List
Racism in the United States: Specific Stories
Documentaries about individuals who have fought against prejudice and the racial divide that still exists in this country.
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King: A Filmed Record : Montgomery to Memphis
2017Get this itemSpanning from 1955 to his death in 1968, this film follows the work of Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. Often mentioned as one of the best documentaries made about King's life and works, if you think you know MLK, you might realize you did not after watching this. Nominated for a Best Documentary Feature Academy Award in 1971.
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James Baldwin: The Price of the Ticket
2014Get this itemAlthough the 2016 documentary, I Am Not Your Negro about James Baldwin and his work against institutionalized racism is more well-known since it is recent, this 1990 film goes into Baldwin's life and how his background led him to become the civil rights leader/author he became.
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Hughes' Dream Harlem
2015Get this itemWriter and poet Langston Hughes became one of the most prominent figures of the Harlem Renaissance. Through his writings, he celebrated the day-to-day experiences of African Americans. Today, he is known not only for his remarkable written words, but for his followers in all aspects of the arts, from musicians to writers, including novelist Alice Walker, one of his protegees.
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Ralph Bunche: An American Odyssey
2015Get this itemBunche, the first person of color to win the Nobel Peace Prize, was much more than his list of credits, which include statesman, peace negotiator, and scholar. He was an early fighter against prejudice and racism in his rise to become Undersecretary General of the United Nations. Bunche was a predecessor to MLK, James Baldwin, and Malcolm X, and just as vital to the cause.
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Ida B. Wells: A Passion for Justice
2015Get this itemIf Bunche is is a predecessor to modern-day Civil Rights activists, Wells is Bunche's predecessor. She was a journalist, suffragist, and anti-lynching crusader, all in the post-Reconstruction period following the Civil War. This film, with excerpts from Wells' memoirs and letters read by Toni Morrison, uncovers this lesser-known yet vitally important early activist for civil rights.
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Soul of Justice: Thelton Henderson's American Journey
2015Get this itemHenderson is the barrier-breaking first Black attorney in the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department. He's one of the many, many unsung heroes of the fight against racism who go unnoticed in everyday society. That does not mean his impact on civil rights is not as important as other better-known activists. It just means Henderson's story needs to be spread by documentaries like this one.
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Goin' to Chicago
2015Get this itemThis is more a collection of stories, rather than the story of one particular person. After WWII, many African Americans decided to flee the South for Northern cities, including Chicago. This film documents the tales of these people who uprooted their lives and those of their families for chances at a better and a less arduous life.
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February One
2015Get this itemAnother film of multiple stories around one specific event...one that rocked the Civil Rights Movement forever. Concerning the 1960 lunch counter sit-in in Greensboro, NC, this documentary includes current interviews and archival footage to tell the tale of this vital day in American history.
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Hoxie: The First Stand
2015Get this itemThis is about a specific town, rather than a specific person, but it still qualifies as an excellent film on a crucial element in the civil rights struggle. You might not have heard of Hoxie, AR, but you should, since this rural Southern town became one of the first school districts to integrate after the Brown v. Board of Education ruling.
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