It’s Black History Month, y’all! Although I believe we should be learning about this piece of American history all year long, I do like having an intentional time when the collective United States is focusing on Black folks. There are events and educational opportunities intended to teach people about the African-American experience, and I never fail to learn something new every year.
Whether you have a chance to get out to some of those events or not, you can still learn a lot about the Black experience in America on your own by reading, talking to people, and watching movies and television shows. Terrence and I created this list of shows and movies that are currently streaming on Netflix to get you started.
Unique Black Experiences
Hip Hop Evolution – The origins of hip hop from the ones who pioneered it
Dope – Black teens go on an L.A. adventure
The Black Power Mixtape – Before Black Lives Matter was the Black Power Movement
Paris Is Burning – The heyday of the ball culture in New York
Netflix Originals
Luke Cage – He’s a Black Superhero!
Beasts of No Nation – A child forced to become a soldier in an African country
13th – A deep look at the prison system in America
The Get Down – The teen experience in the Bronx in the 1970s
The Black Girl Experience
Pariah – Black and queer, one girl searches for her true identity
Girlhood – Girls need community and support
Biographies
Iverson – The truth about The Answer
Barry – Before President Obama was President Obama
Ms. Sharon Jones – R&B at its finest
A Ballerina’s Tale – The incomparable Misty Copeland. Black Swan, indeed.
Classic Black Television
The Bernie Mac Show – Hilarious uncle becomes hilarious dad
A Different World – Representative of the historically Black college and university experience
Black Movie Favorites
Menace II Society – A teen tries to move past his gang life.
Belly – Street hustlers caught in the game. Beautiful cinematography.
He Got Game – A teen’s journey to basketball stardom while he tries to repair his relationship with his father.
Beverly Hills Cop – A funny Eddie Murphy classic about a Detroit cop trying to solve his friend’s murder in Beverly Hills.
Stomp the Yard – Life as an African-American college student
Family Movies
The Watsons Go To Birmingham – A family roadtrip leads to lots of discoveries
Good Burger – Funny kids save a fast food restaurant
The Wiz – Diana Ross, Michael Jackson…need I say more.
The Cheetah Girls – Singing friends go after their dreams
Kid Shows Featuring Black Lead Characters
Home – A curly headed little girl and her alien friend
A.N.T. Farm – Super smart, super creative, and super funny
Lab Rats – Bionic kids doing extraordinary things
Frenemy – Zendaya. Enough said.
I am a member of the Netflix #StreamTeam and receive promotional items for my participation!
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