With everything going on the world right now, race relations are at the forefront of a lot of people's minds. Racial equality is a very important subject to discuss and for too long, it has been a subject that has been neglected. Many people simply do not want to deal with the fact that the world is filled with unfair, unjust, and bad treatment of people due to the color of their skin.
These days, protestors and advocates for equal rights are speaking up and speaking out. Their voices are getting louder and it's time to start listening! Here are some powerful race relations films to check out.
Just Mercy
Just Mercy. It also stars Jamie Foxx in a leading role alongside him. This movie is about a man who is wrongfully incarcerated after getting blamed for a crime he did not commit.
He fears that he might have to spend the rest of his life in prison, but a young African-American lawyer moves to his town and decides to fight for him and his freedom, no matter how difficult it is.
12 Years A Slave
12 Years a Slave is about a man who was forced into slavery for 12 years. For more than a decade of his life, he was forced to do laborious work and be separated from his family.
This particular story is especially heartbreaking because it showed that while he wasn’t enslaved at the beginning of the movie, he was in the wrong place at the wrong time, kidnapped, and forced into a life of bondage. He missed out on watching his children grow up and at the end of the film, he is finally able to be reunited with his loved ones.
Fruitvale Station
Fruitvale Station is a movie based on a true story about a young man who loses his life to police brutality. This is another movie that stars Michael B. Jordan. The movie is extremely gritty and sad to watch -- but it is still a must watch.
The fact that it is based on a true story makes it even more emotional. In this movie, a young man is simply trying to get home but he is unable two when cops stop him and begin to harass him.
Malcolm X (1991)
Malcolm X is a film that was released in 1991 about the legendary historical figure who made an enormous impact on race relations in the United States.
Malcolm X spoke articulately about racial equality, basic human rights, and so much more. He was an activist and a pivotal person during the Civil Rights Movement. This movie showcases some of the most controversial and important moments of his life.
The Birth Of A Nation
The Birth of a Nation is a film that was released in 2016. This movie is considered a drama and a historical piece and it is about Nat Turner, an enslaved Baptist preacher. He lived on a plantation in Virginia owned by a man named Samuel Turner.
This movie sheds light on the horrific treatment that slaves received and opens the audience's eyes to how violent things really were and continue to be.
13th (2016)
13th is a documentary available on Netflix and it was released in 2016. This movie explores the history of racism, racial inequality, imprisonment, and so much more in the United States.
African-Americans are disproportionately filling up prisons in the United States and this documentary illustrates how this is just another form of modern-day slavery. This documentary sheds light on the current prison system in an extremely eye-opening way.
Harriet (2019)
Most people who have taken a history class know all about Harriet Tubman. She is the woman behind the underground railroad and the dangerous missions that she was in charge of liberated hundreds of slaves throughout history.
The fact that she was so brave and willing to do something so risky is an incredible thing and she is considered a heroic abolitionist. This movie focuses on her story.
Django Unchained
Django Unchained is another very intense movie to watch about race relations. It stars Jamie Foxx in a leading role, as well as Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Kerry Washington. This movie is all about what life was like two years before the Civil War took place. It is considered both a Western and a drama and it is filled with plenty of intense moments since it is directed by Quentin Tarantino.
This film won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, the Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay - Motion Picture, and the NAA Image Award for Outstanding ing Actor in a Motion Picture.
Get Out
Get Out is a movie that was written and directed by Jordan Peele. The movie won several awards, including the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, the MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance, the Independent Spirit Award for Best Feature, and the Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Original Screenplay.
This film might have been released in 2017 but it is still creating open dialogue to this very day.
The Color Purple
The Color Purple lands on our list because it is such an intense movie. It tells the heartbreaking story of an African-American woman who survived a life of horrible abuse and bigotry.
She never lets go of hope and dreams of being able to reunite with her sister someday. This movie stars Whoopie Goldberg, Oprah Winfrey, Danny Glover, and Margaret Avery in the leading roles.
