Olympic-medal-winning runner, Wilma Rudolph. From the American Women of Achievement Video Collection.

FEATURE FILMS

Ali (2001)

Dramatic biography of boxing great Muhammad Ali, which focuses on the ten-year period of 1964-1974. Starring Will Smith, Jamie Foxx, and Jon Voight; directed by Michael Mann. Rated R.

Amistad (1997)

Chronicles the 1839 revolt on board a slave ship bound for America. Much of the story involves the court-room drama about the slave who led the revolt. Starring Morgan Freeman, Nigel Hawthorne, and Anthony Hopkins; directed by Steven Spielberg. Rated R.

Antwone Fisher  (2002)

Guided by a determined Navy psychiatrist, a troubled sailor embarks on a personal, emotionally inspiring journey to confront his past and connect with the family he never knew. Inspired by the true life experiences of Antwone Fisher. Starring Derek Luke, Joy Bryant, Denzel Washington; directed by Denzel Washington. Rated PG-13.

The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman (1973)

Presents the fictional story of the long life of Miss Jane Pittman, who began her life as a slave in the South and who marched for her civil rights in the 20th century at the age of 110. Based on the novel by Ernest J. Gaines. Starring Cicely Tyson, Richard A. Dysart, and Katherine Helmond; directed by John Korty. Made for TV. Not rated.

Beloved (1998)

Based on the novel by Toni Morrison, in which a slave is visited by the spirit of her deceased daughter. Starring Oprah Winfrey, Danny Glover, and Thandie Newton; directed by Jonathan Demme. Rated R.

The Color Purple (1985)

Based on Alice Walker's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Color Purple is the richly-textured, decades-spanning story of Celie, an uneducated woman living in the rural American south. Forced to marry a brutal man she calls 'Mr,' Celie turns inward and shares her grief only with God. But she is transformed by the friendship of two remarkable women, acquiring self-worth ... and the strength to forgive. Starring Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover, Adolph Caesar; directed by Steven Spielberg. Rated PG-13.

Daughters of the Dust (1991) VHS

A large African-American family prepares to move north at the dawn of the 20th century. Starring Cora Lee Day, Barbara-O, Cheryl Lynn Bruce;written and directed by Julie Dash. Not rated.

Ghosts of Mississippi (1996) VHS

The widow of murdered civil rights leader Medger Evers and a district attorney struggle to finally bring the murderer to justice. Starring Alec Baldwin, Whoopi Goldberg, and James Woods; directed by Rob Reiner. Rated PG-13.

Glory (1989)

Story of soldiers in the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, America's first black regiment in the Civil War. Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor (Denzel Washington). Also starring Matthew Broderick and Morgan Freeman; directed by Edward Zwick. Rated R.

The Hurricane (1999) VHS

The story of Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, a boxer wrongly imprisoned for murder, and the people who aided in his fight to prove his innocence. Based on The 16th Round by Rubin Carter and Lazarus and the Hurricane by Sam Chaiton and Terry Swinton. Starring Denzel Washington, John Hannah, and Deborah Kara Unger; directed by Norman Jewison. Rated R.

The Long Walk Home (1990)

Depicts the effects of the Montgomery bus boycott on two women: Miriam, a suburban housewife, and her housekeeper Odessa. Starring Whoopi Goldbery and Sissy Spacek; directed by Richard Pearce. Rated PG.

Malcolm X (1992)

Inspiring story of Malcolm X, as he rises up from poverty, encounters the law, achieves spiritual enlightenment, and reaches out to others in the fight for human and civil rights. Based on The Autobiography of Malcolm X as told to Alex Haley. Starring Denzel Washington, Angela Bassett, and Albert Hall; directed by Spike Lee. Rated PG-13.

Miss Evers' Boys (1996)

In 1932, Nurse Eunice Evers is invited to work with doctors on the "Tuskegee Experiment" to study the effects of syphilis. She is faced with a terrible dilemma when she learns the patients are denied treatment that could cure them. Starring Alfre Woodard, Laurence Fishburne, and Craig Sheffer; directed by Joseph Sargent. Rated PG.

Nothing but a Man (1964) VHS

Duff, a railroad section hand is forced to confront prejudice and self- denial when he falls in love with Josie, an educated preacher's daughter. Starring Ivan Dixon, Abbey Lincoln, Julius Harris; directed by Michael Roemer. Not rated.

Ray  (2005)

Ray Charles went blind at the age of seven. Inspired by his mother who insisted he make his own way, he found his calling at the keyboard. 'Ray' follows as he overcomes drug addiction while becoming one of the country's most beloved performers. Starring Jamie Foxx, Kerry Washington, and Regina King; directed by Taylor Hackford. Rated PG-13.

Rosewood (1997)

In 1923 a black town in Florida was burned to the ground, its people murdered because of a lie. Some escaped and survived because of the courage and compassion of a few extraordinary people. Starring Jon Voight, Ving Rhames, and Don Cheadle; directed by John Singleton. Rated R.

