Anti-Racism Resources

A lot of these stories contain adult content, often related to language and/or violence due to the historical nature. Please look properties up on IMDB or Common Sense Media to see if these films and shows are appropriate for you and/or your family.

Hulu

Movies
Nina - the story of jazz musician Nina Simone starring Zoe Saldana in the titular role
Sorry to Bother You - an alternate, fantastical reality film that really benefits from going into it knowing absolutely nothing. Content warning - recommend looking up 
I am Not Your Negro (also on Netflix and Prime) - documentary that is perfect to watch while we read James Baldwin's work 
If Beale Street Could Talk - beautiful and emotional movie that covers relationships and justice for a young Black couple. Slight content warning 
The United States vs. Billie Holiday - a look into the singer’s life that we didn’t always see - her fight for justice and what politics covered up. Content warning. 
Beloved (also on Prime) - movie adaptation of Toni Morrison’s incredible novel, starring Oprah and Danny Glover. Content warning. 
Malcolm X - Denzel Washington stars in this biopic that covers Malcolm X’s early life to death, and everything in between. 
12 Years a Slave - Steve McQueen’s multi-Oscar-winning movie is based on a true, and brutal, tale of a free Black man who is abducted and sold into slavery. Content warning

Shows
Woke - an African-American cartoonist becomes 'woke' and experiences life differently after something unexpected occurs
Atlanta - critically acclaimed comedy/drama series from Donald Glover that tells the stories of rappers trying to make it while facing a myriad of social and economic issues. Slight content warning
Queen Sugar - Ava DuVernay-created series about three siblings who inherit a sugarcane farm in Louisiana
black-ish, grown-ish mixed-ish - for someone who just wants to diversify what they watch, these sitcom/dramas tackle big issues in a much lighter way
High Fidelity - a race and gender swapped version of the movie of the same name that provides what we need more of: a romantic comedy/drama starring people of color. Slight content warning
Genius: Aretha - this anthology series’ third season stars Cynthia Erivo as Aretha Franklin and goes through her incredible career. 
Living Single - often cited as the original Friends, this ‘90s sitcom follows a group of roommates and friends living in New York City

Netflix

Movies
Moonlight - deeply beautiful and emotional Oscar-winning movie that tells the story of a young Black man struggling with his identity and sexuality. Slight content warning
13th - a difficult to watch but incredibly necessary documentary that looks into racism within the prison system
Becoming - Michelle Obama's documentary based around her experience with her autobiography and book tour
Da 5 Bloods - one of Chadwick Boseman's last movies that tells a story of African American veterans of the Vietnam War. Content warning for violence
Trevor Noah: Son of Patricia - another easy way to diversify what you watch by seeking out Black comedian stand up specials
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind - based on a true story about a young boy who invents a way to save his community from starvation
The Lovebirds - an incredibly silly romantic comedy starring Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani that is also a murder mystery
Loving - a deeply moving story about an interracial couple in 1960s Virginia and an historic court case that changed so much. 
Fruitvale Station - the true story of 22-year-old Oscar Grant who has a fateful day in the Bay Area that the whole country will learn about. 
Get On Up - Chadwick Boseman stars as James Brown in the biopic that shows his meteoric rise from poverty to stardom 
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom - focused around one recording session of legendary blues artist Ma Rainey and her backup band
The Pursuit of Happyness - Will Smith and his son, Jaden, star as a father and son who embark on a life-changing, up-and-down journey
Invictus - Morgan Freeman’s famous turn as Nelson Mandela as he joins forces with the South African rugby team in hopes of uniting his country. 
Lee Daniels’ The Butler - this Academy Award winning film tells the story of Cecil Gaines, a man who served eight presidents as a White House butler

Shows
All-American - Friday Night Lights meets LA neighborhoods and contains a lot of social and economic commentary for being a CW show
#blackAF - a short comedy series about parenting and relationships 
When They See Us - miniseries by Ava DuVernay about the Central Park Five that tells their story of being falsely accused of a terrible crime
The Last Dance - ESPN docuseries about Michael Jordan and one of the most incredible periods of basketball history 
Waffles & Mochi - perfect for families or younger kids, this show stars Michelle Obama and a myriad of puppet friends discussing food
They’ve Gotta Have Us - a series of Black powerhouses in Hollywood share their stories both behind the camera and in front of it 
Amend - The Fight for America - a six-episode documentary series hosted by Will Smith that looks into the 14th Amendment
Self Made - Octavia Spencer stars as Madam C.J. Walker in a four-episode series about America’s first self-made female millionaire. Rated TV-MA
Luke Cage - for something a bit less serious but equally as action packed, this Marvel series showcases a superpowered man in Harlem
 

