Cynthia Erivo stars as Harriet Tubman in HARRIET, a Focus Features release. Credit: Glen Wilson / Focus Features
10 Powerful Movies To Honor Black History Month
By Movieguide® Contributor
Black History Month is celebrated every February to highlight achievements and the rich history of African Americans. It’s a time to honor heroes, reflect on our nation’s history and be inspired by their many contributions. From the Civil Rights Movement to advances in science to the world of sports, this curated list contains stories of people who have made a mark on the fabric of America and the world. Some films contain scenes that may be scary for young children, so please use caution.
-1Caution advised for older children, including teenagers, and sensitive adults.
42 tells what happens when the Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team signed the first black player in the Major Leagues, Jackie Robinson, in 1947. 42 is an inspirational, superb movie showing how the Christian faith of both Dodgers General Manager Branch Rickey and Jackie Robinson helped end racism in professional baseball. However, there is a fair amount of foul language and some racial epithets, so caution is advised, especially for children.
-1Caution advised for older children, including teenagers, and sensitive adults.
HARRIET is the incredible story about how Harriet Tubman became Harriet Tubman, the woman who saved thousands of slaves and brought them to freedom before the Civil War. HARRIET is an exceptionally well-made movie with a strong Christian worldview, but it does have intense scenes and some foul language.
SELMA is a powerful movie on Martin Luther King Jr’s march on Selma, Alabama for voting rights for African Americans. SELMA is a well-done movie with overt Christian, moral content, but it does have some intense violence and a significant amount of foul language, so strong caution is advised.
JUST MERCY tells the compellingly true story about an African-American lawyer in Alabama who takes the case a black man falsely accused of murder and placed on death row. JUST MERCY is highly emotional, moving and absorbing, with compelling performances and a strong Christian, moral worldview, but MOVEIGUIDE® advises extreme caution due to too much foul language and some mature content.
-1Caution advised for older children, including teenagers, and sensitive adults.
HIDDEN FIGURES is an engaging, encouraging, uplifting salute to three African-American women who contribute greatly to the 1960s NASA program during the Space Race with Communist Russia. Led by three fantastic actresses, HIDDEN FIGURES is an uplifting movie that exemplifies a positive way to stand with Christian strength and grace in the face of opposition, but caution is advised for older children due to many light obscenities and one strong profanity.
With a really good 1860's look, GLORY is a biblical moral lesson about overcoming racism through reconciliation, not rebellion or revenge, set in the context of history that we all need to see. GLORY is a great film for mature, discerning Christians.
+3Some minor questionable elements. (Media-wisdom is suggested to discuss.)
Based on a true story, REMEMBER THE TITANS depicts the forced integration of an all black high school with an all white school and its impact on football in 1971 Alexandria, Virginia. Faced with the need to unify their team, two coaches, one of them played by Denzel Washington, must help the team to learn that the real victory lies in changed hearts. Humorous as well as dramatic, TITANS is a moral, uplifting, well-acted tale.
The 1963 classic movie TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD tells the story of a small-town Southern lawyer during the Great Depression, his two children, and two cases of prejudice. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD is a timeless classic with strong Christian, moral principles and exceptional directing and acting.
+1Moderately questionable elements. (Discernment required for young children.)
THE BOY WHO HARNESSED THE WIND chronicles the true story of a plucky teenage boy, who dramatically changes his Malawian village forever by harnessing wind power to irrigate crops. His MacGyver-like ingenuity saves the agrarian culture from starvation during a famine. A redemptive story between father and son is a highlight of THE BOY WHO HARNESSED THE WIND, which offers media-wise moviegoers an inspiring, compelling story.
+1Moderately questionable elements. (Discernment required for young children.)
AKEELAH AND THE BEE is an inspiring, entertaining drama about an 11-year-old spelling bee champion who inspires almost everyone she meets. AKEELAH AND THE BEE is an extremely uplifting, heartfelt movie with strong moral messages, but it has some instances of PG-rated foul language.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