A Soldier's Story (1984)

A black army attorney is sent to Fort Neal near the end of WW II to investigate the murder of Sgt. Waters, a black man who despised his own roots. Based on the play by Charles Fuller. Starring Howard E. Rollins, Jr. and Adolph Caesar; directed by Norman Jewison. Rated PG.

Stormy Weather (1943)

Thin story about a returning WWI vet who becomes a dancer is the backdrop for a cavalcade of great black musical stars from the Forties: Lena Horne, Bill Robinson, Fats Waller, Cab Calloway, Zutty Singleton, Slam Stewart, and many more. Directed by Andrew Stone. Not rated.

Their Eyes Were Watching God (2005)

A drama set in the 1920s, where free-spirited Janie Crawford's search for happiness leads her through several different marriages, challenging the mores of her small town. Based on the novel by Zora Neale Hurston. Starring Halle Berry, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Michael Ealy; directed by Darnell Martin. Rated TV14.

To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)

Two children in a small southern town are thrust into an adult world of racial bigotry and hatred when their lawyer father chooses to defend a black man unjustly accused of raping a white girl. Based on the novel by Harper Lee. Academy Awards for Gregory Peck, Best Actor, and Horton Foote, Best Screenplay. With Brock Peters, Robert Duvall, and Mary Badham; directed by Robert Mulligan. Not rated.

The Tuskegee Airmen (1995)

It is 1943 and the Germans are winning the Second World War as the U.S. suffers huge losses on the ground and in the air. Four newly recruited pilots are united by a desire to serve their country, at a time when black flyers are not welcomed in the Air Force. Now, through the brutal demands of their training, to the perils of flying over nations at war, they must undertake the riskiest mission of their lives -- to prove to America that courage knows no color. Starring Laurence Fishburne, Allen Payne, and Malcolm-Jamal Warner; directed by Robert Markowitz. Made for TV. Rated PG-13.

Uncle Tom's Cabin (1987) VHS

Harriet Beecher Stowe's timeless classic of slavery and survival in the Old South comes alive in this moving tribute to the strength of the human spirit. Starring Bruce Dern, Phylicia Rashad, and Avery Brooks; directed by Stan Lathen. Made for TV. Not rated.

A Woman Called Moses (1978)

Dramatization of the life of Harriet Tubman, the founder of the Underground Railroad, who led hundreds of slaves to freedom before the Civil War. Starring Cicely Tyson, Will Geer, and Robert Hooks, directed by Paul Wendkos. Not rated.

Zou Zou (1934)

A star walks out on her sugardaddy producer for true love, and a talented Cinderella takes her place, saves the show and is hailed as a new sensation opening night. Starring Josephine Baker, Jean Gabin, Yvette Lebon; directed by Marc Allegret. Not rated.

FILMS FOR CHILDREN

Cora Unashamed (2000)

A town's lone African American woman is surrounded by social isolation and deep-seated racism while working as a housekeeper. Set in rural Iowa in the early 1900s, Cora is confronted with death, abortion and loneliness. Working as a domestic, she lives only for her daughter and the neglected child of her employers. Based on a story by Langstson Hughes. Starring Regina Taylor, Cherry Jones, Michael Gaston; directed by Deborah Pratt. Not rated.

The House of Dies Drear (1984)

A story about the secrets walled within an old house reaches back to the days of slavery and underground railroads. Based on the book by Virginia Hamilton. Starring Howard Rollins, Jr., Moses Gunn, and Shavar Ross; directed by Allan Goldstein.

Our Friend, Martin (1998)

Authentic historical footage is blended with colorful animations as students learn about the civil rights leader who challenged all Americans to turn his dream of freedom into reality. Featuring Ed Asner, Angela Bassett, and Lucas Black. Rated G.

The Rosa Parks Story (2001)

Dramatic biography of Rosa McCauley Parks, who in 1955 created the spark that began the modern Civil Rights Movement. Starring Angela Bassett, Peter Francis James, and Cicely Tyson; directed by Julie Dash. Made for TV. Not rated.

Selma, Lord, Selma (2000)

In 1965, during the turbulent early days of the right-to-vote movement, a young Alabama schoolgirl is inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to resist the degradation that her fellow African Americans are suffering. Based on the book by Sheyann Webb and Rachel West Nelson as told to Frank Sikora. Starring Mackenzie Astin, Jurnee Smollett, and Clifton Powell; directed by Charles Burnett. Made for TV. Not rated.

Sounder (1972)

Tthe heartwarming story of a black sharecropper family in Louisiana during the Depression. From the novel by William H. Armstrong. Starring Cicely Tyson, Paul Winfield, and Kevin Hooks; directed by Martin Ritt. Rated G.

 

 Note: All titles are DVDs unless otherwise noted.

Updated 8/10

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