Best Movies for African American History Month

February is African American History Month. I know I'm a bit late to the game, but there are some good resources out there. And for those of us who are Caucasian parents raising African American children, Haitian children and other races/ethniticities, having resources available is always a good idea. 

Below is a list of movies. I have not seen all of these, so I am taking the recommendations of other people on some of them. The descriptions are from IMDB, Ted Baehr or online.

The Gabby Douglas Story

The story of the international gymnastics phenomenon who overcame overwhelming odds to become the first African American ever to be named Individual All-Around Champion in the artistic gymnastics at the Olympic Games.

The Preacher's Wife

Reverend Henry Biggs finds that his marriage is flagging due to his constant absence caring for the deprived neighborhood they live in. On top of all this, his church is coming under threat from a property developer. In desperation, Biggs prays for help, and it arrives in the form of an angel named Dudley. My kids like this movie because of the the little boy and his friend who finds his happily ever after with the Biggs family.

Remember the Titans

Based on a true story, Titans depicts the forced integration of an all black high school with an all white school and its impact on football in 1971 Alexandria, Virginia. Faced with the need to unify their team, two coaches, one of them played by Denzel Washington, must help the team to learn that the real victory lies in changed hearts.

Once Upon a Time...When We Were Colored

Chronicles the early life of its author Clifton Taulbert. Clifton is encouraged by the Christian faith, love and kinship of his tightly knit "colored" community to overcome the racial intolerance prevalent in the deep South of the 1950s and 60's. 

 42

42 tells what happens when the Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team signed the first black player in the Major Leagues, Jackie Robinson, in 1947. 42 is an inspirational, superb movie showing how the Christian faith of both Dodgers General Manager Branch Rickey and Jackie Robinson helped end racism in professional baseball. However, there is a fair amount of foul language and some racial epithets, so caution is advised, especially for children.

Driving Miss Daisy

Over 25 year, as the American South changes profoundly, the friendship between a highly independent, eccentric Jewish matron and the stalwart and very patient black widower.

The Lilies of the Field

This wonderful family movie teaches the Gospel in a winsome, entertaining way that’s unsurpassed by most other movies. In the story, a group of German nuns transplanted to Southwest America convince a young black man to help them build a local church. In the meantime, the young man teaches the nuns the joys of Pentecostal Protestant worship focused on Jesus and His Gospel. Both Jesus and the local church are lifted up.

Akeelah and the Bee

Akeelah, an 11-year-old living in South Los Angeles, discovers she has a talent for spellin, which she hopes will take her to the National Spelling Bee. Despite her mother's objection, Akeelah doesn't give up on her goal. She finds help in the form of a mysterious teacher, and along with overwhelming support from her community, Akeelah might just have what it takes to make her dreams come true.

The Princess and the Frog

With a modern twist on a classic tale, this animated comedy is set in the great city of New Orleans. Featuring a beautiful girl named Tiana, a frog prince who desperately wants to be human again, and a fateful kiss that leads them both on a hilarious adventure through the mystical bayous of Louisiana.

The Color of Friendship

A TV-G rated television film, is a heartening tale of racial tolerance with a very interesting twist. An African American US congressman with an interest in South African politics invites what he thinks is a black South African child into his family home for the summer. However Mahree Bok, the daughter of a South African policeman, is in fact white and it takes a lot of courage for both sides to accept the other. By the time she has to go home, however, Mahree has become an important part of the family and best friends with the Congressman's daughter, Piper. 

Annie (2014 version)

Ever since her parents left her as a baby, Annie has led a hard-knock life with her calculating foster mother. All that changes when mayoral candidate Will Stacks takes her in on the recommendation of his advisers. Stacks believes that he's Annie's guardian angel, but the plucky youngster's confidence and sunny outlook may mean that Annie will save Will instead.

These are all that come to mind. Leave a comment if you have thoughts on these movies or can add any to the list.