Black History Movies

Films that deal with African-American history.

Alex Hailey's Queen, Saturday at 10A/9C - Halle Berry's caught between two worlds.(Photo: Columbia Pictures)

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(Photo: CBS)

Shaka Zulu - Shaka Zulu told the story of the great Black South African warrior, European colonialism of Africa and African resistance to it. (Photo: Harmony Gold Productions)

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Shaka Zulu - Shaka Zulu told the story of the great Black South African warrior, European colonialism of Africa and African resistance to it. (Photo: Harmony Gold Productions)

Amistad - Amistad told the story of a group of Africans who rebelled against their captors on a slave ship traveling to America. Their rebellion led to an epic court case on the morality of slavery. (Photo: Dreamworks Pictures)

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Amistad - Amistad told the story of a group of Africans who rebelled against their captors on a slave ship traveling to America. Their rebellion led to an epic court case on the morality of slavery. (Photo: Dreamworks Pictures)

Roots - It's difficult to overestimate the impact of this mini-series, adapted from Alex Haley's seminal novel, on both American culture and television history. Roots received an unprecedented Nielsen rating when it first aired in 1977, and still stands as the third-highest rated TV program ever in the US. The mini-series, which stars a young LeVar Burton as Kunta Kinte, was nominated for 36 Emmys.(Photo: Warner Bros. Television)

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Roots - The epic miniseries Roots told the story of author Alex Haley's journey in America, starting with Kunta Kinte being stolen into slavery and ending with his grandson, Chicken George, being freed after the Civil War. (Photo: Warner Bros. Television)

Django Unchained (December 25) - Few films have been hyped as much as Tarantino's latest, Django Unchained, an antebellum drama about a freed slave (Jamie Foxx) on the hunt for his missing wife (Kerry Washington). Leonardo DiCaprio, Samuel L. Jackson and Joseph Gordon-Levitt round out the stellar cast of this super-stylized and characteristically creative ensemble piece.(Photo: Courtesy Sony Pictures)

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Django Unchained - Jamie Foxx starred in Quentin Tarrantino's Django Unchained. The movie told the tale of a slave who becomes a bounty hunter and hunts down the men who were enslaving his wife. (Photo: Columbia Pictures)

Photo By Photo: Columbia Pictures

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Sally Hemmings - Sally Hemmings told the tale of President Thomas Jefferson's 38-year relationship with his slave, lover and mother of his children. Their story was also told in the movie Jefferson in Paris. (Photo: CBS Productions)

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Sally Hemmings - Sally Hemmings told the tale of President Thomas Jefferson's 38-year relationship with his slave, lover and mother of his children. Their story was also told in the movie Jefferson in Paris. (Photo: CBS Productions)

Goodbye Uncle Tom - Goodbye Uncle Tom is a mock documentary about the racism, rape, harsh treatment and inhumanity of slavery. The Italian movie also detailed the rise of the Black Power movement with cameos by LeRoi Jones (Amiri Baraka) Stokely Carmichael (Kwame Toure) and Black Panther Eldridge Cleaver. (Photo: Blue Underground Productions)

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Goodbye Uncle Tom - Goodbye Uncle Tom is a mock documentary about the racism, rape, harsh treatment and inhumanity of slavery. The Italian movie also detailed the rise of the Black Power movement with cameos by LeRoi Jones (Amiri Baraka) Stokely Carmichael (Kwame Toure) and Black Panther Eldridge Cleaver. (Photo: Blue Underground Productions)

The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman - The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman is about a Black woman who was born a slave in 1852 and then deals with the oppression of Jim Crow until she joins the civil rights movement. (Photo: Tomorrow Entertainment)

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The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman - The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman is about a Black woman who was born a slave in 1852 and then deals with the oppression of Jim Crow until she joins the civil rights movement. (Photo: Tomorrow Entertainment)

Glory - Glory told the story of the 54th Regiment of Massachusetts, an all-Black fighting force that dealt with racism from their own side and the other side in the Civil War. It starred Denzel Washington and Morgan Freeman as slaves turned soldiers. (Photo:  TriStar Pictures)

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Glory - Glory told the story of the 54th Regiment of Massachusetts, an all-Black fighting force that dealt with racism from their own side and the other side in the Civil War. It starred Denzel Washington and Morgan Freeman as slaves turned soldiers. (Photo:  TriStar Pictures)

Buffalo Soldiers - Buffalo Soldiers, starring Danny Glover, is about an all-Black troop of soldiers who were chosen to fight Native Americans on the frontier after the Civil War. The movie dealt with the racial tension that affected Native Americans and African-Americans. (Photo: Turner Pictures)

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Buffalo Soldiers - Buffalo Soldiers, starring Danny Glover, is about an all-Black troop of soldiers who were chosen to fight Native Americans on the frontier after the Civil War. The movie dealt with the racial tension that affected Native Americans and African-Americans. (Photo: Turner Pictures)

