Films about American discrimination delve into the various forms of prejudice and exclusion faced by different groups of people in the United States. These films often explore themes of racism, sexism, and marginalization, reflecting historical and contemporary struggles for equality and justice. Through powerful storytelling and character development, these films aim to raise awareness, provoke thought, and inspire change.
“Malcolm X”, 1992
Director: Spike Lee
Directed by Spike Lee, this biographical film chronicles the life and evolution of Malcolm X, an African-American Muslim minister and human rights activist who fought for racial equality.
Starring: Denzel Washington, Angela Bassett, Albert Hall, Al Freeman Jr., Delroy Lindo, Spike Lee, Theresa Randle, Kate Vernon, Lonette McKee, Tommy Hollis;
Production year: 1992;
Genre: drama, biography, history;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 202 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,7;
“Mississippi Burning”, 1988
Director: Alan Parker
A crime thriller inspired by true events, focusing on the investigation of the murders of three civil rights workers in the heart of the American South during the 1960s.
Starring: Gene Hackman, Willem Dafoe, Frances McDormand, Brad Dourif, R. Lee Ermey, Gailard Sartain, Stephen Tobolowsky, Michael Rooker, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Badja Djola;
Production year: 1988;
Genre: thriller, drama, crime, detective, history;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 128 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,8;
More information about the film “Mississippi Burning” on the website imdb.com
“Crash”, 2004
Director: Paul Haggis
This film explores racial and social tensions in Los Angeles, weaving together disparate stories of individuals from various ethnic backgrounds as their lives intersect.
Starring: Don Cheadle, Matt Dillon, Ryan Phillippe, Terrence Howard, Sandra Bullock, Thandiwe Newton, Brendan Fraser, Michael Peña, Shaun Toub, Ludacris;
Production year: 2004;
Genre: thriller, drama, crime;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 112 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,7;
“Selma”, 2014
Director: Ava DuVernay
A historical drama that portrays the 1965 Selma to Montgomery voting rights marches led by Martin Luther King Jr., and the struggle against violent opposition to secure equal voting rights.
Starring: David Oyelowo, Carmen Ejogo, Tom Wilkinson, Tim Roth, Lorraine Toussaint, Common, Giovanni Ribisi, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Oprah Winfrey, Cuba Gooding Jr.;
Production year: 2014;
Genre: drama, biography, history;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 128 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,5;
More information about the film “Selma” on the website imdb.com
“The Help”, 2011
Director: Tate Taylor
Set in the early 1960s, this film follows a young white writer and her relationship with two black maids, exposing the racism they face in their daily lives working for white families in Mississippi.
Starring: Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Bryce Dallas Howard, Octavia Spencer, Jessica Chastain, Ahna O'Reilly, Allison Janney, Sissy Spacek, Cicely Tyson, Mary Steenburgen;
Production year: 2011;
Genre: drama;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 146 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,1;
More information about the film “The Help” on the website imdb.com
“Hidden Figures”, 2016
Director: Theodore Melfi
Telling the untold story of three African-American female mathematicians who played a crucial role in NASA during the early years of the U.S. space program, overcoming substantial racial and gender discrimination.
Starring: Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monae, Kevin Costner, Kirsten Dunst, Jim Parsons, Mahershala Ali, Aldis Hodge, Glen Powell, Kimberly Quinn;
Production year: 2016;
Genre: drama, biography, history;
MPAA rating: pg;
Duration: 127 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,8;
More information about the film “Hidden Figures” on the website imdb.com
“12 Years a Slave”, 2013
Director: Steve McQueen
A historical drama based on the autobiography of Solomon Northup, a free African-American man who was kidnapped and sold into slavery in the 19th century.
Starring: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Lupita Nyong'o, Sarah Paulson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Brad Pitt, Paul Dano, Paul Giamatti, Alfre Woodard, Adepero Oduye;
Production year: 2013;
Genre: drama, biography, history;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 133 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,1;
“American History X”, 1998
Director: Tony Kaye
This film explores themes of racism and redemption through the story of a former neo-Nazi skinhead trying to prevent his younger brother from going down the same wrong path.
Starring: Edward Norton, Edward Furlong, Beverly D'Angelo, Jennifer Lien, Ethan Suplee, Fairuza Balk, Avery Brooks, Elliott Gould, Stacy Keach, William Russ;
Production year: 1998;
Genre: drama, crime;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 119 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,5;
More information about the film “American History X” on the website imdb.com
“Do the Right Thing”, 1989
Director: Spike Lee
Another Spike Lee film that deals with a day in the life of a Brooklyn neighborhood experiencing racial tensions that culminate in violence and a tragic outcome.
Starring: Spike Lee, Danny Aiello, John Turturro, Richard Edson, Ossie Davis, Giancarlo Esposito, Bill Nunn, Rosie Perez, Ruby Dee, Roger Guenveur Smith;
Production year: 1989;
Genre: drama, comedy;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 120 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8;
More information about the film “Do the Right Thing” on the website imdb.com
These films showcase varying perspectives on discrimination, inviting viewers to reflect on the pervasive impact of prejudice and the ongoing struggle for equality and justice in American society.
In conclusion, films about American discrimination offer audiences a mirror to the past and a lens through which to examine the present. These cinematic works, ranging from the brutal verisimilitude of “12 Years a Slave” to the stirring rhetorical heights of “The Great Debaters,” not only recount the stories of struggle but also celebrate the resilience and courage of those who fought against the grain of systemic injustice. By bringing to life the individual and collective fights against discrimination, these films serve as crucial educational tools that provoke discussion, inspire empathy, and ignite a passion for social justice. They remind us that the arc of the moral universe does indeed bend towards justice, but not without the collective push of society to bend it. As artists continue to explore and expose the multifaceted nature of discrimination in America through film, they provide us with both a reminder of the work still to be done and a testimony to the enduring spirit of those who strive for equality and inclusion.
