8 Anti-Racism Movies and Series You Can Stream Right Now

The Black Lives Matter movement is more than a hashtag. It’s necessary to strive to better understand the difficulty of being Black in America. While reading books and listening to podcasts about systematic racism is great and necessary there are other ways to educate yourself.

Many streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime have movies and series available for us to further learn about black history in The United States.

When They See Us 

When They See Us is a Netflix original docuseries created, directed and written by Ava DuVernay. It is based on a true story of the Central Park jogger case and the five teenage boys who were wrongfully convicted of the crime.

13th

13th is a documentary exploring the racial inequality in America with a focus on the criminalization of African Americans and the U.S. prison boom.

Time: The Kalief Browder Story 

This Netflix series traces the tragic case of Kalief Browder, a Bronx teen who spent three horrific years in jail, despite never being convicted of a crime. Jay-Z, who met with Browder after his release, co-produced this revealing documentary series.

Just Mercy

Michael B. Jordan portrays legendary civil rights defense attorney Bryan Stevenson in this biopic. Just Mercy focuses on the true case of Walter McMillian (played by Jamie Foxx), an African-American man wrongfully convicted for the murder of a white woman in 1980s Alabama. Warner Bros. has made the movie available for free on all digital platforms, including Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Google Play, and more.

If Beale Street Could Talk

Moonlight director Barry Jenkins tells a moving romantic story about a young woman trying to clear the name of her wrongly-accused lover before the birth of their child. The film is based on the late James Baldwin’s 1974 novel of the same name and is a stark portrayal of the harsh realities Black men face—then and now. This is available to stream on Hulu.

American Son

American Son is based on a Broadway play and is streaming on Netflix. It shows the increased tensions an estranged couple faces as they search for their missing teen son alongside indifferent police.

Get Out

If you haven’t seen Jordan Peele’s directorial debut yet, you’re in for an experience. This horror film is a fiery social critique that’s considered to be one of the best films of the 2010s. It is available for rent on Amazon.

Dear White People

Dear White People is a Netflix original series and it tells a story of a group of Black students at a predominantly white university. It’s a biting social commentary on racial discrimination, told through a massively entertaining comedic lens.