This piece first appeared in our February 2021 Magazine.
It may not have been a great year overall, but 2020 was a strong year for Black filmmakers. Shows like Michaela Coel’s “I May Destroy You” and movies like Spike Lee’s “Da 5 Bloods” are considered amongst the year’s best, with good reason. Within these shows and movies, a certain type stands out: the historical movie.
These works are essential in the way they help frame and build our understanding of major historical events that are too far often not known because of systemic racism in the creation of history course curriculum.
These works are not straight history, though. They each build on the richness of their historical sources to create new worlds. From the Tulsa Massacre to Mangrove Nine, from pioneering to abolition, each of these maintain a strong historical basis, but the worlds and characters that inhabit them are the work of art.
Lovecraft Country
Photo courtesy of HBO
As you might expect from the title, “Lovecraft Country” is not straight history. It’s a pastiche of Lovecraftian horror and pulp sci-fi, but the true horror is from real-life racism. The actual horrors are never as much a threat as sundown towns, police brutality or white mob violence. Yet “Lovecraft Country” is not another story of suffering. Above all, this is a story of Black triumph in the face of unending obstacles. It a story of a family finding their power.
“Lovecraft County” is now available to stream on HBO and HBO Max.
The Good Lord Bird
Photo courtesy of Showtime
Adapted from James McBride’s novel, “The Good Lord Bird” takes a different approach to telling the story of John Brown (Ethan Hawke). The story is told by Henry (Joshua Caleb Johnson) a former slave that Brown “rescued” and mistook for a girl. Despite its serious subject matter, the show is never afraid to embrace a comedic tone. In doing so, we see not just John Brown but the coming of age of a Heny alongside him.
“The Good Lord Bird” is now available to stream on Showtime.
Small Axe
Photo courtesy of Amazon Studios
A collection of five films from Black British director Steve McQueen, “Small Axe” attempts to fill in the holes of the often-overlooked Black British history. The five stories focus on the experiences of Caribbean immigrants in the United Kingdom from the 60s to 80s. Humanity is the term best to describe McQueen’s films. They are filled to the brim with it, in its best and worst aspects, lending a level of understanding to a people that are severely underrepresented overwise.
“Small Axe” is now available to stream on Amazon Prime.
One Night in Miami
Photo courtesy of Patti Perret/Amazon Studios
Based on a play and set in one hotel room the night after Muhammed Ali’s (then going as Cassius Clay) victory over Sonny Liston, it is easy to imagine a snooze-inducing version of this “One Night in Miami“, yet the final result is fascinating to watch. Four titans of twentieth century culture – Muhammed Ali, Jim Brown, Sam Cooke and Malcolm X – have a heated discussion for two hour that you can’t look away from.
“One Night in Miami” now available to steam on Amazon Prime.
