1. Fruitvale Station 2013，IMDB Rating: 7.5, IMDB Votes: 86318, ID: 2334649 Photo by bp.blogspot.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 ‘Fruitvale Station’ presents a poignant and powerful depiction of Oscar Grant’s tragic story, reminding us of the need to fight against racial bias and advocate for justice and equality.
2. ‘I Am Not Your Negro’ 2017，IMDB Rating: 0.0, IMDB Votes: 0, ID: 28938361 Photo by newsandletters.org, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 This documentary, based on James Baldwin’s observations, provides a sobering perspective on American race relations. It explores the African American experience and the ongoing struggle for racial justice.
3. Pariah 2011，IMDB Rating: 7.2, IMDB Votes: 7618, ID: 1233334 Photo by wikimedia.org, is licensed under CC BY 2.0 ‘Pariah’ offers a compelling coming-of-age narrative centered on a young African American woman as she bravely navigates her journey of self-discovery and identity exploration.
4. Beyond the Lights 2014，IMDB Rating: 6.8, IMDB Votes: 17586, ID: 3125324 Photo by flayrah.com, is licensed under CC BY ND 4.0 ‘Beyond the Lights’ serves as a riveting drama that delves into the intense struggles of a young woman grappling with the pressures of fame while embarking on her path to self-acceptance.
5. 12 Years a Slave 2013，IMDB Rating: 8.1, IMDB Votes: 746146, ID: 2024544 Photo by blogspot.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 12 Years a Slave stands as a heart-wrenching film that presents an unflinching view of American slavery, telling the harrowing tale of Solomon Northup, a free black man kidnapped and sold into bondage, highlighting his relentless fight for survival and dignity.
6. Precious 2009，IMDB Rating: 7.3, IMDB Votes: 116829, ID: 0929632 Photo by bp.blogspot.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 Precious is a film that explores the life of Claireece ‘Precious’ Jones, a teenager who suffers constant abuse at the hands of her vicious mother. Despite its dark subject matter, the film manages to convey a sense of hope. It’s a powerful depiction of the resilience of a young woman in the face of adversity.
7. Moonlight 2016，IMDB Rating: 7.4, IMDB Votes: 334470, ID: 4975722 Photo by blogspot.com, is licensed under CC BY ND 4.0 Moonlight is a profound film that explores the development of a reserved and mild-mannered young man named Chiron. The film explores themes of identity, sexuality, family, and masculinity. It’s a beautiful exploration of the Black experience and queer identity.
8. Selma 2014，IMDB Rating: 7.5, IMDB Votes: 95876, ID: 1020072 Photo by wordpress.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 Selma powerfully chronicles the civil rights movement, showcasing the relentless struggle for racial equality, with Martin Luther King Jr.’s courageous leadership amid violent opposition serving as an inspiring reminder of the sacrifices made for the fundamental right to vote.
9. Mudbound 2017，IMDB Rating: 7.4, IMDB Votes: 54893, ID: 2396589 Photo by coyotepr.uk, is licensed under CC BY ND 4.0 Mudbound is a gripping drama that thoughtfully explores the deep racial tensions and shared hardships faced by two families in post-WWII Mississippi, presenting a nuanced depiction of race relations within the harsh realities of the Jim Crow South.
10. Get Out 2017，IMDB Rating: 7.8, IMDB Votes: 714395, ID: 5052448 Photo by wikimedia.org, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 Get Out brilliantly merges horror with social commentary, using its chilling narrative to dissect the insidious nature of racism, especially through the lens of racial microaggressions and a ‘color-blind’ society.
11. Set It Off 1996，IMDB Rating: 6.9, IMDB Votes: 18707, ID: 0117603 Photo by wikimedia.org, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 Set It Off (1996) is a satisfying, socially conscious heist film that showcases the lives of four women in economic crisis. It transcends and rewrites the classic heist movie through an all-female, all-black group of friends and their love for one another. The film sheds light on the plight of institutionalized education in Black neighborhoods.
12. Sorry to Bother You 2018，IMDB Rating: 6.9, IMDB Votes: 89133, ID: 5688932 Photo by mojnews.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 Sorry to Bother You (2018) is an electrifying comedy that fearlessly critiques identity politics and corporate greed while shedding light on the American tendency to ignore unsettling truths, creating a remarkably observant portrait of contemporary life.
13. The Jackie Robinson Story 1950，IMDB Rating: 6.4, IMDB Votes: 1484, ID: 0042609 Photo by picryl.com, is licensed under PDM 1.0 The Jackie Robinson Story (1950) is a slightly formulaic, but nonetheless solid, biopic that really deserves more attention. It features the true story of Jackie Robinson, the man who broke the color barrier in professional Baseball and made it possible for future black ballplayers to follow him. The film gets a lot of credit for its heart being in the right place in 1950.
14. Detroit 2017，IMDB Rating: 7.3, IMDB Votes: 56262, ID: 5390504 Photo by newsandletters.org, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 Detroit, released in 2017, is a complex and impactful film that captures a stark visual and narrative ugliness, culminating in a gripping dramatization of the tragic events surrounding the police raid at the Algiers Motel in 1967 that claimed the lives of three young black men.
15. 42 2013，IMDB Rating: 7.5, IMDB Votes: 103622, ID: 0453562 Photo by bp.blogspot.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 42, a biopic about Jackie Robinson—the first black player in Major League Baseball—delivers a competent and respectful portrayal of his groundbreaking journey, though it often feels like it treads familiar territory without breaking new ground.
15 Inspiring Movies That Celebrate Black History and Culture
