Black History Month:10 Not So Depressing Black Films
From wornjournal.com
Last week I received a text from a friend asking if I’ve seen this film about African American pilots in the Tuskegee training program that face segregation. I responded no and she replied “We have to support this movie!” I’m a big supporter of films that cast a large number of black actors, but historical films that are about the trials and tribulations of Black Americans, simply bum me out.
I know it’s a part of America’s history but I want something a little lighter especially now that I have to deal with the anxiety of 2012 elections. (It seriously feels like I’m running!) Oh and I watched The Help, it was a great movie, but I cried A LOT.
So in honor of the first day of Black History Month I came up with a list that will uplift and support black film makers, actors, and writers and the people who love them. Okay that last part didn’t really make any sense, but I wanted to be inclusive. Leave your own uplifting picks below.
J*
From culturetease.com
- Hollywood Shuffle (1987) Written, directed, and produced by Robert Townsend a well-executed satire about Blacks in Hollywood.
- Ray (2004) – Wonderful autobiographical film about Ray Charles and great performance by Jamie Foxx and Kerry Washington.
- What’s Love Got To Do With It? (1993) Hellz Yeah.
- Cadillac Records (2008) musical biopic about the rise of Chess Records and the lives of its artists.
- Coming to America†(1988) Two words. Eddie. Murphy.
- Dreamgirls (2006) A bigger and sassier J. Hud
- Mahogany (1975) Okay really bad acting by D. Ross, but the costume design is amazing.
- Love & Basketball (2000) Basketball shorts sales skyrocketed in Piscataway, NJ after this was released in the box office.
- I Think I Love My Wife (2007) Chris Rock,duh.
Blade- ( JUST KIDDING)- Brown Sugar (2002)- Recently watched this again and considered contacting my childhood playmate, but then I saw his profile picture. Thank goodness we have Facebook.
