Well it is officially Black History month and we are kicking it off with resources about Black History, Black Figures in History, Racism, Classism and so much more. There are so many great movies and shows on Prime, even in the Black History Month Category, but I choose the best for an educational stand point. We also will have a list for the best movies on Disney +, Netflix and the best books, as well as daily posts on Historical Figures.
I am Not Your Negro
This 93-minute feature documentary is narrated by Samuel L. Jackson and is inspired by James Baldwin’s unfinished manuscript, Remember This House, a collection of notes and letters written by Baldwin in the mid-1970s. The memoir recounts the lives of his close friends and civil rights leaders Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., and Medgar Evers.
A History of Black Achievement in America
This original, eight-part series documents Black Achievement in American history, its defining role in the growth of the country and its influence on current events.
Harriet Tubman – They Called Her Moses
Discover the real Harriet Tubman in this compelling documentary narrated by Alfrelynn Roberts and featuring expert interviews with leading scholars Dr. Eric Lewis Williams of the Smithsonian Institute and Carl Westmoreland of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. It also features remarkable early 20th-century audio recordings of African-American spirituals sung by former slaves.
The Jackie Robinson Story
The film begins with Robinson as a boy. He is given a worn-out baseball glove by a stranger impressed by his fielding skills. As a young man, he becomes a multi-sport star at UCLA, but as he nears graduation, he worries about his future. His older brother Mack was also an outstanding college athlete and graduate, but the only job he could get was that of a lowly street cleaner.
When America enters World War II, Robinson is drafted, serving as an athletic director. Afterward, he plays baseball with a professional African-American team. However, the constant travel keeps him away from his college sweetheart, Rae.
Then one day, Brooklyn Dodgers scout Clyde Sukeforth invites him to meet Branch Rickey, president of the Major League Baseball team. At first, Robinson considers the offer to be a practical joke, as African Americans are not allowed to play in the segregated major leagues. When he is convinced that the opportunity is genuine, he and Rickey size each other up. After thinking over Rickey’s warning about the hatred and abuse he would have to endure without being able to strike back, Robinson signs with the Dodgers’ International League farm team, the Montreal Royals. Though he wants to delay marrying Rae to shield her, she insists on an immediate wedding so she can support her man in the trying times ahead.
Robinson leads the league in hitting in his first year, and despite the grave concerns expressed by the Commissioner of Major League Baseball, Rickey goes ahead and promotes him to the Dodgers. Reviled at first by many of the fans and some of his own teammates, Robinson gets off to a shaky start, playing out of position at first base and going through a hitting slump, but then gradually wins people over with his talent and determination. The team goes on to win the pennant, with Robinson driving in the tying run and scoring the winning run in the deciding game.
At the end, Robinson is invited to address the United States House of Representatives in Washington, D.C.
Michelle Obama: Life After the White House
Former First Lady MICHELLE OBAMA’S story has just begun. The Obamas have remained quite busy with their new life of activism which includes their issue-oriented production company, Higher Ground, which won an Oscar for Best Documentary in 2020. Mrs. Obama’s autobiography, Becoming, has become the best-selling memoir of all time and even won a Grammy following the publication of her book. Get lost in the incredible journey of this modern-day First Lady’s story in the making.
The Legend: The Bessie Coleman Story
In 1921, aviation pioneer Bessie Coleman arose from the poverty of the Texas cotton fields to capture the hearts of the Black population of America.
George W Carver – His Life and Work
Known as “the peanut man”, for his discovery of over 300 uses for peanuts, this is the life story of George Washington Carver his many achievements, teachings and inventions. Born into slavery, Carver is an inspirational example of how hard work, a positive attitude and a good education can lead to success despite race, creed or color.
King: Man of Peace in a Time of War
A rare TV interview with Martin Luther King Jr., is the centerpiece of this tribute. Exclusive interviews with Jesse Jackson and Colin Powell provide fresh insight into the life and personality of the inspirational civil rights leader.
