It’s the start of one of the most influential months in our history: Black History Month. Black history is such a big part of America today. With Harriet Tubman and the underground railroad, Rosa Parks and her refusal to sit in the back of the bus, Jackie Robinson being one of the first major league Negro baseball players on an all-white team, and integrated schools, there are many reasons to celebrate the accomplishments of African Americans this month, and every month. It is important that we recognize these people and these moments so that we understand the discrimination but also the importance that this has on African American culture today.  

It is no secret that we don’t learn much about African American history in schools. We learn about public figures like Martin Luther King Jr. But we never go into full detail as to why he is so important and what he meant for African Americans all around the world. However, you don’t need to rely on school to teach you these things when we have the media. One good way to learn about African American history, and get ready for Black History Month, is through movies. 

There’s a couple of movies out there that give a good representation of these important moments in history. The Color Purple, which can be streamed free on Tubi, tells the story of an African American woman living in the south and how she survived the incredible abuse and bigotry. To Kill a Mockingbird is the story about a man named Atticus Finch, a white lawyer defending a Black man against fabricated rape charges in the 1960’s. Harriet, which can be streamed free on Peacock, is the story of Harriet Tubman and how she freed the slaves with the underground railroad. 42, which can be streamed on HBO Max, is the story of Jackie Robinson who was the first major league Negro baseball to play on the Brooklyn Dodgers. Hidden Figures, which can be streamed on Disney +, is the story of three African American woman who work for NASA and end up having a very big impact on the space mission of Mercury-Atlas 6.  

There are so many more movies out there that can give you just a small taste of what it was like for African Americans back then. These movies are so influential to American History because it is important to understand what went on in the past. If you do watch these movies, make sure to take everything in. Remember the names, remember the stories. Keep these moments in mind so that, as a country, we can progress as one. As influential as this moment is, no one wants a repeat of history.