February is Black History Month. This month, we at the UW Tacoma Library are highlighting films that acknowledge, honor, and celebrate the lasting legacies of Black creators and activists. We not only want to shed light on history, but also look toward the future so we will be exploring different themes in Black and African American film throughout the month. We acknowledge that we should not only look at these resources now, but throughout our personal, educational and professional lives. We hope that these lists may serve as inspiration or a place to start.

This week we are bringing you recommendations for recent documentaries. On topics ranging from the role of the Black Church to historically Black colleges and universities, we’ve curated a list of a variety of films and series that explore the Black experience in America. Read about these recommendations on our blog and explore the library’s collection for many more titles made freely available to our community by the library.

The Black Church (2021)

In Episode 1, Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the roots of African American religion beginning with the trans-Atlantic slave trade and the extraordinary ways enslaved Africans preserved and adapted their faith practices from slavery to emancipation. In Episode 2, discover how the Black Church expanded its reach to address social inequality and minister to those in need, from the Jim Crow South to the heroic phase of the civil rights movement and the Black Church’s role in the present.
Episode 1 and Episode 2 are both available for streaming via the UW Libraries.

Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror (2019)

Starting with The Birth of a Nation, this film traces the history of African Americans in horror, from roles as passive victims, to terrifying monsters, to full-fledged protagonists. Filled with clips, sometimes juxtaposed with powerful images from civil rights marches to Rodney King, to Black Lives Matter protests, the film shows how popular horror films of each era reflect changing social norms.
Available for streaming via the UW Libraries.

Black Feminist (2019)

Black Feminist is a feature length documentary film surrounding the double edged sword of racial and gender oppression that black women face in America. This documentary is told through interviews from scholars, lecturers, writers, business owners, veterans, comedians and authors. In addition to information interviews, this documentary is narrated by our storybook character LaToya Johnson, played by Nadirah Lugg.
Available for streaming via the UW Libraries.

Whose Streets? (2017)

Told by the activists and leaders who live and breathe this movement for justice, Whose Streets? is an unflinching look at the Ferguson uprising. When unarmed teenager Michael Brown is killed by police and left lying in the street for hours, it marks a breaking point for the residents of St. Louis, Missouri. Grief, long-standing racial tensions and renewed anger bring residents together to hold vigil and protest this latest tragedy. Empowered parents, artists, and teachers from around the country come together as freedom fighters. As the national guard descends on Ferguson with military grade weaponry, these young community members become the torchbearers of a new resistance. For this generation, the battle is not for civil rights, but for the right to live.
Available for streaming via the UW Libraries.

Tell Them We Are Rising (2017)

A haven for Black intellectuals, artists and revolutionaries – and path of promise toward the American dream – Black colleges and universities have educated the architects of freedom movements and cultivated leaders in every field. They have been unapologetically Black for more than 150 years. For the first time ever, their story is told.
Available for streaming via the UW Libraries.