As protests and demonstrations against racial injustice sweep the planet, there is heightened public awareness of discrimination and inequality in the world. Many people are looking for ways to educate themselves on these topics. As an entrepreneur, it is imperative that you understand the context behind these critical points and absorb the importance of this moment in our history.
But where do you start to fill in your knowledge gaps and broaden your understanding of what’s going on? Movies can be effective in bringing meaningful stories to life and offering an easy way to help us begin to address these difficult issues.
10 Movies That Deal With Racial Injustice
These films offer general ideas with key messages, such as the importance of diversity, tolerance and acceptance. They provide excellent starting points for further information and a deeper understanding of these obstacles and issues.
The titles below deal with characters, situations, and encounters that delve into bias, racial injustice, and systemic issues, making them great conversation starters. To help you dig deeper into these topics, I’ve included additional resources that will broaden your perspective and inform your worldview.
1. Just Mercy (matter of justice2019)
This must-see film has helped shape the conversation about capital punishment in the United States. The film highlights the racial bias that permeates the criminal justice system in the neighboring country. Based on the attorney’s best-selling book Bryan Stevensonfounder of the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI), and his real-life experiences, this intense drama centers on Stevenson (Michael B. Jordan), who is a defense attorney working to appeal guilty conviction of Walter McMillian, a black man who was sentenced to death for a crime he did not commit.
On a deeper look: Stevenson’s book of the same name goes a long way into his efforts to change sentencing practices, particularly for adolescents and children, and for those with mental health issues. If you ever visit or find yourself in the Montgomery, Alabama area, the EJI Legacy Museum and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice offer powerful and visceral insights into the history of slavery and racism in America, including African-American slavery, racial lynching, segregation and racial bias.
2. The Hate U Give (The hate you give2018)
Although this movie is labeled as a teen flick, it offers one of the most authentic portrayals of police brutality in pop culture. Like the award-winning book on which it is based, this drama about a black teenager named Starr Carter (Amandla Stenberg) who witnesses the fatal police shooting of a close friend of hers; she deals frankly and powerfully with race and racism. The film shows how she deals with the difficulties of being a black teenager in a predominantly white area, and the feeling of belonging to one world while living in another. How she stands up for justice is inspiring.
On a deeper look: a character in the film comments that “white people want diversity but not too much diversity,” which touches on a subtle bias against living in highly diverse communities or communities that are resistant to efforts by organizations to promote diversity. However, there are many studies that prove the positive impact that diversity will have in your office and corporate environment.
Centered on the untold true story of black women who played vital roles in the development of NASA’s American space program, this is a feel-good female empowerment film. The film highlights three brilliant women who worked at NASA in the 1950s and ’60s and offers a realistic view of the racial tensions of the civil rights era. It also contains many positive messages about racial injustice, integrity, perseverance, teamwork, and communication.
On a deeper look: the movie is a fictional interpretation of the book of the same name, which is definitely worth reading. There are also many other resources that highlight these women and their accomplishments. Take a look at these articles from npr and the New York Times.
4. A Raisin in the Sun (A mole in the sun1961)
This highly praised drama follows the Youngers, a black family living together in an apartment in Chicago. After a death in the family, they bring in a substantial amount of money and must decide how to use it. Walter Lee (Sidney Poitier) wants to make a business investment, while his mother, Lena (Claudia McNeil), intends to buy a house for everyone to live in, two different views on the American dream. This was one of the first movies to really depict how everyday racism affects black families just trying to survive. The film’s story still resonates with many today.
On a deeper look: A mole in the sun It not only explores racial injustice and the tension between black and white society; it also examines the tension within the black community over how to react to an oppressive white society. Black communities still face economic disparities, as recounted in this article from Time. The Brooking Institution has resources to help you better understand how racial and regional inequality affect economic opportunity.