Disney+

Movies
Hamilton - even if you're tired of hearing about this musical or aren't a fan of rap music, this musical showcases some legitimately incredible talent
Black is King - Beyonce's visual album to go along with the music she created for The Lion King remake
Black Panther - a bit of an obvious recommendation, but a superhero film that has so much more significance than being just a Marvel movie
Remember the Titans - one of the original emotional sports films that tells a true and amazing story
Princess & the Frog - another great movie to watch with the whole family, featuring the first Black Disney princess and a lot of fun New Orleans culture
Queen of Katwe - a wonderful biography about a young African girl whose entire world changes once she is introduced to the game of chess
Hidden Figures - incredible story about the Black women who played vital, and often unacknowledged, roles in the early years of NASA. 

Shows
Falcon & Winter Soldier - it may be a Marvel property, but there are a lot of interesting tie-ins about patriotism, being Black in America and other social issues
Doc McStuffins - if you just want a great kids show that features diversity, this adorable animated show is the way to go
 

HBOMax

Movies
Amistad - a slave ship in 1839 going to the US undergoes a mutiny and a court case about the mutiny makes its way to the supreme court
Bessie - Queen Latifah stars as Bessie Smith, the legendary blues singer, in this tv movie about the performer’s life in the early 1900s
Book of Eli - in a post-apocalyptic world, Denzel Washington is Eli, a man determined to preserve a book containing the secrets to mankind’s survival
The Color Purple - a 1985 adaptation of Alice Walker’s incredible, moving novel about a Black woman in the south who struggles to find herself after decades of abuse
Confirmation - Kerry Washington plays Anita Hill, a woman who testified at his confirmation hearing that Judge Clarence Thomas sexually harassed her
Fists of Freedom - documentary surrounding the incredible, historical 1968 summer Olympics where Black athletes were photographed raising their fists 
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks - this tv movie tells the story of Henrietta Lacks who, without her knowledge or consent, became a part of a huge medical breakthrough 
John Lewis: Good Trouble - if reading His Truth Is Marching On inspired you to learn more about John Lewis, this documentary explores his 60-year career in politics
Just Mercy - this based-on-a-true-story film stars Michael B. Jordan as a civil rights attorney works to free a wrongly condemned man sentenced to death
The Last King of Scotland - Forest Whitaker portrays Idi Amin, a brutal totalitarian dictator in charge of Uganda, in this biopic
The Photograph - for something a bit lighter, Issa Rae and LaKeith Stanfield star in this romantic film that shows love both past and present
Ray - Jamie Foxx’s Oscar-winning role as Ray Charles tells the incredible story of the blues musician from blindness to stardom

Shows 
Insecure - a romantic comedy series about an African-American woman going (often awkwardly) through everyday life and relationships
Watchmen - not your every-day comic book movie, this series tells an alternate history of the world after the Tulsa Race Riots
Lovecraft Country - just something for the scary-movie fans out there, it combines racial issues and lovecraftian horror into a sci-fi thriller
Being Serena - see how Serena Williams was able to tackle her health, pregnancy and motherhood while still being the premier tennis player in the world
Chewing Gum - Michaela Coel writes and stars in this critically acclaimed comedy about a girl named Tracey and her life and the lives of those around her
I May Destroy You - * major content warning * - sexual consent and dating in the modern age are discussed in this heavy series also written by and starring Michaela Coel
Tiger - a two part mini-series looking at the life, scandals and success in the field of golf by Tiger Woods
The Wire - crime drama series about the Baltimore drug scene that is often considered one of the best modern shows that exists
 

Prime

Movies
The Last Black Man in San Francisco - a quiet but heavy tale of a young Black man trying to figure out his identity and history in a changing world. Slight content warning
Crown Heights - a lesser known film that tells the story of a man wrongfully convicted of murder and the pursuit of proving his innocence. Slight content warning
Time - this Oscar-nominated documentary follows Fox Rich, a woman fighting to get her husband released from prison after being sentenced to more than the standard maximum sentence for his crime
Half of a Yellow Sun - two sisters return to Nigeria amidst a civil war and their lives take diverging paths as they join the fight in their country
Sylvie’s Love - a beautiful romance about a couple who meet in Harlem and try to survive among a changing time and world
One Night in Miami - based on a play about a fictional night in which Muhammad Ali, Malcom X, Sam Cooke and Jim Brown discuss their lives and the Civil Rights Movement in a hotel room

Shows
Small Axe - a collection of 5 short films directed by Steve McQueen about real experiences set in the West Indian community in London around the 1970s