Agency and representation go hand in hand. Every group deserves to be represented without being stereotyped or fetishized. While systemic racism still stands strong, it’s slowly being torn down, like the John Wayne exhibit at USC for the actor’s history of racist behavior. The most important thing we can do to support the anti-racism movement is to support self-representation by those marginalized groups.
With shows like Insecure dominating our screens and multiple awards ceremonies, Black women are finally getting the recognition they deserve for their work in the arts. That said, it’s not just the on-screen representation that matters, but what goes on behind the scenes, specifically the person at the helm: the director. There’s been a great rise in Black women directors over the past twenty years and these are the best movies directed by them.
10 Everything, Everything
Due to a serious illness, Maddy is forced to remain within the confines of her hermetically-sealed house until her neighbor Olly brightens up her life. Communicating through text and watching each other through the windows, the two form a bond, and they soon risk it all to be together. Everything, Everything was based on the novel of the same name. Starring Amandla Stenberg and Nick Robinson as Maddy and Olly, respectively, and with Stella Meghie as director, Everything, Everything was a box office success upon release, with special appeal to young adults and teenagers.
9 Queen & Slim
Queen and Slim go out on their first date, but things don’t go according to plan. When Queen and Slim get pulled over by the police for a traffic violation, the situation escalates and Slim ends up shooting the cop in self-defense.They go on the run from the authorities as they have been deemed cop-killers until a video of the event surfaces and the two become more than just outlaws. Directed by Melina Matsoukas, Queen & Slim was inspired by stories flooding the media, especially the unlawful shooting of Trayvon Martin. The film earned Matsoukas an award from the National Board of Review for Best Directorial Debut.
8 Selma
A dramatization of the 1965 Civil Rights march from Selma to Montgomery, led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Selma was directed by Ava DuVernay. This march was revolutionary in American history and led to the Voting Rights Act being passed in 1965. Selma was a groundbreaking film upon release and received a nomination at the Academy Award for Best Picture, but only came away with the Academy Award for Best Original Song. On top of this, the film received a total of 36 awards for the outstanding performances, music and the direction from DuVernay. Selma has immortalized the march and forever preserved it for future generations to remember where they came from.
7 Harriet
Harriet is a biopic about Harriet Tubman. From her escape from slavery to her missions to free slaves using the Underground Railroad, the film follows Tubman through thick and thin as she works to free her Black brothers and sisters. Directed by Kasi Lemmons, Harriet focuses on a Black historical figure that is often forgotten under the shadow of Abraham Lincoln. Harriet Tubman’s story is one that deserves to be told, and Lemmons did a phenomenal job bringing Tubman to life in Harriet. Cynthia Erivo gained a nomination for Best Actress at the Academy Awards for her performance, and Lemmons received a nomination at the Black Reel Awards for Outstanding Director.
6 Daughters of the Dust
Former Gullah slaves finds themselves at a crossroads when each woman wants to follow a different path, finding themselves at a generational divide. Haagar wishes to move away from the traditions on Saint Helena Island and experience more of life away from their matriarch Nana. On the other hand, Yellow Mary receives a not-so-warm welcome home when she arrives at the island with her woman lover. Directed by Julie Dash, Daughter of the Dust was the first film directed by a Black woman to be distributed theatrically in the United States. In 2016, for the film’s 25th anniversary, the Cohen Media Group restored the film for a screening at the Toronto Film Festival which brought a new fan-base to the film.
5 Clemency
Prison warden at a maximum security prison, Bernadine Williams, strikes up a friendship with death row inmate Anthony Woods. The film was inspired by the 2011 execution of Troy Davis, convicted of murdering a police officer. Starring award-winning actress Alfre Woodard as Bernadine and directed by Chinonye Chukwu, Clemency examines the contradictory relationships between good intentions and the justice system, how the two often clash as not everything is black and white. Clemency earned Chukwu the Grand Jury Prize for U.S. Dramatic Competition at the Sundance Film Festival, making her the first Black woman to win the Grand Jury Prize.
4 Belle
Belle is the illegitimate mixed-race daughter of a British admiral. Despite the hatred towards her for her mixed-race status, Belle plays a key role in the abolition movement in England. Belle is inspired by the 1779 painting of Dido Elizabeth Belle and her cousin.The film is a fictionalized account of Dido Belle’s life, during which she falls in love with an aspiring lawyer, and the real life court case of the Zong massacre in which slaves were thrown overboard and the owner filed to gain from the losses. This eventually led to the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act of 1807. Belle was directed by Amma Asante, who earned a nomination for Best Director at the Black Reel Awards for her outstanding work.
3 A Dry White Season
The oldest film on this list, released in 1989, is A Dry White Season directed by Euzhan Palcy. The film follows Teacher Ben du Toit, with no interest in politics, agrees to help his Black gardener find his imprisoned son. When they discover that the gardener’s son was murdered by a corrupt policeman, Du Toit takes matters into his own hands as he advocates for justice. A Dry White Season caused quite a stir in the community and was originally banned in South Africa as the film was a threat to public order. Euzhan Palcy earned an International Recognition Award at the Durban International Film Festival for her directorial work.
2 Love & Basketball
Childhood friends Monica and Quincy share a dream of becoming pro-basketball players. While Quincy’s natural leadership and talent shines on the court, Monica has a tendency to let her emotions get the best of her. Love & Basketball is a simple but heart-warming story, written and directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood. Love & Basketball saw a great deal of success both from the box-office and the critics. It won a total of 12 awards, including the Black Reel Award for Best Film. The film also received backing from well-known director Spike Lee who acted as the main producer on the film.
1 The Secret Life of Bees
Based on the novel of the same name, The Secret Life of Bees follows young Lily who runs away from her abusive father. With her friend and caregiver by her side, Lily makes it to South Carolina where she meets the Boatwright sisters. The sisters teach her about beekeeping and honey, all while Lily discovers more and more about her late mother. Another directorial installation by Gina Prince-Bythewood, The Secret Life of Bees stars Queen Latifah, Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson, Sophie Okonedo and even Alicia Keys as the main cast for this soul-searching journey. The Secret Life of Bees won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Motion Picture.