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Sounder - In Sounder, a family of Black sharecroppers struggle with poverty and racism and the absence of their father, who was arrested for stealing food to feed his family. (Photo: Radnitz/Mattel Productions)

Rosewood (1997) - Also directed by Singleton and based on historic events of the 1923 Rosewood massacre in Florida, this drama told the story of how a thriving Black town and its residents' lives were destroyed after a white woman falsely accused a Black man of raping her. Don Cheadle, Ving Rhames and Esther Rolle starred in the picture.   (Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures)

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Rosewood - Rosewood told the story of the 1923 Rosewood massacre in Florida. In the film, a prosperous Black town is burned down after a Black man is falsely accused of raping a white woman. (Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures)

The Color Purple, Saturday at 10P/11C - Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah Winfrey & Danny Glover fight for their lives. Encore presentation on Sunday at 6P/5C.(Photo: Warner Bros Pictures) 

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The Color Purple - In The Color Purple, Whoopi Goldberg played Celie, a woman who had to deal with racism, poverty and physical abuse in the early 20th century. The film also starred Oprah Winfrey and Danny Glover and was nominated for 11 Oscars. (Photo: Amblin Entertainment)

Red Tails - With an all-star cast and Steven Spielberg's backing, this cinematic look at the Tuskegee Airmen was a no-brainer nomination for Best Movie. (Photo: Courtesy Twentieth Century Fox)

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Red Tails - Red Tails, produced by George Lucas, told the story of the Tuskegee Airmen, a group of African-American pilots who fought in World War II. The movie starred Cuba Gooding Jr., Terrence Howard and The Wire's Tristan Wilds. (Photo: Twentieth Century Fox)

A Soldier's Story - Denzel Washington had his breakout role in A Soldier's Story, which told the story of a group of Black soldiers stationed at a base in the Jim Crow South and the racism and segregation they dealt with. (Photo: Columbia Pictures)

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A Soldier's Story - Denzel Washington had his breakout role in A Soldier's Story, which told the story of a group of Black soldiers stationed at a base in the Jim Crow South and the racism and segregation they dealt with. (Photo: Columbia Pictures)

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42: April 12 - The long-awaited biopic on legendary baseball Jackie Robinson charts his history-making signing to the Brooklyn Dodgers. The film stars Chadwick Boseman as Robinson and includes Harrison Ford and Nicole Beharie.  (Photo: Legendary Pictures)

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42 - 42 tells the story of the legendary Jackie Robinson, the first African-American to play Major League baseball. The film gives an accurate depiction of the evils of racism and segregation and the grace and dignity that Jackie Robinson used to deal with them. (Photo: Legendary Pictures)

The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings - The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings deals with segregation in sports and is about a team of Black baseball players who start their own baseball team to the dismay of the white owner of a Negro League team. The movie starred Billie Dee Williams and Richard Pryor. (Photo: Universal Pictures)

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The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings - The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings deals with segregation in sports and is about a team of Black baseball players who start their own baseball team to the dismay of the white owner of a Negro League team. The movie starred Billie Dee Williams and Richard Pryor. (Photo: Universal Pictures)

Miracle at St. Anna - A Spike Lee joint, Laz Alonso, Michael Ealy, Derek Luke and Omar Benson Miller stars as four soldiers who are trapped in a Tuscan Village in during World War II.  (Photo: 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks / On My Own / Rai Cinema / Touchstone Pictures)

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Miracle at St. Anna - Miracle at St. Anna tells the story of a group of Black soldiers in a segregated division in Italy. Michael Ealy, Laz Alonzo and Derek Luke all played soldiers. (Photo: 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks)

To Kill a Mockingbird - To Kill a Mockingbird is about the trial of a Black man falsely accused of rape in the Jim Crow South and the family of the brave lawyer who defends him. (Photo: Universal Pictures)

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To Kill a Mockingbird - To Kill a Mockingbird is about the trial of a Black man falsely accused of rape in the Jim Crow South and the family of the brave lawyer who defends him. (Photo: Universal Pictures)

Photo By Photo: Universal Pictures

Separate but Equal - In the film Separate but Equal, Sidney Poitier played Thurgood Marshall during his epic Supreme Court case, Brown v. The Board of Education. The case would be a drastic changing point in the civil rights movement and would lead to segregation being illegal. (Photo: Republic Pictures)

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Separate but Equal - In the film Separate but Equal, Sidney Poitier played Thurgood Marshall during his epic Supreme Court case, Brown v. The Board of Education. The case would be a drastic changing point in the civil rights movement and would lead to segregation being illegal. (Photo: Republic Pictures)

