First celebrated in the UK in 1987, Black History Month is marked annually by the month of October. During this time, we recognise and value the inspirational people that have shaped the black generation and our society today.
Here, we take a look at a selection of films that were inspired by these individuals and events:
- Selma: David Oyelowo stars as Martin Luther King as he campaigns to secure equal voting rights via an epic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965.
- Amistad: Directed by Steven Spielberg Amistad is set on the 1839 mutiny aboard the slave ship La Amistad where Cinqué, a leader of the Africans takes over.
- 12 Years a Slave: Awarded the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture the film follows Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York, who is abducted and sold into slavery.
- The Help: Set in the civil rights movement of the 1960s an aspiring author decides to write a book detailing the African-American maids' point of view on the white families for which they work.
- The Butler: As Cecil Gaines serves eight presidents during his tenure as a butler at the White House, the civil rights movement, Vietnam, and other major events affect his life and the American society.
- The Blind Side: The story follows Michael Oher, a homeless African American boy who becomes an All American football player with the help of a caring woman (Sandra Bullock) and her family.
For more titles celebrating Black History Month, click here