5. Boyz n the Hood (the neighborhood boys1991)
This is a genre-defining movie in every sense of the word. The film tells the story of young black teenager Tre (Cuba Gooding Jr.), who grew up in a rough neighborhood of Los Angeles in the mid-1980s to early ’90s. Legendary rapper Ice Cube makes his acting debut in the film, playing one of the three central characters involved in the drama of the streets. boyz also made John Singleton the first African American to be nominated for best director at the Academy Awards.
On a deeper look: The film’s description of growing up in downtown Los Angeles raises questions about the impacts of growing up in economically distressed areas that the Economic Policy Institute has examined. If you want to know more about the history behind and what happened in Boyz n the Hood, that Singleton directed when he was just 23, watch the documentary Friendly Fire: Making an Urban Legend.
6. selma (2014)
This Oscar-nominated landmark film depicts a significant period in the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, when he planned and led the historic march from Selma to Montgomery, Ala., to ensure equal voting rights for African-Americans. The first attempt at this march led to brutal police violence against peaceful protesters. This event, known as bloody sunday (Bloody Sunday), sparked anger across the country and led President Lyndon B. Johnson to push the Voting Rights Act through Congress.
On a deeper look: As recent events have shown, many people around the world continue to fight against racial injustice. This film is a reminder of how far we have come as a nation and how much further we have to go. The Hutchins Center for African and African American Research recently launched a free online curriculum to bring the voting rights movement to life.
7. blindspotting (Blind point2018)
This film grapples with several issues at once: police violence, gentrification, post-incarceration re-entry, and, as the name implies, implicit bias (the blind spot is when a situation can be interpreted one of two ways, but its limited perception means that sees only one interpretation). These are serious and heavy subjects, but because the film often takes a comedic approach, it is one of the most accessible films for viewers.
Written, produced and starring Daveed Diggs and Rafael Casal, the film follows Collin, played by Diggs, a black parolee who witnesses a white police officer shooting a black civilian. The complications of racism, relationships, and urban gentrification in Oakland play out through Collin’s interactions with his evil and reckless white best friend Miles, played by Casal.
On a deeper look: in many ways, the feature film asks audiences to examine their own blind spots on racial injustice. It is a call to action for all of us to realize our implicit biases. To help you examine your own implicit biases, Harvard has developed this online test.
8. Loving (2016)
Loving is a biographical film about Richard and Mildred Loving, a couple who were arrested for their interracial marriage in 1958. Their Supreme Court case was a landmark decision that resulted in the end of laws prohibiting interracial marriage, and this film shows the powerful impact of standing up and fighting for what you believe in.
On a deeper look: While race relations are on the rise, most Americans say that overall race relations in the United States are bad and getting worse. And while interracial dating isn’t as taboo as it used to be, many younger people in the black community have been warned that doing so can put you in a vulnerable position.
9. get out (Let me out2017)
Jordan Peele’s directorial debut turns white supremacy into a horror movie. The premise of the film is what happens when a black man goes to visit the apparently liberal parents of his white girlfriend, even though they have a very twisted underlying motive. The film is the epitome of the sentiment “I wish people would love black people as much as they love black culture.”
On a deeper look: get out addresses a more subtle form of racism and covert discrimination, which is often hidden in the fabric of our society, hiding behind the facade of politeness. Fighting this means learning to become an anti-racist, and it’s the subject of a book. best-seller by Ibram X. Kendi.
10. Fruitvale Station (2013)
This film tells the true story of Oscar Grant III (Michael B. Jordan), a young man who was murdered in 2009 by a police officer in Oakland, California. It opens with actual footage of Grant and his friends being pulled over by the BART police, who oversee the Bay Area’s public transportation system, and continues to portray the last day of Grant’s life through flashbacks . It offers a window into a real example of racial discrimination within law enforcement.
On a deeper look: The film shows how lack of opportunity, routine incarceration and racism conspire to devalue the lives of young black people in the United States. Some studies have suggested that increasing community connections between police and black youth could lead to a reduction in violent encounters.