20+ Black History Movies on Amazon Prime

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15 Black History Movies on Amazon Prime

Black history movies are all about showcasing the rich and diverse experiences, struggles, and triumphs of the African American community. They delve into historical events, key figures, and untold stories, offering a powerful and often emotional journey that highlights the resilience, contributions, and cultural heritage of Black people throughout history.

An American Girl Story – Melody 1963: Love Has to Win

Set in Detroit during the Civil Rights Movement, “An American Girl Story – Melody 1963: Love Has to Win examines the joyful life and troubled times of an irrepressible 10-year-old African-American girl whose vivid imagination and creativity reinforce her optimism.

When shocking national events threaten her sense of security, Melody must find the inner strength to restore her hope for a better world.

Black Soul

This animated short dives into the heart of Black culture with an exhilarating trip through history. Watch as a young boy traces his roots through the stories his grandmother shares with him about the events that shaped their cultural heritage.

King: Man of Peace in a Time of War

A rare TV interview with Martin Luther King Jr. is the centerpiece of this tribute. Exclusive interviews with Jesse Jackson and Colin Powell provide fresh insight into the life and personality of the inspirational civil rights leader.

The African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross

Written and presented by Professor Gates, the six-hour series explores the evolution of the African-American people, as well as the multiplicity of cultural institutions, political strategies, and religious and social perspectives they developed — forging their own history, culture and society against unimaginable odds.

Harriet Tubman – They Called Her Moses

Discover the real Harriet Tubman in this compelling documentary narrated by Alfrelynn Roberts and featuring expert interviews with leading scholars, Dr. Eric Lewis Williams of the Smithsonian Institute and Carl Westmoreland of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.

It also features remarkable early 20th-century audio recordings of African-American spirituals sung by former slaves.

To continue this unit study, check out the Harriet Movie Study.

Freedom Summer

In the hot and deadly summer of 1964, the nation could not turn away from Mississippi.

Over 10 memorable weeks known as Freedom Summer, more than 700 student volunteers joined with organizers and local African Americans in a historic effort to shatter the foundations of white supremacy in one of the nation's most segregated states – even in the face of intimidation, physical violence, and death.

I Am Not Your Negro

With unprecedented access to James Baldwin’s original work, Raoul Peck completed a documentary film version of the novel Baldwin never finished—a radical narration about race in America that tracks the lives and assassinations of Baldwin’s friends Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and Medgar Evers.

The Uncomfortable Truth

When the son of Civil Rights Hero, Joan Trumpauer Mulholland, dives into the 400-year history of institutional racism in America he is confronted with the shocking reality that his family helped start it all from the very beginning.

A comprehensive and insightful exploration of the origins and history of racism in America told through a very personal and honest story.

February One: The Story of the Greensboro Four

On February 1, 1960, four college students changed American history. Ezell Blair, Jr., David Richmond, Franklin McCain, and Joseph McNeil began a sit-in at a white-only lunch counter in Greensboro.

This act of bravery is noted as one of the vital moments in the American Civil Rights Movement. Offering a portrait of how four young men whose courage at led other non-violent protests through the 60s.

Black America Since MLK: And Still I Rise

In his new four-hour series, Black America Since MLK: And Still I Rise, Henry Louis Gates, Jr. embarks on a deeply personal journey through the last fifty years of African American history.

The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pitman

Story of a black woman in the South who was born into slavery in the 1850s and lives to become a part of the civil rights movement in the 1960s.

Marshall

Based on a true story, MARSHALL follows future Supreme Court Justice, Thurgood Marshall, as he defends a black man from sexual assault charges against his white employer.

 

4 Little Girls

Director Spike Lee uses this feature-length documentary to examine the crime and its perpetrators as well as the four young victims (as described by friends and families). It also includes interviews with noted civil rights activists and journalists.

The Central Park Five

This piercing documentary examines the case of five teenagers, all African-American or Latino, who was convicted of the brutal rape of a white woman in Central Park in 1989. Years later, the confession of the real rapist set the jailed men free.

The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman

The story of a black woman in the South who was born into slavery in the 1850s and lives to become a part of the civil rights movement in the 1960s.

Runaway Slave

Rev. C.L. Bryant journeys across America to find answers. A one-time NAACP local chapter president, Rev. Bryant discovers that by buying into the entitlement mindset of “progressives,” and “Black Lives Matter,” the black community has traded one form of tyranny for another.

My Life With Rosie

The documentary examines the relationship between the civil right legend Rosa Parks & Carolyn Green and discusses Green's quest to continue her cousin's legacy of black activism in America.

The Frank Matthews Story

Frank Matthews came to New York from the tobacco country of Durham, N.C. in the mid-'60s. By 1970 he was the biggest black drug kingpin in the US.

Tell Them We Are Rising: Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Tell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Black Colleges and Universities examines the impact black colleges and universities have had on American history, culture, and national identity.

Ruby Bridges

At the tender age of six, Ruby Bridges advanced the cause of civil rights in November 1960 when she became the first African American student to integrate an elementary school in the South.

To continue this unit study, check out the Ruby Bridges Movie Study.

Birth of a Movement

In 1915, civil rights activist William Monroe Trotter waged a battle against D.W. Griffith's notoriously Ku Klux Klan-friendly blockbuster The Birth of a Nation, which unleashed a fight still raging today about race relations and representation, and the power and influence of Hollywood.

Includes interviews with Spike Lee, Reginald Hudlin, Henry Louis Gates, Jr., and DJ Spooky.

To continue this unit study, check out the History with Musicals Movie Study Bundle.

To continue learning, check out the Black History Research Unit. 

If you enjoyed this list of movies, I have a monthly membership for parents and educators that want to teach or supplement lessons with shows and movies.

“I absolutely love sharing movies with my kids as a way to teach them valuable lessons. It's like this awesome bonding experience where we all snuggle up on the couch with some popcorn, and I get to see their little faces light up with curiosity. Whether it's a classic with timeless morals or a new animated flick with hidden gems of wisdom, it's a fantastic way to impart important life lessons in a fun and engaging way. Plus, the post-movie discussions are priceless – hearing their take on the characters and the story adds a whole new dimension to our family time.” –a Homeschooling parent

With Homeschooling with Shows and Movies membership, you will get resources every month, including:

• List of This Month’s Suggested Themes
• List of Monthly Observances
• List Of Movies for Unit Study
• Unit Study Resource
• Seasonal Activities (minimum of three)
• (BONUSES) Resources for you, the teacher

These resources are worth it if you'd like to easily incorporate shows and movies into your homeschooling.

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