THE LOCAL & FLY

February is full of events to celebrate Black History Month. The events of the month are aimed at informing the world about the incidents and issues that affected and are still affecting blacks. Black movies are showing in different locations across the UK, US, and Canada. It is clearly a way to inform people of the accomplishments, challenges, and the successes of people of color.

We will have a look at some documentaries that would be perfect for marking this event. While some are available for viewing on Netflix and Amazon, others might require some more effort to find. But they will be worth your while.

A Ballerina’s Tale

Only a small fraction of black women have made it to the top in the ballerinas’ world. Misty Copeland became one of the few in 2015. The story of her rise as an elite – and the painful road to stardom – changed history forever.

Misty Copeland became the first African American principal dancer with the prestigious American Ballet Theatre (ABT). She stands as a shining light for women of color at major ballet companies. Details of her life and historic rise as an elite black ballerina are covered in this documentary. It further examines racial issues and body images in the elite ballet world.

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Quincy

The documentary “Quincy” will take you through the life of an iconic figure in music, Quincy Jones. He was notorious for overstepping cultural bounds, however, it also made him popular in the 70s. His story became intricately tied to pop culture in the US. The life and achievements of Quincy Jones as a Grammy Award-winning producer has been covered in this documentary. His daughter, Rashida Jones helms the documentary along with Alan Hicks. You can stream this amazing documentary on Netflix.

Goin’ to Chicago

We have also included an older documentary in our recommendation, titled “Goin’ to Chicago”. The epic tale told in this documentary is unknown to many, yet it was one that changed America forever.

“Goin’ to Chicago” is a chronicle about the colossal migration that occurred between 1916 and 1970. Four million African Americans migrated to Chicago from the south after World War II. This was mostly driven by economics and social oppression, racism, and unemployment. Families were looking to build new lives, and get to work in factories for better pay.

The documentary shows the struggles that many blacks faced after relocating to Chicago. Archival footage from suburban homes, factories, and stockyards is used to tell the story. The soundtrack, which is mostly jazz and blues, is another great aspect of this black movie.

Black Movies Can Enlighten

Racial prejudice, inhumanity and the slurs in between can never be completely represented on screen. However, there are still things to learn in these films. That is why we recommend watching at least one of these movies to celebrate Black History Month.

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