Looking for teacher resources to use in your classroom during Black History Month? This February, check out these interesting films about African American history and culture. While many history films may put your students to sleep, these ones have a contemporary touch that will capture your students' attention and get them to talk about about issues. This list was created with the college classroom in mind, but these films could be used in many high school classrooms as well.
Color Adjustment (1991). Created by Marlon Riggs, this documentary is about the history of African Americans on television from World War II until the late 1980s. The implications of everything from Amos 'n' Andy to The Cosby Show are are discussed. Unfortunately, Riggs died in 1994, so this documentary was never updated. However, this historical documentary can be followed with a class discussion of contemporary African American representations on television and how they are similar to and different than older ones. 88 minutes. Available from California Newsreel.
Ethnic Notions (1987). Also by filmmaker Marlon Riggs, this informative and disturbing documentary provides a history of derogatory images and stereotypes of African Americans, such as the Mammy, the Coon, and the Sambo, and discusses ways that these images are still with us. In corresponding class discussions, students can be invited to think of contemporary images of African Americans and to what degree these images are still present. 57 minutes. Available from California Newsreel.
Sisters in Cinema (2003). Created by Yvonne Welbon, this historical documentary uncovers independent films directed by African American women from the early 20th century until today. This film can spark discussion of the systematic exclusion of African American women from the mainstream film industry and these artistic determination of the woman directors. 62 minutes. Available from the Sisters in Cinema website.
African American Lives (2006). This is the documentary version of acclaimed scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr.'s book project in which he uses DNA to trace the genealogy of well-known African Americans such as Oprah Winfrey and Quincy Jones back to Africa. This film provides a unique perspective on African American history and can spark class discussions about race, slavery, genealogy, the heritage of all Americans, and many other issues. This is a four-part series, and each part is 54 minutes. Available from Amazon.com.
Images and Realities (1996). This is a four part series that includes African American Women, African American Men, African American Children, and African American Families. These films focus on contemporary issues of concern to African Americans. Although this is a decade old, students will recognize many of the celebrities who host and are featured in this series, including Queen Latifah, Halle Berry, Danny Glover, and Malcolm-Jamal Warner. Available on VHS only from Amazon.com.
February One (2004). Produced by Steven Channing, this documentary brings to life the historic 1960 Woolworth's sit-ins. It focuses on the four students who started this powerful protest by sitting at the Greensboro, North Carolina lunch counter and politely refusing to leave until they were served. This documentary offers great potential for classroom discussion because of its focus on the students and their extraordinary impact on history. The film can be a starting point to discuss the potential role of student activism today, race related or otherwise, 60 minutes. Available from California Newsreel.
Black. White. (2006). This controversial reality TV series was aired on the FX Network in 2006. Two middle class families, one black and one white, are given elaborate daily makeovers to make the white family look black and the black family look white. The two families live together (and clash) and are sent out in the community to interact as their new racial personae. This documentary can spark fertile classroom discussions (and potentially heated ones, so proceed with care) about race relations and identity. It also can spark discussion about the ethics of this reality TV situation, including the issue of black face. Available widely, including from Amazon.com.
Malcolm X (1992). Based on Alex Haley's The Autobiography of Malcolm X, director Spike Lee's gripping tale of the life of Malcolm X offers both an historical account of the man as well as a spark for discussions about protest, ethics, and history. The films stars Denzel Washington and Angela Bassett. Available widely, including on Amazon.com.
Do you have any Black History Month resources to recommend? Please join the discussion!
Naomi Rockler-Gladen - Instructional designer and freelance writer, Naomi Rockler-Gladen writes some of Suite101's most read work.
