WATCH
Movies*
12 Years a Slave (Movie, Hulu; Amazon Prime Video.)
Director Steve McQueen’s powerful film based on the true story of a man kidnapped and sold into slavery. “McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave, based on the true story of Solomon Northup, drives straight to the heart of the cruelties of oppression.” Manohla Dargis, The New York Times.
13th (Documentary, Netflix.)
Scholars, activists and politicians analyze the criminalization of African Americans and the U.S. prison boom.
I Am Not Your Negro (Documentary, Netflix.)
Based on James Baldwin’s unfinished book, this visual essay explores racism through the stories of Medgar Evers, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr.
Dear White People (Series, Netflix.)
Students navigate the daily slights and slippery politics of life at an Ivy League college that’s not nearly as “post-racial” as it thinks.
Do The Right Thing (Movie, Hulu; Showtime on Amazon.)
Spike Lee wrote, produced, directed and starred in this comedy-drama chronicling the hottest day of the year in a diverse Brooklyn neighborhood.
Fruitvale Station (Movie, Amazon Prime Video; Netflix.)
This dramatic rendering of a real-life tragedy recounts the final hours of Oscar Grant, shot by San Francisco transit police on New Year’s Day, 2009.
Malcolm X (Movie, Amazon Prime Video; Hulu.)
A tribute to the controversial black activist and leader of the struggle for black liberation. His assassination in 1965 left a legacy of self-determination and racial pride.
Selma (Movie, Amazon Prime Video; Hulu.)
“(Ava) DuVernay’s look at Martin Luther King’s 1965 voting-rights march against racial injustice stings with relevance to the here and now.”
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone.
The Hate U Give (Movie, Amazon Prime Video; Hulu.)
A powerful drama based on the best-selling novel. When a teenager witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood friend she must find her voice and stand up to do what is right.
The Black Power Mixtape 1967 – 1975 (Movie Documentary, Amazon Prime Video; PBS; Sling TV; YouTube.)
A treasure trove of 16mm material shot by Swedish filmmakers, after languishing in a basement of a TV station for 30 years, into an irresistible mosaic of images, music, and narration chronicling the evolution one of our nation’s most indelible turning points, the Black Power movement.
Time: The Kalief Browder Story (Documentary, Netflix; Amazon Prime Video.)
This series traces the tragic case of Kalief Browder, a Black Bronx teen who spent three horrific years in jail, despite not being convicted of a crime.
When They See Us (Series, Netflix.)
Five teens from Harlem become trapped in a nightmare when they are falsely accused of a brutal attack in Central Park. Based on the true story.
*All movies listed above may require a video subscription or a rental fee to view.
Video:
So You Want to Talk About Race (Ijeoma Oluo, Talks at Google.)
Ted Talks to help you understand racism in America (TED Recommends.)
More Resources
These lists reflect this moment in the Festival’s learning and evolution. These resources will expand as we continue to put our commitments into action.