While history is made daily, February is designated to observe Black American history. Black History Week, originally founded by educator Carter G. Woodson, became Black History Month in 1976 by President Lyndon Johnson. Today, it’s a time to acknowledge and celebrate African Americans' vast contributions to all facets of life. Next month, stream these films and TV shows on Hulu to educate the masses and uplift a rich culture.
1. Origin
Directed by Ava DuVernay, this critically acclaimed adaptation of Isabel Wilkerson's novel Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents, depicts the dark thread that links oppression through time across the globe. Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor stars as a journalist who delves into the past to find the root behind the pattern of systemic oppression. She discovers we share more than we realize.
2. The Space Race
The National Geographic documentary chronicles the little-known stories of the pioneering Black pilots, engineers, and scientists that would integrate the United States’ space program.
3. Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire
The animated anthology series showcases tales from distinct African animators and storytellers with an AfroFuturism backdrop. AfroFuturism is an aesthetic that combines Black art, culture, history, science, and fantasy across the African diaspora. Modern examples of AfroFuturism include Marvel’s Black Panther and the art styles of Janelle Monae, OutKast, and George Clinton.
4. Rye Lane
This 2023 film is a fresh take on the rom-com, highlighting the Black cultural influences of South London. Two strangers experiencing heartbreak spend a wistful day together. Directed by Raine Allen Miller, it stars Alien: Romulus’ David Jonsson and Dead Hot’s Vivan Oparah.
5. Godfather of Harlem
This dramatization of Bumpy Johnson’s rise as an influential figure in civil rights-era New York chronicles many American touchpoints. The historical fiction drama sees Forest Whitaker take on the role of Bumpy, as his hands juggle the intersection of organized crime and politics during America’s most turbulent periods of civil unrest. Seasons 1-3 are available on Hulu.
6. I Am Not Your Negro
The documentary captures the unfinished words of the late queer activist, author, and poet, James Baldwin. Documentarian Raoul Peck examines the United States’ history of racism through the assassinations of three of its political sons: Medgar Evers, Malcolm X, and Martin Luther King Jr.
7. Underground
Originally airing on WGN, this historical fiction drama followed a group of enslaved Black Americans who decided to flee captivity from the South along the Underground Railroad. The short-lived critically acclaimed series starred Aldis Hodge, Journee Smollett, Christopher Meloni, Adina Porter, Amirah Vann, and Clarke Peters.
8. Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am
Released the same year as her death, The Pieces I Am is a documentary about Black author, poet, and civil activist Toni Morrison. The film reflects on Morrison’s life and profound artistry, including critically acclaimed works such as Beloved, The Bluest Eye, and Sula.
9. The Wonder Years
In an age of nostalgia, ABC revived the 1980s series set in 1960s America and centered it on an African American family living in Birmingham, Alabama. The show followed precocious preteen Dean Williams as he experienced a life parallel to the original show’s protagonist, Kevin Arnold. Both seasons are on Hulu.
10. Black Ice
A documentary produced in part by LeBron James, Black Ice explores the origins of hockey and its racist roots that permeate the sport today.
11. Pose
FX’s Emmy-winning series, Pose, was groundbreaking for featuring a mostly queer and Black transgender cast. The series by Ryan Murphy chronicled the life and times of Black transwomen surviving 1980s NYC through the glamorous competitive culture of the ballroom.