What to Watch: Movies that Capture the Meaning of Juneteenth

Harriet-Tree — Cynthia Erivo stars as Harriet Tubman in HARRIET, a Focus Features release. Credit: Glen Wilson / Focus Features

By Leigh Hewett

Juneteenth is an important holiday for all Americans as it commemorates the day, June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston Texas to announce that all enslaved people were free. We’ve curated a list of movies that tell the stories of the people who fought for freedom and equality and celebrate the achievements of African Americans who made their mark in history.

HARRIET

Quality:

****

Content:

-1 Caution 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.

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SELMA

Quality:

****

Content:

-2 Extreme caution for older teenagers and adults.

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.

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THE LIGHT OF FREEDOM

Quality:

Content:

+4 Biblical, usually Christian, worldview, with no questionable elements whatsoever.

THE LIGHT OF FREEDOM is a movie about a little girl in Ohio during the early days of the Civil War, who leads an effort to uncover the person in town who’s helping a bounty hunter capture escaped slaves. The performances lack some emotional depth, but the script is well written and THE LIGHT OF FREEDOM is a positive, wholesome Christian movie for families that can be viewed and understood by all ages.

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GLORY

Quality:

****

Content:

-2 Extreme caution for older teenagers and adults.

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.

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COLORS OF CHARACTER: AN ARTIST’S JOURNEY TO REDEMPTION

Quality:

***

Content:

+1 Moderately questionable elements. (Discernment required for young children.)

COLORS OF CHARACTER: AN ARTIST’S JOURNEY TO REDEMPTION is a documentary that follows the life journey of popular sports painter Steve Skipper who had no formal training but whose life was transformed when he found Jesus. COLORS OF CHARACTER has a strong Christian, biblical worldview with powerful examples of redemption and trusting wholly on God, but reenacts some of Skipper’s past involving drugs and gang violence, so MOVIEGUIDE® advises caution for children.

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BLOOD DONE SIGN MY NAME

Quality:

***

Content:

-1 Caution advised for older children, including teenagers, and sensitive adults.

BLOOD DONE SIGN MY NAME is based on the true story of Ben Chavis and Vernon Tyson who tried to change a small town’s thoughts about civil rights in 1970. The movie has a strong Christian message, but it is marred by an acceptance of rioting and mob rule by the downtrodden.

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GIFTED HANDS: THE BEN CARSON STORY

Quality:

****

Content:

+4 Biblical, usually Christian, worldview, with no questionable elements whatsoever.

GIFTED HANDS: THE BEN CARSON STORY is the inspirational true story of a black child raised by a single mother who constantly encouraged him to use his God-given gifts. Ben rises from being a poor student, to the top of his class and then on to become a world-famous neurosurgeon in this great family movie.

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