By: Ellie Simmers ~ Assistant News Editor
As February begins, so does Black History Month—a time dedicated to honoring the contributions and legacy of Black leaders, activists, and communities throughout history. February was chosen for this observance because it marks the birthdays of two influential figures in the fight against slavery: Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. In recognition of their work and the efforts of countless others who have stood against racism and discrimination, I believe these four impactful films are essential to viewing during Black History Month.
- Harriet (2019)
While many people were introduced to Cynthia Erivo as “Elphaba” in Wicked, I first fell in love with her acting when she portrayed Harriet Tubman in Harriet.
Alongside Erivo, actors like Leslie Odom Jr. and Janelle Monáe make this film a powerful portrayal of both the brutality of slavery and the resilience of those who fought against it.
“I wanted it to be the Harriet Tubman story. And so really I wanted to find her and bring her and give it some authenticity,” said director and co-writer Kasi Lemmons, who goes on to emphasize the importance of directing this film as a Black woman.
This film gives a more in-depth look into Harriet Tubman’s life, from enslaved woman to Underground Railroad conductor to military strategist. It reveals that the Harriet Tubman you were taught in school is only a part of the story of this incredible, revolutionary woman.
Photo Credit: The Kennedy Center
- Judas and the Black Messiah (2021)
I am a big fan of biopics, so I had to include Judas and the Black Messiah, a historical thriller that follows the events leading up to Fred Hampton’s assassination.
Directed by Shaka King, this film tells the story of an FBI informant, William O’Neal (LaKeith Stanfield), who was coerced to infiltrate the Black Panther Party headquarters in 1960s Chicago to help take down the young, charismatic leader of the party, Fred Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya).
Banking off the connotation that Judas and the Messiah have in Christian ideology, this film showcases the victimhood of both O’Neal and Hampton, implicating the state and the FBI as the real “Judas.”
The performances of both Stanfield and Kaluuya capture the essence of what it meant to be a Black revolutionary in America at the time and how the system was built never to let them succeed.
This film is more than just a history lesson; it reflects the sacrifices made for justice. In the words of Fred Hampton, “Anywhere there’s people, there’s power.”
Photo Credit: Rotten Tomatoes
- Moonlight (2016)
Moving away from biopics, Moonlight, directed by Barry Jenkins, is a poetic and thought-provoking coming-of-age story.
This film follows Chiron (Alex Hibbert, Ashton Saunders, Trevante Rhodes) from childhood to adulthood, diving deep into Chiron’s struggles with identity, masculinity, and belonging and how his community, rather than his family, are the ones to help him come to terms with who he is as a man.
In addition to the powerful, moving performances from Trevante Rhodes, Mahershala Ali, and Naomie Harris, the cinematography and score of this film are something I will never stop raving about.
The use of light, movement, and color in every scene of this film makes you feel like you are inside Chiron’s world, experiencing the beauty and the tragedy that he experiences as a queer Black man.
Moonlight is about compassion, resilience, and our desire to be loved. Exploring the intersections of Blackness and queerness, Moonlight sheds light on the struggles and triumphs of navigating identity, masculinity, and what it means to be a Black man in America.
As director Barry Jenkins put it, “Sometimes, how you ingest this idea of masculinity as projected onto you by the world could be the difference of life and death.”
Photo Credit: Rotten Tomatoes
- The Last Black Man in San Francisco (2019)
Finally, The Last Black Man in San Francisco is a one-of-a-kind film that showcases the impact that gentrification can have on a community, based on the real-life of Jimmie Fails.
This film follows Jimmie Fails, played by himself, alongside his best friend, Mont (Johnathan Majors), as they journey to reclaim Fails’ grandfather’s house in the hastily gentrifying San Francisco.
Starring compelling performances from Danny Glover, Rob Morgan, and Mike Epps,
Beyond the fight against gentrification, The Last Black Man in San Francisco digs into the lives of displaced people, how their histories are erased, and their struggle to stay attached to their roots.
One thing that made this film special to me was Fails’s connection to and ties to this house, representing his heritage and past.
This film is concerned with more than just a desire to retain a physical space. It’s about a man searching for identity, belonging, and a sense of ownership in a city that seems to be pushing him out.
The Last Black Man in San Francisco clarifies that you can love your city, home, and heritage even if you don’t love what it has become.
In the words of Jimmie Fails, “You can’t hate it unless you love it.”
Photo Credit: National Community Reinvestment Coalition
To learn more about these movies, visit: www. imdb.com
