#7 movies and documentaries about racism that you should watch now

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Spike Lee in “Do the Right Thing,” Marsha P. Johnson in “The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson” and David Oyelowo in “Selma.”
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The Black Lives Matter movement is not just about the unlawful deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery. It’s about 400 years of oppression and systemic racism against black people in the United States by citizens, laws and law enforcement.

For those looking to educate themselves and get involved, here are films and documentaries you can watch.

Documentaries

“13th” (2016)

Director Ava DuVernay uses the words of scholars and changemakers to explore how racial inequality fuels the country’s mass incarceration levels. It was nominated for an Oscar and won best documentary from the African-American Film Critics Association Awards.

“13th” is available to watch on Netflix. You can also watch it for free on YouTube.

“The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975” (2011)

Archival footage shot by Swedish filmmakers decades ago was found and revived for this film, which examines the anti-war and Black Power movements. Modern black activists and scholars provide commentary on the cultural and societal waves that helped bring change forward.

“The Black Power Mixtape” is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.

“The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson” (2017)

Marsha P. Johnson was a black trans woman described as the “Rosa Parks of the LGBT movement.” This doc focuses on her life before and after the Stonewall riots in 1969 and investigates her death. Johnson died in New York City, reportedly by committing suicide. Many believe that Johnson was murdered, possibly by the police.

“The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson” is available to stream on Netflix.

“I Am Not Your Negro” (2016)

Through the lens of James Baldwin’s unfinished manuscript “Remember This House,” Samuel L. Jackson narrates this telling of the civil rights movement while reflecting on the current state of race relations. Baldwin’s words reflect his relationships with Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr. and Medgar Evers, as well as their stories. It was nominated for the Best Documentary Feature Academy Award.

“I Am Not Your Negro” is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.

Movies

“Do The Right Thing” (1989)

The comedy-drama from director Spike Lee is particularly poignant right now: Police come to a party in Bed-Stuy, they choke a black man and kill him. Lee dedicated the movie to six victims of police brutality and racial violence.

“Do The Right Thing” is available to purchase on Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, iTunes and more.

“Just Mercy” (2019)

Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Foxx depict the real-life story of lawyer Bryan Stevenson (Jordan), who appealed the 1988 murder conviction of Walter McMillian (Foxx), an innocent black man. Warner Bros. has made the film available to stream for free this month.

“Just Mercy” is available to stream for free on YouTube.

“Selma” (2014)

Also directed by DuVernay, this film depicts Dr. King’s march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, which helped propel the Civil Rights Act of 1965 into law. It was nominated for Best Picture for the Academy Awards and received four trophies from the African-American Film Critics Association, which also dubbed it a top 10 film of 2014.

“Selma” is available to purchase on Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, iTunes and more.