*NOTE - You should always get your parents permission to watch certain things... it might be nice to watch some of these shows and films with your parents to talk about them.
13th (Ava DuVernay) - In this thought-provoking documentary, scholars, activists and politicians analyze the criminalization of African Americans and the U.S. prison boom. Available on Netflix also looks to be available in its entirety on YouTube as well.
Becoming - "Join former first lady Michelle Obama in an intimate documentary looking at her life, hopes and connection with others as she tours with her autobiography Becoming." Available on Netflix.
The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution - This is "the first feature-length documentary to explore the Black Panther Party, its significance to the broader American culture, its cultural and political awakening for black people, and the painful lessons wrought when a movement derails." - Available to watch with Amazon Prime or free here on PBS website.
King In The Wilderness - The documentary "chronicles the final chapters of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life, revealing a conflicted leader who faced an onslaught of criticism from both sides of the political spectrum." Watch on HBO Max, or available to rent on other platforms.
Reconstruction: America After the Civil War (TV Series) - "The twelve years that composed the post-war Reconstruction era (1865-77) witnessed a seismic shift in the meaning and makeup of our democracy, with millions of former slaves and free black people seeking out their rightful place as equal citizens under the law. Though tragically short-lived, this bold democratic experiment was, in the words of W. E. B. Du Bois, a ‘brief moment in the sun’ for African Americans, when they could advance, and achieve, education, exercise their right to vote, and run for and win public office." Watch for free on the PBS website.
Rest In Power: The Trayvon Martin Story (6 episodes) - "This docuseries re-examines the life and legacy of Trayvon Martin, whose death became a catalyst for the Black Lives Matter movement." Stream if you have Paramount Network with your cable, free with BET+ or free trial on Amazon Prime, or rent or purchase.
Teach us All - It's been decades since Brown v. Board of Education, yet American schools remain largely segregated. Some leaders are working to change that. Available on Netflix.
The Hate U Give (George Tillman Jr.) — Free with Amazon Prime or Hulu with Cinemax or rent on other platforms
Just Mercy (Destin Daniel Cretton) — Available for FREE on most platforms for all of June 2020
Selma (Ava DuVernay) — Free with Amazon Prime and available to rent on other platforms
When They See Us (Ava DuVernay) - "Five teens from Harlem become trapped in a nightmare when they're falsely accused of a brutal attack in Central Park. Based on the true story." A four part series available on Netflix.