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Ruby Bridges - Ruby Bridges is about and is named for the first African-American student to integrate the New Orleans school system. The racism and hatred that 10-year-old Bridges dealt with is immortalized in the Norman Rockwell painting The Problem We All Live With. (Photo: Walt Disney Television)

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Ruby Bridges - Ruby Bridges is about and is named for the first African-American student to integrate the New Orleans school system. The racism and hatred that 10-year-old Bridges dealt with is immortalized in the Norman Rockwell painting The Problem We All Live With. (Photo: Walt Disney Television)

A Raisin in the Sun - A Raisin in the Sun deals with the poverty and struggles of a family living on the Southside of Chicago in 1959. The original movie starred Sidney Poitier and Ruby Dee and a later version starred Diddy and Phylicia Rashad. (Photo: Columbia Pictures)

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A Raisin in the Sun - A Raisin in the Sun deals with the poverty and struggles of a family living on the Southside of Chicago in 1959. The original movie starred Sidney Poitier and Ruby Dee and a later version starred Diddy and Phylicia Rashad. (Photo: Columbia Pictures)

Photo By Photo: Columbia Pictures

Malcolm X, Sunday at 7P/6C - Denzel Washington's ending the movement. See him cause silver screen ruckus in other iconic roles too!(Photo: 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks)

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Malcolm X - Denzel Washington starred as Malcolm X in Spike Lee's epic movie. The movie focused on Malcolm's experience with racism as a child, his short criminal career, his conversion to Islam and his rise as a civil rights leader. (Photo: 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks)

The Five HeartBeats (Photo: Twentieth Century FOX)

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The Five Heartbeats - The Five Heartbeats was based on the story of Motown, The Temptations and other Black music groups in the '60s. The movie showed the struggles of Black musicians and the fight to make Black music popular. (Photo: Twentieth Century Fox)

Photo By Photo: Courtesy Twentieth Century Fox Pictures

Boycott - Boycott tells the story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which brought cvil rights leader Martin Luther King into prominence. Jeffrey Wright starred as King with Terrence Howard playing fellow civil rights activist Ralph Abernathy. (Photo: HBO Films)

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Boycott - Boycott tells the story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which brought cvil rights leader Martin Luther King into prominence. Jeffrey Wright starred as King with Terrence Howard playing fellow civil rights activist Ralph Abernathy. (Photo: HBO Films)

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Ray (2004) - Hollywood took notice of Kerry Washington when she landed the role of Della Bea Robinson, wife of legendary R&B pioneer Ray Charles, in the critically-hailed biopic Ray. Jamie Foxx, who played the film's lead, won an Oscar for Best Actor.(Photo: Universal Pictures)

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Ray - Jamie Foxx starred in Ray, a biopic about legendary singer and piano player Ray Charles. Ray's history covers the history of Black music in the 20th century as he successfully helped bring jazz, R&B and even country to new levels in America. (Photo: Universal Pictures)

Ali (2001) - A commanding figure inside of the boxing ring, Muhammad Ali's greatest test came when he protested the draft.  (Photo: Courtesy Columbia Pictures)

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Ali - Will Smith played the charismatic, cocky boxer Muhammad Ali in this epic biopic. Ali not only covered his fights but also his oppositiion to the war in Vietnam, his friendship with Malcolm X and his fights against racism. (Photo: Columbia Pictures)

Panther - Panther told the story of the rise of the Black Panther Party in Oakland, California, as well was the COINTELPRO program that sought to take them down. Angela Bassett reprised her role from Malcolm X with a cameo appearance as Betty Shabazz, Malcolm's widow. (Photo: Grammercy Pictures)

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Panther - Panther told the story of the rise of the Black Panther Party in Oakland, California, as well was the COINTELPRO program that sought to take them down. Angela Bassett reprised her role from Malcolm X with a cameo appearance as Betty Shabazz, Malcolm's widow. (Photo: Grammercy Pictures)

Night Catches Us (2010) - Director Tanya Hamilton told the story of a former Black Panther accussed of snitching, which led to the death of a fellow Panther. Kerry was cast as the wife of the slain activist, who tried to put her chaotic life back in order.(Photo: Gigantic Pictures)

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Night Catches Us - Night Catches Us is about a former Black Panther who returns to his Philadelphia neighborhood to accusations of informing on his fellow Panthers. Anthony Mackie and Kerry Washington star in the film. (Photo: Gigantic Pictures)

Get on the Bus - Get on the Bus tells the story of a group of African-American men traveling by bus to the Million Man March in 1996. The group deals with issues of skin color, class, sexuality and fatherhood during their journey. (Photo: Columbia Pictures)

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Get on the Bus - Get on the Bus tells the story of a group of African-American men traveling by bus to the Million Man March in 1996. The group deals with issues of skin color, class, sexuality and fatherhood during their journey. (Photo: Columbia Pictures)