Film and TV

1. American Son (directed by Kenny Leon)

Based on the acclaimed Broadway play, American Son tells the tale of a mother searching for answers as she is forced to rely on a police officer for the whereabouts of her Black son. Led by Kerry Washington, American Son is an excellent portrayal of modern-day systemic racial tensions.

2. Fruitvale Station (directed by Ryan Coogler)

Written and directed by Ryan Coogler, Fruitvale Station recounts the murder of Bay Area native Oscar Grant by a police officer on New Year’s Eve. The film depicts the last day of Grant’s life before being swept up in an altercation that ended tragically.

3. The Hate U Give (directed by George Tillman Jr.)

Based on the best-selling novel by Angie Thomas, this story holds some serious power. With a star-studded cast, and a heartbreaking, yet horrifyingly realistic plot, The Hate U Give is sure to make you check your white privilege. It’s certainly a must-watch despite its difficult subject matter.

4. Dear White People (created by Justin Simien)

Netflix television series Dear White People follows the lives of several Black college students attending an Ivy League university and their experiences with race relations in today’s world.

5. If Beale Street Could Talk (directed by Barry Jenkins)

Based on James Baldwin’s 1974 novel of the same name, If Beale Street Could Talk tells the story of a young Black man falsely accused of rape and his fiancé’s desperate attempt to clear his name.

6. Selma (directed by Ava Duvernay)

Selma is a historical drama that recounts the 1965 Selma to Montgomery voting rights marches led by James Bevel, Hosea Williams, Martin Luther King Jr., and now U.S. Representative John Lewis.

7. When They See Us (directed by Ava DuVernay)

Netflix docu-series When they See Us tells the story of the Central Park 5, a group of five young Black men who were falsely accused and prosecuted on charges of rape and assault of a woman in Central Park in 1989.