Black movies

films about African Americans / Black people in USA

When it comes to movies about African Americans and Africans in USA there are a lot to choose from. This list does not attempt to be complete and it does not comprise comedies, hip-hop and baseball movies -but only a few selected films with a more direct connection to Africa and black history. The movies are presented below in no special order.

Adittional i nformation about the movies will come later. The movies can be purchased through Amazon. Follow the links below.

Selma, Lord, Selma

USA (1999). A Disney production !

Once upon a time we were colored

USA (1996)

The Rosa Parks Story

USA (2002)

A Woman called Moses

USA (1978)

The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman

USA (1974)

Afrocentricity, vol.1

USA (2000)
A collection of 7 shorts by up-and-coming African American filmmakers.

Bongoland

USA (2003)
A rare film in Swahili by independent filmmaker Josiah Kibira.

Excerpt from the official synopsis:
Would you rather be a well fed slave or a hungry free man? This is a question that Juma is asking in Bongoland after experiencing a disappointing life in America. Follow Juma as he chases an ever-elusive American dream in his new land after leaving everything behind in his native Bongoland.

[...] Follow Juma as he deals with the issues that come up when his dreams for a better life in America collide with the realities of everyday life for an undocumented worker. After having experienced some initial successes, Juma's world starts to crumble. He finds himself facing the difficult decision of whether he should continue to struggle for success in a country that is supposed to offer so much opportunity or return to his native Bongoland.

[...] This is a story that any person that came to the US as an immigrant can relate to. There is also a discussion about the amount of information the immigrant send home about the living conditions here. Most of the immigrants project the image that life is really good. This makes the people left behind to continuously put pressure on them in their daily lives. There are demands for help for the school fees, there are demands for money to start new projects etc. The people who receive these requests from home, somehow find ways to fulfill them. This means working 3 jobs. It means accepting manual labor just to make a buck regardless of the education. This is what Juma is asking. Is this lying and pretending that life is good really worth it?

Order VHS/DVD and read more about the film on www.kibirafilms.com

"BLAXPLOITATION"

Black Mama, White Mama

USA (1972)

Coffy

USA (1973)

Foxy Brown

USA (1974)

Cleopatra Jones

USA (1973)

Documentaries

The American Experience - Marcus Garvey: Look for me in the Whirlwind

USA (2001)

Unchained memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives

USA (2002)

Africans in America

USA (1998)

See also movies about slavery.

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