My Black History Month list (because yes, there's still time!)

Hey Open Book reader, what you up to this weekend? Looking for something to do? Well, since it’s still technically Black History Month for a wee bit longer, I have some suggestions for you…okay, maybe not suggestions per se. It’s more like a list of what I’ll be watching over the next few days – again, this is under the assumption that I’ll have time to do anything besides shallow breathing XD – and if you’ve been getting a kick out of my writing or my nerdy aesthetic, you might get a kick out of them, too!

(Off-topic but if this dude is not on my next Frontier Airlines flight get my stuff out of the cargo because I’m not going)

A heads-up: I listed mostly movies that feature or focus more on Black joy, power, and/or pride, or [I think] they provide good, strong belly laughs. Maybe later I’ll make another, longer list, but I only made room for a couple of tearjerkers this weekend (I cry at everything, even at things you'd never think of). So if you're wondering why 12 Years a Slave, or Amistad, or The Color Purple aren't here, that's why.

(Another heads-up: I can’t confirm how many N-bombs or triggering content appear in the movies I haven’t seen yet. Assume the ones made or taking place before 2002 have one or the other. To be safe, please check the parental guides on IMDB, which are usually pretty thorough and also warn you about spoilers.)

First, the movies by Black directors that I’ve never seen:

Harriet (2019, Kasi Lemmons, PG-13): I recently watched this IMDB video of Kasi Lemmons advising future creators about making their voices heard and not gonna lie, I just want to watch everything she’s ever worked on. Turns out I’ve already seen three of her films. I didn’t realize she directed this Harriet Tubman bio I’ve wanted to watch for ages. Bonus: Janelle Monáe is starring in it too. I never get tired of seeing her, on or offscreen.

Sorry to Bother You (2018, Boots Riley, R): another movie that’s been on my radar for a long time. I thought LaKeith Stanfield was fantastic in Get Out, and Straight Outta Compton and Knives Out, so I’m expecting great things. (We’re not going to talk about Death Note. We’re not.)

Antebellum (2020, Gerard Bush, R): still in a rage that I couldn’t see it in theatre (thanks COVID), but I’m super excited for this one. Again, more Janelle Monáe. Count me IN.

Then there are the ones I didn’t even know were a thing (but now I HAVE to see them):

One Night in Miami... (2020, Regina King, R): yo, I just found out this movie existed. I don’t even know what it’s about. I only know Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali are involved. I don’t do trailers anymore, so I’m not investigating any further than that. Hopefully I won’t cry. Also, I love Regina King, so double excitement!

Eve's Bayou (1997, Kasi Lemmons, R): more Kasi Lemmons, more I say! All I know is it’s starring a young Jurnee Smollett, and I’ve been going through a phase where I've been watching Birds of Prey on repeat for…two-ish years, so this movie is happening. Also starring Samuel L. Jackson – and I’ve immensely enjoyed every movie I’ve seen him in so far – and Vondie Curtis-Hall, a.k.a. everyone’s favourite loyal citizen of Zamunda (a movie I wanted to add to this point but doesn’t fit under any category ^_^”).

Now for the ones I think everyone should see this at least once…hmm, maybe twice:

I Am Not Your Negro (2016, Raoul Peck, PG-13): a documentary about James Baldwin spitting wisdom about the history of racism in the U.S. that is pretty freaking applicable to lots of places and lots of situations still happening today. Another film I can play in the background on a loop and never tire of it. The man was leagues ahead of his time. Narrated by Samuel L. Jackson (see?). (Warning: contains the N-word and photos of assassinated civil rights leaders and lynching victims.)

Bamboozled (2000, Spike Lee, R): watched this for a film studies course in university and wrote the first essay that ever got a grade of 100%...no wait, shoot, it might have been the second…anyway if you’re not afraid of a hard-hitting satire about the portrayal of Black people in media, or of getting up to speed on what blackface actually signifies, or of Spike Lee films in general, this one is for you. (Warning: this one has even more N-bombs. Also features depictions of blackface and what it actually signifies).

