With the debate of critical race theory in education, Black history has been essentially banned from many school curriculums. So, you may be asking yourself, “How can I teach my child about the history of African Americans in a way that’s both entertaining and informative?” The following list of movies offers a fun and interesting way for your entire family to learn Black history in honor of African American History Month.
Sample topics include segregation, the Civil Rights Movement, the Black Power Movement, voting rights, equality, famous African American women and men, and more.
Note: The information in this article is as current as the publication date. Readers are encouraged to confirm before watching.
Map of key locations during the African American Civil Rights Movement.
Black History Movies Rated G
Garrett’s Gift (2008)
Rated G. Garrett’s Gift tells the inspiring story of African American inventor Garrett Morgan and teaches us that we are all born with a gift. Most importantly, we must give that gift back to the world. Movie can be seen on DVD which is available on Amazon.
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The Color of Friendship (2000)
Rated G. A white South African girl finds herself in a tricky situation when she is sent to spend a term with Black people in America. Movie can be seen on Disney+, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video.
Meet Garrett Morgan the Inventor of 🚦+🤿 | #history #inventions
Black History Movies Rated PG
Ruby Bridges (1998)
Rated PG. When six-year-old Ruby is chosen to be the first African American to integrate her local elementary school, she is subjected to the true ugliness of racism for the first time. Movie can be seen on Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and YouTube.
Woodlawn (2015)
Rated PG. A gifted high school football player of African descent must learn to embrace his talent and his faith as he battles racial tensions on and off the field. Movie can be seen on YouTube, Vudu, and Amazon Prime Video.
John Lewis: Good Trouble (2020)
Rated PG. Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), an activist for the Black community, fights for the advancement of civil rights, voting rights, gun control, health care reform, and immigration. Movie can be seen on HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, and YouTube.
Kevin Hart’s Guide to Black History (2019)
Rated PG. Kevin Hart highlights the fascinating contributions of Black history’s unsung heroes in this entertaining - and educational - comedy special. Movie can be seen on Netflix.
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Kevin Hart in "Kevin Hart's Guide to Black History".
Black History Movies Rated PG-13 and TV-14
Selma (2014)
Rated PG-13. A chronicle of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s campaign to secure equal voting rights via an epic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, in 1965. Movie can be seen on Apple TV, YouTube, and Amazon Prime Video.
The Gabby Douglas Story (2014)
Rated PG-13. The story of an international gymnastics phenomenon who overcame overwhelming odds to become the first African American woman ever to be named Individual All-Around Champion in artistic gymnastics at the Olympic Games. Movie can be seen on Vudu, Amazon Prime Video, and YouTube.
A Ballerina’s Tale (2015)
Rated PG-13. An African American ballerina’s prodigious rise and potentially career-ending injury alongside themes of race and body image in ballet. Movie can be seen on Amazon Prime Video, Sling TV, and YouTube.
42: The Jackie Robinson Story (2013)
Rated PG-13. In 1946, Branch Rickey, legendary manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, defies major league baseball’s notorious color barrier by signing Jackie Robinson. He demonstrates true courage and admirable restraint by not reacting and letting his undeniable talent silence the critics for him. Movie can be seen on HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, and YouTube.
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Harriet (2019)
Rated PG-13. From her escape from slavery through the dangerous missions she led to liberate hundreds of enslaved Black Americans through the Underground Railroad, the story of heroic abolitionist Harriet Tubman is told. Movie can be seen on Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and YouTube.
The Butler (2013)
Rated PG-13. This epic drama tells the story of White House butler Cecil Gaines, who serves during several presidential administrations. The film is inspired by Wil Haygood’s 2008 Washington Post article “A Butler Well Served by This Election”. Movie can be seen on Google Play and Amazon Prime Video.
Just Mercy (2019)
Rated PG-13. After graduating from Harvard, Bryan Stevenson heads to Alabama to defend those wrongly condemned or those not afforded proper representation. Stevenson encounters racism and legal and political maneuvering as he tirelessly fights for the innocent lives of many, often Black men and Black women. Movie can be seen on Netflix, YouTube, and Amazon Prime Video.
Red Tails (2012)
Rated PG-13. The film is about the Tuskegee Airmen, a group of African American United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) servicemen during World War II. Movie can be seen on Disney+, YouTube, and Google Play.
4 Little Girls (1997)
Rated TV-14. This documentary is about September 15, 1963, the murder of four African American girls (Addie May Collins, Carol Denise McNair, Cynthia Wesley, Carole Rosamond Robertson) in the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham, Alabama. Movie can be seen on HBO Max, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video.
Malcolm X (1992)
Rated PG-13. A tribute to the controversial black activist and leader of the struggle for black liberation. He hit bottom during his imprisonment, 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. Movie can be seen on Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, and Google Play.
Marshall (2017)
Rated PG-13. Marshall is based on the incredible true story of Thurgood Marshall and one of the landmark cases of his life. It follows the young lawyer to conservative Connecticut to defend a black chauffeur charged with sexual assault and attempted murder. Muzzled by a segregationist court, Marshall partners with a courageous young Jewish lawyer, and together they mount the defense. Movie can be seen on Google Play and VUDU.
Chadwick Boseman as Thurgood Marshall in "Marshall".
Black History Movies Rated R and TV-MA
12 Years a Slave (2013)
Rated R. This film is an adaptation of the 1853 slave memoir Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup, where a New York State-born free African American man was kidnapped in Washington, D.C., by two conmen in 1841 and sold into slavery. Movie can be seen on Hulu, YouTube, and Google Play.
Judas and the Black Messiah (2021)
Rated R. Fred Hampton becomes Chairman of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party - putting him in the government’s crosshairs. The authorities will need a man inside to destroy the revolution. Movie can be seen on Netflix.
Still unsure if a movie is appropriate for your children? The Motion Pictures Association offers more information, including an interactive guide on understanding TV and movie ratings.
If there are any other Black history movies we have missed, please leave a comment and we will add them to our list.
| Movie Title | Rating | Where to Watch |
|---|---|---|
| Garrett’s Gift (2008) | G | Amazon (DVD) |
| The Color of Friendship (2000) | G | Disney+, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video |
| Ruby Bridges (1998) | PG | Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube |
| Woodlawn (2015) | PG | YouTube, Vudu, Amazon Prime Video |
| John Lewis: Good Trouble (2020) | PG | HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube |
| Kevin Hart’s Guide to Black History (2019) | PG | Netflix |
| Selma (2014) | PG-13 | Apple TV, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video |
| The Gabby Douglas Story (2014) | PG-13 | Vudu, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube |
| A Ballerina’s Tale (2015) | PG-13 | Amazon Prime Video, Sling TV, YouTube |
| 42: The Jackie Robinson Story (2013) | PG-13 | HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube |
| Harriet (2019) | PG-13 | Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube |
| The Butler (2013) | PG-13 | Google Play, Amazon Prime Video |
| Just Mercy (2019) | PG-13 | Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video |
| Red Tails (2012) | PG-13 | Disney+, YouTube, Google Play |
| 4 Little Girls (1997) | TV-14 | HBO Max, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video |
| Malcolm X (1992) | PG-13 | Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, Google Play |
| Marshall (2017) | PG-13 | Google Play, VUDU |
| 12 Years a Slave (2013) | R | Hulu, YouTube, Google Play |
| Judas and the Black Messiah (2021) | R | Netflix |
