Celebrating African American Cinema

Description: Based on Alice Walker's novel, this film follows the life of Celie, an African American woman living in rural Georgia, exploring themes of sexism, racism, and sisterhood.

Fact: Whoopi Goldberg's performance in this film earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.

Description: Spike Lee's masterpiece examines racial tensions in a Brooklyn neighborhood on the hottest day of the year, leading to a climactic confrontation.

Fact: The film was added to the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."

Description: This coming-of-age drama set in South Central Los Angeles explores the lives of three young African American men, dealing with issues like gang violence, fatherhood, and the quest for a better life.

Fact: John Singleton became the first African American and the youngest person ever to be nominated for Best Director at the Oscars for this film.

Description: Directed by Spike Lee, this biographical film traces the life of Malcolm X from his early days as a street hustler to his rise as a prominent civil rights leader.

Fact: Denzel Washington's portrayal of Malcolm X was critically acclaimed, though he did not win the Oscar for Best Actor.

Description: This film dramatizes the 1965 Selma to Montgomery voting rights marches led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It's an essential watch for understanding the civil rights movement and the fight for voting rights.

Fact: The film was shot in Georgia, not Alabama, due to the latter's refusal to provide tax incentives for a film about the civil rights movement.

Description: Set in the 1960s, this film tells the story of African American maids working in white households in Mississippi and their secret collaboration with a young white woman to expose the racism they face.

Fact: The film was adapted from Kathryn Stockett's best-selling novel, and it received four Academy Award nominations.

Description: This film tells the harrowing true story of Solomon Northup, a free black man from New York who was kidnapped and sold into slavery. It's a powerful depiction of the brutality of slavery and the resilience of the human spirit.

Fact: The film was shot in chronological order to capture the emotional journey of the characters. It also won the Academy Award for Best Picture.

Description: This film celebrates the contributions of three African American women at NASA during the Space Race, highlighting their struggles against both gender and racial discrimination.

Fact: The film was based on the non-fiction book by Margot Lee Shetterly, and it was nominated for three Oscars.

Description: Moonlight explores the life of a young African American man from childhood to adulthood, focusing on his struggles with identity, sexuality, and societal expectations. It's a poignant narrative about self-discovery and acceptance.

Fact: Moonlight made history by being the first film with an all-black cast and the first LGBT-themed film to win the Best Picture Oscar.

Description: A modern horror-thriller that uses social satire to explore racial tensions and the commodification of black bodies. It's both a critique and a commentary on contemporary race relations.

Fact: Jordan Peele became the first African American to win an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for this film.