And of course there are the ones I’m watching for the 80^th time:

BlacKkKlansman (2018, Spike Lee, R): this dramatization of Ron Stallworth’s epic infiltration skills never gets old. Fewer N-bombs, more stickin’ it to The Man. (And we’re not going to talk about my Adam Driver Pinterest board again. We’re not.)

Candyman (2021, Nia DaCosta, R): another missed-thanks-to-COVID film I’d been counting down the minutes for, based on another film I saw in university that embedded itself in my mind (to be fair, I have to thank “Xena” for introducing me to Tony Todd first). Get ready to cover your eyes and scream at characters in vain every 5-10 minutes! \^___^/ 

Little (2019, Tina Gordon, PG-13): this one is hilarious for so many reasons: Marsai Martin. Issa Rae. Bullies getting comeuppance in the form of dance! Oh, and a long awkward handshake (Yume readers know how much I love those!). That’s just a few. Enjoy.

Get Out (2017 Jordan Peele, R) and/or Us (2019, Jordan Peele, R) and/or both: two more movies I will never tire of or shut up about. They both have sprinkles of comedy between thick, juicy layers of intense, thrilling scenes. Then the credits roll, and you realize how much your fingers hurt from gripping your seat so hard. Wondering if I’m excited for Jordan’s Peele’s next movie? I am! Do I want to talk about it?

(So excited for all the memes...)

Okay this one I’ve only seen once or twice for film studies, but I just remembered The Watermelon Woman (1996, Cheryl Dunye, unrated but one particular scene guarantees it a place in the R realm) was hilarious and incredibly well done and again, way ahead of its time. Want a film about Black women making and writing history? Here you go! Happy early/belated birthday.

Finally, here’s my “gonna cry now” list. I only wrote three before the feels kicked in, so yup, short list.

Malcolm X (1992, Spike Lee, PG-13): I had no idea what I was getting into when I first heard about this one. I was about eleven, so I didn’t know it was Roger Ebert’s “best [movie] of the year”. I had no idea who Denzel Washington or Spike Lee were. At the time I was also pretending not to hear kids at school teasing me that “Black History Month was over a week ago, or can you not tell time?” I wanted to know more, and this film delivered. Prepare yourself for a violent end scene and several minutes of intensity leading up to it. I found the music throughout to evoke very strong feelings, even in scenes not intended to be sad. When you get to the hospital scene and “Fruits of Islam,” it’ll make more sense. I cry just thinking about it. 

Black Panther (2018, Ryan Coogler, PG-13): Afrofuturism, yesss. I’ll get into my whole thing with seeing Black superheroes further down. For now, let’s just say my biggest beef with this film is that it’s forty-five minutes too short. That is not a typo.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018, Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, and Rodney Rothman, PG): another Afrofuturist film that I will never tire of. Again, the crying scenes will be apparent, but there’s also something about the climactic crescendo of horns in “What’s Up Danger” that could knock me unconscious.

Having said all of that, I'm always on the hunt for movies to watch, so if you have suggestions, let me know! I will never tire of seeing Black representation where people wouldn't expect it, or even where they might not want it. XD I don't know if anyone remembers when Stan Lee came to Fan Expo and talked about a superhero with luck as their superpower in a Q&A, but I completely forgot about it. Then, years later, I decided to give Deadpool 2 a chance, expecting nothing more than mild entertainment when my eyes lit up and I was like:  

Definitely the happy outburst I wasn't expecting. So yeah, give me all your recommendations so I can discover more Black superheroes and strong characters and have more happy outbursts! (Don't even ask what I do every time I meet a Black Hylian in Breath of the Wild...just don't. ಥ◡ಥ)

And because this has turned into a much longer post than I'd planned, I won't give a long, sternly-worded speech about how Black History Month is just February but learning about and appreciating Black History itself should be a year-long thing. I'll save you the time so you can watch as many movies as possible in whatever free time you have. Have fun!

(One more meme for the road)