Racism and Movies

Two youngsters from rival New York City gangs fall in love, but tensions between their respective friends build toward tragedy.

Jojo Rabbit is about a young boy living during World War II. His only escapism is through his imaginary friend, an ethnically inaccurate version of Adolf Hitler, who pushes the young boy’s naive patriotic beliefs. However, this all changes when a young girl challenges those views and causes Jojo to face his own issues.

Set in the early 1960s, this film follows the unlikely friendship between Tony Lip, an Italian-American bouncer played by Viggo Mortensen, and Dr. Don Shirley, an African-American classical pianist portrayed…

Set in the early 1970s, this film follows the true story of Ron Stallworth, the first African-American detective in the Colorado Springs Police Department, as he embarks on a daring…

A young African-American man visits his white girlfriend’s family estate, where he becomes ensnared in a series of increasingly disturbing events. The film, directed by Jordan Peele, masterfully blends horror…

Set during the 1960s space race, this film follows the inspiring true story of three African-American women mathematicians who played pivotal roles at NASA. The narrative centers on Katherine Johnson,…

Directed by F. Gary Gray, this biographical drama chronicles the rise of the influential hip-hop group N.W.A. as they revolutionize music and culture in the 1980s. The film follows the…

Set against the backdrop of a fictional European country, this film follows the adventures of a legendary concierge, Monsieur Gustave H., and his protégé, Zero Moustafa, as they become embroiled…

Directed by Steve McQueen, this powerful historical drama follows the harrowing journey of Solomon Northup, a free African-American man who is kidnapped and sold into slavery in the pre-Civil War…

Set against the backdrop of significant historical events, this film follows the life of Cecil Gaines, an African-American butler who served in the White House for over three decades. The…

Set in the antebellum South, this film follows the journey of a freed slave, Django, who teams up with a German bounty hunter, Dr. King Schultz, to rescue his wife…

Aibileen Clark is a middle-aged African-American maid who has spent her life raising white children and has recently lost her only son; Minny Jackson is an African-American maid who has often offended her employers despite her family’s struggles with money and her desperate need for jobs; and Eugenia ”Skeeter” Phelan is a young white woman who has recently moved back home after graduating college to find out her childhood maid has mysteriously disappeared. These three stories intertwine to explain how life in Jackson, Mississippi revolves around ”the help”; yet they are always kept at a certain distance because of racial…

Directed by Clint Eastwood, this 2009 film stars Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon in a compelling story set in post-apartheid South Africa. The plot follows newly elected President Nelson Mandela…

This 2009 film, directed by John Lee Hancock, tells the inspiring true story of Michael Oher, a homeless and traumatized boy who becomes an All-American football player with the help…

Set during World War II, this film weaves together multiple storylines, including a group of Jewish-American soldiers known for their brutal tactics against Nazis and a young French woman seeking…

In this 2008 drama, Clint Eastwood stars as Walt Kowalski, a grizzled Korean War veteran who finds himself reluctantly drawn into the lives of his Hmong neighbors in a changing…

Set in 1971 London, this thrilling heist film follows a group of small-time criminals who are unwittingly drawn into a high-stakes bank robbery with far-reaching consequences. Led by Terry Leather,…

Set in a dystopian future where humanity faces extinction due to global infertility, the film follows Theo, played by Clive Owen, as he navigates a world on the brink of…

Set against the backdrop of 1970s Uganda, this gripping drama follows the journey of a young Scottish doctor, Nicholas Garrigan, who becomes the personal physician to the charismatic yet brutal…

Set in Los Angeles, this 2005 film intricately weaves together the lives of several characters from different backgrounds, exploring themes of race, prejudice, and interconnectedness. Directed by Paul Haggis, the…

This biographical film chronicles the life and career of the legendary musician Ray Charles, capturing his journey from humble beginnings to becoming a music icon. The movie delves into his…

Set against the backdrop of the Rwandan genocide, this powerful film follows the true story of Paul Rusesabagina, a hotel manager who uses his position to save the lives of…

Set in the tumultuous Five Points neighborhood of 19th-century New York City, this film follows the story of a young man seeking vengeance for his father’s death. The narrative unfolds…

Set in the early 1970s, this film explores the challenges and triumphs of a newly integrated high school football team in Virginia. Under the leadership of Coach Herman Boone, played…

Set in the 1930s, this film follows the lives of death row guards at a penitentiary, focusing on the supernatural events that unfold after the arrival of a mysterious inmate,…

In this gripping drama directed by Tony Kaye, the story delves into the life of a former neo-Nazi skinhead who struggles to prevent his younger brother from following the same…

Set in 1950s Los Angeles, this film delves into the intertwining lives of three LAPD officers as they navigate a web of corruption, murder, and intrigue. The narrative explores themes…

In this gripping courtroom drama directed by William Friedkin, twelve jurors are tasked with determining the fate of a young defendant accused of murder. As the deliberations unfold, tensions rise…

In this gripping crime drama directed by Mike Newell, an undercover FBI agent infiltrates the mafia, forming a complex relationship with a seasoned mobster. The film stars Johnny Depp and…

Directed by Robert Zemeckis, this 1994 film stars Tom Hanks in a career-defining role as a man with a low IQ who unwittingly influences several historical events in the 20th…

Set during the harrowing period of World War II, this film follows the true story of Oskar Schindler, a German businessman who becomes an unlikely hero by saving the lives…

Set in the 1960s, this film follows the coming-of-age story of a young Italian-American boy named Calogero, who is torn between the values of his hardworking father, played by Robert…

In this intense drama directed by Joel Schumacher, Michael Douglas stars as a man who experiences a psychological breakdown during a sweltering Los Angeles day. As he traverses the city,…

Set in South Central Los Angeles, this powerful drama follows the lives of three young African-American men as they navigate the challenges of growing up in a neighborhood plagued by…

Set in the American South during the mid-20th century, this film explores the evolving relationship between an elderly Jewish widow, Daisy Werthan, and her African-American chauffeur, Hoke Colburn. The narrative…

In the early years of the 20th century, Mohandas K. Gandhi, a British-trained lawyer, forsakes all worldly possessions to take up the cause of Indian independence. Faced with armed resistance…

A mentally unstable Vietnam War veteran works as a night-time taxi driver in New York City where the perceived decadence and sleaze feeds his urge for violent action, attempting to save a preadolescent prostitute in the process.

A town—where everyone seems to be named Johnson—stands in the way of the railroad. In order to grab their land, robber baron Hedley Lemar sends his henchmen to make life…

Set in the racially charged atmosphere of 1930s Alabama, this film follows the story of a young girl named Scout Finch and her brother Jem as they navigate the complexities…

The spoiled daughter of a well-to-do plantation owner is forced to use every means at her disposal to claw her way out of poverty, following Maj. Gen. William Sherman’s destructive…