The African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross
Presented and written by Henry Louis Gates Jr., this six-hour series guides viewers on a journey across two continents to explore the transition of African-Americans. The series encompasses five centuries of events, visits key sites, and engages in debates with historians and eyewitnesses like school integration pioneers Ruby Bridges and Charlayne Hunter-Gault, former Black Panther Kathleen Neal Cleaver and former Secretary of State Colin Powell.
The Obamas Belive
The story of the Obamas is the story of the American dream. A story of dedication, perseverance and patriotism. Together they faced the impossible and conquered it each and every time. Follow the incredible journey of a little known senator from Illinois and his humble family as they built a political powerhouse of outward looking optimism that would capture hearts and inspire millions of people across the United States and beyond. The family of “hope” and “yes we can” that placed their bet on America and won.
Black Ballrina
BLACK BALLERINA, tells the story of several black women from different generations who fell in love with ballet. Six decades ago, while pursuing their dreams, Joan Myers Brown, Delores Browne and Raven Wilkinson confronted racism, exclusion and unequal opportunity. Today, young dancers of color continue to face formidable challenges breaking into the overwhelmingly white world of ballet. Moving back and forth in time, this lyrical, character driven film shows how far we still have to go and stimulates a fresh discussion about race, inclusion and opportunity across all sectors of American society.
Black, White & Us
“Black, White & Us” explores racism in America through the lives of four white families who adopt African American children and must overcome their own inherent biases to become advocates. Is there a way to fix our country’s racial divide? These transracial adoptive families just might provide the answer.
My Life With Rosie
Dr Angela Sadler Williamson examines the relationship between Rosa Parks and her cousin, Carolyn Green, to introduce a side of Parks few people know.
You Belong to Me: Sex, Race and Murder in the South
You Belong to Me: Sex, Race and Murder in the South is a 2014 American documentary filmproduced by Hilary Saltzman, Kitty Potapow, and Jude Hagin and directed by John Cork. The film works to uncover the hidden truths of the Ruby McCollum case of 1952.
John L. Waller: Striving for Equality
A documentary which examines the life and times (1850 – 1907) of John L. Waller, a prominent African American attorney, politician, newspaper publisher, diplomat and soldier.
More than a Game
Filmmaker Kristopher Belman chronicles the early career of basketball superstar LeBron James. James and four other talented teammates were a powerhouse combination at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio. The five star athletes burned up the courts throughout Ohio, but James’ ever-increasing celebrity threatened to tear apart all the five had worked so hard to achieve.
Chisholm ’72: Unbought & Unbossed
Pioneering politician Shirley Chisholm is the subject of this lauded documentary. The nation’s first African-American congresswoman, the passionate Chisholm launches a campaign for the United States presidency in the 1972 election, and wins an impressive amount of support, given the era and the still-prevailing prejudices of many voters. The film takes a close look at her presidential run, providing interviews with Chisholm and the dedicated individuals who worked on her groundbreaking campaign.
Back to Natural
This documentary outlines the ways in which race, identity, and hair are all related and offers a compassionate viewpoint on issues that affect African descendants.
The Trails of Muhammad Ali
Prior to becoming the most recognisable face on earth, Muhammad Ali fought a five year prison sentence for refusing to join the US army during the Vietnam War.
Sis, You Okay?
An eye opening conversation amongst African American women and their unique experiences as it pertains to trauma and mental health.
Not Black Enough
Not Black Enough is a film about class warfare and the cross-tides that African-Americans are dealing with within the black community. The film takes a sometimes humorous, always personal, brutally honest and insightful look into a seldom-explored phenomenon that is pervasive in the black culture- The ostracizing of blacks for being Not Black Enough. Not Black Enough, a feature length documentary, will explore the reasons behind this practice of fear and loathing internal to the black community.
After Selma
Emmy-winning filmmaker, Loki Mulholland (“The Uncomfortable Truth”), civil rights veteran, Joanne Blackmon Bland, and New York Times bestselling author, Carol Anderson (“White Rage”) dive into the history of voter suppression and the need for us to challenge it in order to preserve our democracy and equality for all.