TOP LIST: 9 Movies That Celebrate Black History

 Black History Month, also known as African-American History Month in America, is an annual observance in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom for remembrance of important people and events in the history of the African diaspora. It is celebrated annually in the United States and Canada in February. I have decided to join them in this celebration of the rich and resilient history and culture of people of color by offering a go-to cinematic resource for learning about African/African-American history without having to leave your couch.

I have picked out 9 of my best movies that portray black history either by telling the story of an individual or nation. Most of them are based on true stories while some may tell fictitious stories based on true concepts or eras. I have also decided to limit the list to 9 movies (don't ask why), but there are other great films such as "Roots", "49", "Amistad", "Glory" and "12 Years a Slave" that you may enjoy. February is a long month, don't be afraid to explore beyond this list if you can.

 Here is my list of 9 movies that celebrate black history month:

1. Mandela: A Long Walk To Freedom

The remarkable life of South African revolutionary, president and world icon Nelson Mandela (Idris Elba) takes center stage. Though he had humble beginnings as a herd boy in a rural village, Mandela became involved in the anti-apartheid movement and co-founded the African National Congress Youth League. His activities eventually led to his imprisonment on Robben Island from 1964 to 1990. In 1994, Mandela became the first president of democratic South Africa.

Release date: November 29, 2013 (USA)

Director: Justin Chadwick

Cast: Idris Elba, Naomi Harris, Terry Pheto, Tony Kgorokge, Deon Lotz 

2. Malcolm X

A tribute to the controversial black activist and leader of the struggle for black liberation. He hit bottom during his imprisonment in the '50s, he became a Black Muslim and then a leader in the Nation of Islam. His assassination in 1965 left a legacy of self-determination and racial pride.

Release date: November 18, 1992 (USA)

Director: Spike Lee

Cast: Denzel Washington, Spike Lee, Angela Bassett, Al Freeman Jr, Delroy Lindo

3. Selma

Although the Civil Rights Act of 1964 legally desegregated the South, discrimination was still rampant in certain areas, making it very difficult for blacks to register to vote. In 1965, an Alabama city became the battleground in the fight for suffrage. Despite violent opposition, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (David Oyelowo) and his followers pressed forward on an epic march from Selma to Montgomery, and their efforts culminated in President Lyndon Johnson signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Release date: December 25, 2014 (USA)

Director: Ava DuVernay

Cast: David Oyelowo, Oprah Winfrey, Carmen Ejogo, Tom Wilkinson, Tim Roth 

4. Hotel Rwanda

Paul Rusesabagina (Don Cheadle), a Hutu, manages the Hôtel des Mille Collines and lives a happy life with his Tutsi wife (Sophie Okonedo) and their three children. But when Hutu military forces initiate a campaign of ethnic cleansing against the Tutsi minority, Paul is compelled to allow refugees to take shelter in his hotel. As the U.N. pulls out, Paul must struggle alone to protect the Tutsi refugees in the face of the escalating violence later known as the Rwandan genocide.

Release date: December 22, 2004 (USA)

Director: Terry George

Cast: Don Cheadle, Sophie Okonedo, Nick Nolte, Desmond Dube 

5. Django Unchained

Two years before the Civil War, Django (Jamie Foxx), a slave, finds himself accompanying an unorthodox German bounty hunter named Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz) on a mission to capture the vicious Brittle brothers. Their mission successful, Schultz frees Django, and together they hunt the South's most-wanted criminals. Their travels take them to the infamous plantation of shady Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio), where Django's long-lost wife (Kerry Washington) is still a slave.

Release date: December 25, 2012 (USA)

Director: Quentin Tarantino

Cast: Jamie Foxx, Kerry Washington, Leonardo DiCaprio, Samuel L. Jackson, Christoph Waltz, Quinton Tarantino 

6. The Butler

After leaving the South as a young man and finding employment at an elite hotel in Washington, D.C., Cecil Gaines (Forest Whitaker) gets the opportunity of a lifetime when he is hired as a butler at the White House. Over the course of three decades, Cecil has a front-row seat to history and the inner workings of the Oval Office. However, his commitment to his "First Family" leads to tension at home, alienating his wife (Oprah Winfrey) and causing conflict with his anti-establishment son.

Release date: August 16, 2013 (USA)

Director: Lee Daniels

Cast: Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, Robin Williams, Mariah Carey, Jane Fonda

7. Shaka Zulu: The Last Great Warrior 

The film is based on the true story of the legendary African warrior and his struggle to unite his people against the largest empire in the world. As England expands its colonies into Africa, a new nation is forming around the strength of Shaka Zulu's rise to power through bloody civil wars. His fight for freedom is full of thunderous action, heroism and heart. From the creator of the original epic mini-series.

Release Date: 2001 (South Africa)

Director:  Joshua Sinclair

Cast: Henry Cele, Roger Alborough, James Fox, Kenneth Marshall, David Hasselhoff, Nicola Farron, Linda Batista, Karen Allen, Grace Jones, Omar Sharif

8. Cry The Beloved Country

Reverend Stephen Kumalo (James Earl Jones) is a back-country Zulu preacher in South Africa. When his son (Eric Miyeni) is accused of robbery and murder, Kumalo journeys to Johannesburg, where he is helped by a local priest (Vusi Kunene). He eventually meets James Jarvis (Richard Harris), the father of the murder victim, who is a prominent white supremacist. However, they discover common ground, and their mutual respect becomes a symbol of apartheid's eventual demise.

Release Date: September 14, 1995 (South Africa)

Director: Darrell Roodt

Cast: James Earl Jones, Richard Harris, Charles S. Dutton, Vusi Kunene, Leleti Khumalo 

9. The Color Purple

An epic tale spanning forty years in the life of Celie (Whoopi Goldberg), an African-American woman living in the South who survives incredible abuse and bigotry. After Celie's abusive father marries her off to the equally debasing "Mister" Albert Johnson (Danny Glover), things go from bad to worse, leaving Celie to find companionship anywhere she can. She perseveres, holding on to her dream of one day being reunited with her sister in Africa. Based on the novel by Alice Walker.

Release date: December 18, 1985 (USA)

Director: Steven Spielberg

Cast: Oprah Winfrey, Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover, Margaret Avery, Okosua Busia

Credit: IMDb, Wikipedia