Celebrate Black History Month with powerful films that showcase the rich cultural legacy and remarkable contributions of Black Americans. Explore Kanopy’s collection for inspiring stories of history, resilience, and progress within the Black community.
Stream the collection now on Kanopy!
Daughters of the Dust
At the dawn of the 20th century, a multi-generational family in the Gullah community on the Sea Islands off of South Carolina – former West African slaves who adopted many of their ancestors’ Yoruba traditions – struggle to maintain their cultural heritage and folklore while contemplating a migration to the mainland, even further from their roots.
The first wide release by a Black female filmmaker, DAUGHTERS OF THE DUST was met with wild critical acclaim and rapturous audience response when it initially opened in 1991. Casting a long legacy, DAUGHTERS OF THE DUST still resonates today, most recently as a major in influence on Beyonce’s video album Lemonade.
Marshall
Based on a true story, this gripping courtroom drama centers on a young Thurgood Marshall (Chadwick Boseman) in 1941, long before his Supreme Court appointment, as he defends a Black chauffeur (Sterling K. Brown) accused of assaulting a wealthy white woman (Kate Hudson) in Connecticut. Directed by Reginald Hudlin, the film follows Marshall as he partners with reluctant local attorney Sam Friedman (Josh Gad) in a racially charged battle against injustice.
Move When the Spirit Says Move: The Legacy of Dorothy Foreman Cotton
Dorothy Foreman Cotton was a bold and highly effective civil rights leader, who educated thousands about their citizenship rights and inspired generations of activists with her powerful freedom songs. The only woman on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s executive staff, Dorothy was a charismatic, courageous and consistently overlooked key player in the Civil Rights Movement, whose freedom schools, freedom songs and messages of empowerment are profoundly needed today.