A founding father of Black history, Carter G Woodson, initially launched the celebration as a week-long event to expand the knowledge and study of the African-American community. Negro History Week evolved into what is now known as Black History Month.
So as we kick off the occasion, here are three movies that provide a solid foundation and understanding of the history of people of color.
- A History of Black Achievement in America. The 2005 docu-series, A History of Black Achievement in America, took a look at the history of people impacted by the diaspora. However, this nine-part series has a specific focus on Black Achievements in American history and its influence on current events. The series is narrated by famed 90s actor, James Avery and features archive footage and images that tell the story of African–American achievements over time. Viewers are shown everything from settling the New World and the founding of the United States to the Barack Obama era. The docu-series can be watched on Amazon Prime or Apple TV.
- Out Of Darkness. Out of Darkness is a 2016 three-part, three-hour documentary film directed by Amadeuz Christ. Viewers are exposed to ancient history and introduced to African cultural contributions to the nations of the world. The film takes viewers throughout history and provides an understanding of how people of the diaspora came to be in this present state. Out of Darkness also has a second installment, Out of Darkness: Heavy Is The Crown, which looks at the spiritual origins of African people. Viewers are able to hear from experts and historians such as Kaba Kamene, Dr. Claud Anderson, Professor James Small and Anthony Browder. Out of Darkness can be purchased on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Google Play, Vimeo and Vudu.
- The 1619 Project. Like A History of Black Achievement in America and Out of Darkness, The 1619 Project will also provide a deeper understanding of Black History. Writer Nikole Hannah-Jones expanded on the print version of the 1619 Project by bringing it to television screens. The six-part limited – which Oprah Winfrey serves as an executive producer for – debuted on Hulu in January 2023. The episodes are adaptions of essays that were published in the New York Times version of the project and include “Democracy,” “Race,” “Music,” “Capitalism,” “Fear” and “Justice.” Viewers are able to hear from experts and learn how the legacy of slavery shapes different aspects of American life.
