February is Black History Month, and while Selma and 12 Years A Slave are still fresh in our memories as some of the best historically set films ever made, others have been stuck in the annals as the years waned on.
From To Kill A Mockingbird all the way to The Great Debaters, the African-American struggle for equality has been portrayed in some of film’s most groundbreaking movies, which in many cases, went on to lay out incredible careers for today’s leading men and women.
Here’s a list of all the movies you can watch online in honor of Black History Month right now.
To Kill A Mockingbird
Based on Harper Lee’s book of the same name, the movie chronicles Atticus Finch as he defends Tom Robinson, an innocent African-American man accused of raping a white woman. Watch the movie here.
The Color Purple
This American classic, based on the novel by Alice Walker, chronicles the life of Celie as she overcomes being separated from her sister and enduring physical and sexual abuse at the hands of her husband. Directed by Steven Spielberg, the film stars Oprah Winfrey, Whoopi Goldberg, and Danny Glover in heart-wrenching performances. Rent it here.
Glory
This 1989 film featured a very young Denzel Washington as the trouble-making Private Trip and Matthew Broderick as a colonel trying to fight prejudices within his army during the Civil War. You can watch it here.
Amistad
This Steven Spielberg period piece came out in 1997 and features some of today’s leading men, such as Chiwetel Ejiofor and Djimon Hounsou. The film is based on a historical slave uprising that took place on the title ship in 1839.Watch it here.
Rosewood
Though it changes some historical facts, the film is based on the racially charged Rosewood massacre–which took place in 1923–and resulted in the death of six African-Americans, who fought against white supremacist attacks in their neighborhood. The John Singleton-directed movie features Don Cheadle, Jon Voight, and Ving Rhames. Click here to watch.
Malcolm X
Directed by Spike Lee, Malcolm X chronicles the life of the civil rights leader–showing his struggles, from growing up mulatto and running the streets with his side-kick Shorty, to serving jail time, all the way to getting married and becoming a father and the radical leader we remember him as today. Go here to watch.
The Great Debaters
Stars Denzel in the lead role as Melvin B. Tolson, a professor who formed Wiley College Texas’ first debate team, which went on to face Harvard in the national championship. Heartbreaking in its honest portrayal of the effects of segregation, prejudice, and lynching, The Great Debaters was also Nate Parker‘s break-out film. Watch here.
Red Tails
The George Lucas-produced film follows the Tuskegee Airmen, who though segregated while in the U.S. Army, transcended all adversity during WWII as pilots, bombers, mechanics, and flight instructors. Click here to watch.
The Butler
Loosely based on the life of Eugene Allen, a former white house butler–played by Forest Whitaker–the movie follows Cecil Gaines as he serves under 8 U.S. presidents and navigates his tumultuous home life composed of an alcoholic wife and rebellious son. Watch here.
SOURCE: IMDB | PHOTO/VIDEO CREDIT: YouTube
