Best films, documentaries and TV series to watch this Black History Month
October marks Black History Month in the UK, where we celebrate the contributions of Black heritage and culture to UK society.
Black History Month has been celebrated since 1987, and the aim of the event is to look at and explore African and Caribbean culture and how Black communities have played a part in British history for thousands of years. This year, the focus will be on celebrating the invaluable role that Black women have played in not only shaping history but also inspiring change and building communities.
The event is thought to be the brainchild of Ghanaian analyst Akyaaba Addai-Sebo. Akyaaba was working for Greater London Council when a colleague confided in him that her son had asked her: "Mum, why can't I be white?" It inspired Akyaaba to make a change, as he revealed in a previous interview about why he pushed for a UK Black History Month: "So when this incident with Marcus took place in London, it dawned on me that something had to happen here in Britain. I was very familiar with Black History Month in America, and thought that something like that had to be done here in the UK."
Here, The Mirror takes a look at some of the best movies, television shows and documentaries to watch to mark Black History Month.
Films
Black Is King
Black Is King was released in 2020 (DISNEY +)Disney's Black Is King film was released in July 2020 and is described as a concert film and musical. It is a visual album, created by Beyoncé, which focuses on the "beauty of tradition and Black excellence".
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Black Is King follows the story of young African prince, exiled from his home country after the tragic death of his father. With the help of his ancestor, childhood love and his own subconscious, he is guided through life as he begins to understand his own identity. Beyoncé was adamant to celebrate and showcase the cultures of the African continent through her work.
Alongside herself, her husband Jay-Z and kids Blue Ivy, Rumi and Sir Carter all make an appearance in the visual album, as well as her mum Tina Knowles and a number of other famous faces including Lupita Nyong'o, Naomi Campbell and Burna Boy.
Black Panther
2018's Black Panther (Marvel Studios 2018)Black Panther, starring the incredible late actor Chadwick Boseman, features an incredible cast. It also features a number of other huge stars including Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman and Daniel Kaluuya. It was released in 2018, directed by Ryan Coogler, who also penned the move alongside Joe Robert Cole.
It was the 18th film as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and became the Studios' first Black-led superhero movie. It was considered to be a special moment for representation in Hollywood.
Speaking about the importance of the movie, the late Chadwick Boseman – who sadly died in 2020 – said back in 2017 as he geared up for the release of the movie: "It's just this tremendous opportunity. There's no way in the world you're going to say no because there's a lot of opportunity for magic to happen .... This movie is about how you use power. What do you do when you get power? The only difference between a hero and the villain is that the villain chooses to use that power in a way that is selfish and hurts other people."
12 Years A Slave
12 Years A Slave (© E1 Entertainment)A biographical drama, directed by Steve McQueen, 12 Years A Slave was released back in 2013. It follows the story of a man called Solomon Northup, who is played by Chiwetel Ejiofor in the movie, who was kidnapped in Washington DC. Solomon was sold into slavery back in 1841, and had to work on plantations in Louisiana for 12 years before he was released.
Chiwetel described working on 12 Years A Slave as like "dancing with ghosts". He explained: "We really felt like we were sort of dancing with ghosts. We were right there in the place where these things happened and we felt the place was alive with the energy."
Director Steve McQueen added of what it was like working on the movie: "It was perfumed with the scent of the past. There was a plantation... where the slaves lived. It was in the air, it was in the soil, the blood, the Earth. So you're in the presence of a time and a place which had a lot of pain, but at the same time, had a lot of beauty."
Television series
Three Little Birds
Three Little Birds has been penned by Lenny Henry (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)Set to be released this month, Three Little Birds has been written by Lenny Henry in collaboration with Russell T Davies. The ITV drama is based on Lenny's mother's experiences arriving in Britain as part of the Windrush generation.
Back in 2022, when he picked up the Special Recognition gong at the National Television Awards, he spoke of the importance of the six-part series and the trials and tribulations that the Windrush generation went through.
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"I hope the show will make you laugh and cry and understand how it was for those men and women to swap the sun and the sea for the rain and the cold. They were seeking a better place where not everybody was welcoming. We wanted to make a drama that showed what it took to overcome great adversity. When we can relate to each other it brings us together, right? This is a time for people like us to be together, to be allies, telling all kinds of stories and leaving no one behind. I want to thank everybody who’s helped me to get to where I am," he explained in his speech of what was to come from the series.
When They See Us
When They See Us (Netflix)The TV series When They See Us is available on Netflix and was created by Ava DuVernay. It follows the story of five teenagers from Harlem, who are falsely accused of a brutal attack in Central Park.
The five teenagers spent many years in custody for their alleged crimes, before the real perpetrator was eventually caught. The series explores the US justice system, and Ava shared her hope that it could change things. At the time, she said: "Over 90% of the people behind bars in this moment never saw a trial. So, they’re not technically guilty. The fact is we live in a country where you can be in prison if you’re poor and innocent but walking free if you’re rich and guilty. That’s the reality of where we are and it’s being done in our names, with our tax payer dollars, with our votes, or lack of votes. I just want to shake everyone’s shoulders and say, ‘Don’t you know this is happening?’ And, if you don’t know, let me show you. And, once you’ve seen it, now it’s on you. You can’t say that you’re ignorant anymore. You know this is happening. What kind of people are we if we turn our eyes to this?”
Documentaries
Becoming
2020 documentary Becoming features former First Lady Michelle Obama (Netflix)The 2020 documentary Becoming features former First Lady Michelle Obama, as she looks back at her life, her hopes and the connection she shares with others. It is based on Michelle's memoir of the same name and features content from her time as the First Lady of the United States, where she travelled, took part in talk shows and the wider work she did during her tenure.
During her documentary, Michelle explained what it was like living in her shoes. Every gesture you make, every blink of an eye is analysed. You have the world watching every move you make. Your life isn’t yours anymore," she said.
13th
13th focuses on the criminalisation of African and Americans in the US (Netflix)Released in 2016, the documentary 13th focuses on the criminalisation of African and Americans in the US. Scholars, activists and politicians all weigh in on the topic as they discuss the Thirteenth Amendment and how it led to mass incarceration.
Speaking about the importance of the documentary, director Ava DuVernay shared: "The whole film is a virtual tour through racism. We’re giving you 150 years of oppression in 100 minutes. The film was 150 years in the making.
"Really, it’s to give context to the current moment. The current moment of mass criminalization, of incarceration as an industry, prison as profit, punishment as profit. And the current moment of the declaration that the lives of black people, our very breath, our very dignity, our very humanity, are valuable and matter to the world. The film is designed to get us to that point, and those three words are more than words. They are the very blood that runs within us."
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