For Black History Month: Classroom Films that Don’t Shy Away from White Supremacy
“Black History Month is more than a celebration of black achievement. It is a political and moral project that exposes the willful ignorance about black people that shapes American history and informs our present troubles.”
— Eddie Glaude Jr., Time magazine
Black History Month, which kicks off next week, was established more than a half century ago to recognize the achievements of Black Americans. It also provides an opportunity to recognize and reflect on the history and legacy of anti-Black racism and white supremacist attitudes in this country.
“Black History Month is traditionally a time to honor Black Americans and, theoretically, accord them their proper place in American history,” Erin Aubry Kaplan observed in the New York Times last year. “But at this very perilous moment in the history of us all, it’s urgent that we turn the lens around, take it off the worthy Black individuals, and put it on America as a whole.”
Below, you’ll find videos that critically examine the myriad political, cultural, and social impacts of anti-Black racism. The selection includes our early collaboration with the late bell hooks, whose work combined a fierce intersectional critique of white supremacy, patriarchy, and imperialism with an equally passionate embrace of community and healing.
From now through the end of February, we’re offering 25% off our Race and Representation Collection – with the code BLACKHISTORY22. You can watch most of these films through your university or public library on the Kanopy streaming platform. They’re also available to rent or purchase in multiple digital formats and on DVD.
