Black History Month Archives

Langston Hughes And The River In Which My Lineage Flows

In Langston, I found that my own soul can grow deep and stretch throughout time and space. With Langston, I swim alongside our heritage. By Darby James Davis “I’ve known rivers:Ancient, dusky rivers.My soul has grown deep like the river”- "The Negro

Feb 12, 2020

Culture and Entertainment

We Don’t Need White Books in Blackface

Black literature’s importance goes far beyond a shallow marketing scheme. For centuries, the Black literary imagination has been synonymous with resistance. CW: This essay mentions sexual assault It’s Black History Month, and white people are doing what they do best -- profiting

Feb 6, 2020

Culture and Entertainment

What You Need To Know About #29DaysOfBlackCosplay

As we prepare for the sixth year of Black cosplay excellence, it occurs to me that there are a few things to keep in mind. By Briana Lawrence New Year. New decade. Same cosplay hashtag ready to sashay onto social media

Jan 27, 2020

Body Positivity In Color

UNRULY: Subverting Body Terrorism By Celebrating Black Hair

As part of our #BodyPositivityInColor campaign and in recognition of Black History Month, Sherronda J. Brown writes about the larger implications of society’s policing of natural Black hair through a lens that provides cultural and historical context, emphasizing why hair

Feb 11, 2019

Step Away from 'Roots': Films to Watch to Close Out Black History Month

Culture and Entertainment

Race

Step Away from ‘Roots’: Films to Watch to Close Out Black History Month

Give “Roots” a rest and explore black history through films that capture more than just certain moments.

“Roots” plays on repeat on just about every television at some point during Black History Month. Yes, Black history includes chattel slavery, and stories about the Middle Passage and such. And, yes, “Roots” depicts the era better than any other film could — it’s just not the only film about Black history that’s been made in the modern age. Sitcoms like “Blackish” have created shows with historical points as themes. There have been several films that depict people and events that are pivotal to the liberation of Black people as well as cinematic documentation of how a people demanded and received equal rights as white Americans enjoy. Here’s a list that will take you from slavery to modernity in Black history. You can find them on Amazon Video, Google Play, Hulu, Vudu, and YouTube.

Marathon-Worthy History

This is the era of streaming several episodes in one sitting, or straight-up watching a whole season. Fortunately, there’s some exciting content that you can stream for Black History Month. “Underground” is a show that ended abruptly in 2017 but is a thrilling look at the life of slaves and the Underground Railroad. Enjoy 20 hour-long episodes that are based on historical events and include a historic character that will keep you glued to the screen. Go back further in Black History with “The Book of Negroes”, a Canadian show based on a real journal of Black slaves who fought for the British during the American Revolution and were rewarded land in Nova Scotia for their loyalty. The miniseries follows a slave who was taken from her village as a young girl and follows her as she becomes the voice for the loyalists and their interests. Marathon the six episodes over a weekend or space them out throughout the month.

Movies About Famous Black People

From the women who formulated the first trip to the moon to the men who courageously flew bombers in World War II, Black people have made their invisible marks in history. Through the magic of modern cinema, those invisible deeds are exposed in movies that are dramatic, thrilling, and just as entertaining as they are educational. The most recent of this list is “Hidden Figures” about the Black women mathematicians whose work was vital to the program in the early days. “Red Tails” follows a group of Black pilots during World War II as they bravely fought for a country that was drowning under Jim Crow governance at the time. “The Butler” is a look inside the White House during the vital Civil Rights era. The point of view, however, is through the eyes of the Black man who served the Presidency and knew all its secrets. “Glory” goes a bit further back to capture the torment and the bravery of Union soldiers in the Civil War. “Southside with You” is a light-hearted look at the epic first date of the most beloved Black couple today — the Obamas.