The best slavery movies on Netflix provoke strong emotions and feelings. Many films are based on literature or slave accounts that recount their voyages.
The fundamental goal of such documentaries is to educate the public about the carnage perpetrated by slave owners.
And raise awareness of previous crimes to prevent history from repeating itself.
Some of the best slavery movies on Netflix for Black History Month are;
1. Django Unchained (2012)
The 2012 film Django Unchained, directed by Quentin Tarantino, is not based on a true story, but it uses historical aspects to convey the story of Django, Schultz, and Candie.
Furthermore, the film is set two years before the Civil War in the American South.
It follows Django, a slave who is freed and taught as a bounty hunter by Dr. King Schultz, a German-born doctor who is outraged by the South’s bigoted customs.
Jamie Foxx, Leonardo DiCaprio, Christoph Waltz, Samuel L. Jackson, and Kerry Washington starred in Django Unchained.
2. Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (2013)
When the law under the Apartheid system’s cruel oppression proved ineffectual for his people, Nelson Mandela joined the African National Congress in the 1940s.
Additionally, following the Sharpeville Massacre forced him and his companions to abandon peaceful protests in favor of violent resistance.
Mandela pays the price when he and his comrades are condemned to life in jail for treason, while his wife, Winnie, is abused by the government.
Furthermore, Mandela’s spirit has remained unbowed during his decades in captivity, while his struggle continued in and beyond his confinement to become an international cause.
It stars Idris Elba, Naomi Harris, Terry Pheto, Robert Hobbis, and Tony Kgorode.
3. 13th (2016)
13th is one of the best slavery movies on Netflix for Black History Month. The film begins by asserting that the United States houses 25% of the world’s jailed population.
Although the United States has only 5% of the world’s population. The film “13th” depicts the exponential expansion of America’s jail population; in 1970, there were over 200,000 inmates; today, there are over 2 million.
However, the documentary covers many topics, including chattel slavery, D. W. Griffith’s film “The Birth of a Nation,” Emmett Till, and the civil rights movement, specifically the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Richard M. Nixon and Ronald Reagan’s declaration of war on drugs, among others.
Melina Abdullah, Michelle Alexander, Cory Booker, Dolores Canales, and Gina Clayton starred in 13th.
4. The Black GodFather (2019)
It is impossible to tell the story of Black America without including its influence on all forms of entertainment, regardless of genre.
Though many power brokers made their impact behind the scenes, few had done so as effectively as Clarence Avant.
Additionally, Reginald Hudlin’s expose reveals that the music executive was more than a check-signing machine.
Over several decades, I have mentored many artists and worked alongside civil rights activists to effect social change.
Furthermore, when the subject of another documentary dubbed him “the Black godfather,” you know he was someone.
The Godfather starred Clarence Avant, Ted Sarandos, Nicole Avant, Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, and Snoop Dog.
5. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2020)
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is one of the best slavery movies on Netflix, and you should watch it this Black History Month.
As a band of musicians awaits the legendary “Mother of the Blues,” Ma Rainey, tensions and temperatures rise during an afternoon recording session in 1920s Chicago.
Ma arrives late to the studio, bold and feisty. She instantly engages in a battle of wills with her white manager and producer over ownership of her song.
While the rest of the band waits in the studio’s cramped rehearsal area, aspiring trumpeter Levee.
Who has a thing for Ma’s girlfriend and is determined to make his mark in the music industry.
Inspires his peers to share stories that disclose facts that will change their lives forever.
The film features Viola Davis, Chadwick Boseman, Colman Domingo, and Glynn Turman.
6. I Am Not Your Negro (2017)
James Baldwin is one of history’s most influential American writers, with witty and precise critique.
Furthermore, his finished paintings capture the essence of the Black experience: agony mixed with a sense of navigating a dangerous environment.
Furthermore, Peck resurrected an unfinished Baldwin tome – a look at racism through the views of Dr. Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, and Medgar Evers – through a collection of his writings.
It features Samuel L. Jackson, Ray Charles, Harry Belafonte, Billy Dee Williams, and Dick Cavett.
7. What Happened to Miss Simone (2015)
What Happened to Miss Simone is one of the best slavery movies on Netflix.
Nina Simone was noted for her unfettered musical expression on stage, which thrilled audiences and won her life-long fans.
Simone battled to reconcile her artistic identity and aspirations with her loyalty to a movement amid the violence.
Haunting and senseless day-to-day of the civil rights era in 1960s America.
This new video, culled from hours of autobiographical records, reveals the unbridled ego of a brilliant artist and the oddities of her period.
Furthermore, Simone moved to Liberia and stopped singing at the height of her stardom, abandoning her family, country, job, and fans.
However, the account of her life before that point raises the question, “How does royalty stomp around?” The stars of this movie are Nina Simone, Lisa Simone Kelly, Roger Nupie, and George Wein.
8. Harriet (2019)
Harriet narrates the incredible story of Harriet Tubman’s escape from slavery and metamorphosis into one of America’s greatest heroes.
In addition, it is based on the thrilling and inspirational life of an iconic American freedom fighter.
Furthermore, her bravery, creativity, and tenacity resulted in the liberation of hundreds of slaves and altered the course of history.
Harriet starred Cynthia Erivo, Janelle Monae, Leslie Odom jr, Clarke Peters, and Joe Alwyn.
9. La Esclava Blanca (1985)
La Esclava Blanca is one of the best movies about slavery on Netflix. In 1821, a white orphan was adopted by black slaves in Colombia.
Furthermore, she returns to her family and childhood love years after being wrenched from them.
The movie features Yvonne Manuel, Mabel Escano, Jose Miguel Garcia, and Llamas.
10. 12 Years a Slave (2013)
This Black History Month, you should watch 12 Years a Slave, one of the best slavery films on Netflix.
It is based on the true story of one man’s struggle for survival and liberty. Solomon Northup, a free Black man from upstate New York, was kidnapped and sold into slavery in the United States before the Civil War.
Additionally, Solomon fights not only to stay alive but also to maintain his dignity, as he is confronted with violence embodied by a wicked slave owner, as well as unexpected kindnesses.
Besides, Solomon’s unexpected meeting with a Canadian abolitionist in the twelfth year of his epic journey will forever change his life.
Starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Kenneth, Brad Pitt, and Dwight Henry.
11. High On Hug (2021)
American food is black food. In this docuseries, chef and writer Stephen Satterfield follows the delectable and stirring traditions from Africa to Texas.
Top cast members include Adrian Miller, Stephen Satterfield, Ben Harney, and Michael Twitty.
12. I Am Ali (2014)
I Am Ali is one of the best slavery movies on Netflix. It is a heartfelt and intimate look at the man behind the legend as we’ve never seen him before.
Ali’s personal vault of ‘audio journals’ includes heartwarming interviews and testimonials from his inner circle of family and friends.
This includes his daughters, son, brother, and former wife, as well as boxing legends such as Mike Tyson, George Foreman, and Gene Kilroy.
It stars Mohammed Ali, Gene Kilroy, Odessa Clay, and Rahman Ali.
13. For Love of Liberty (2010)
This High Definition PBS miniseries uses letters, diaries, speeches, journalistic stories, historical text, and military documents to commemorate.
And acknowledge the sacrifices and accomplishments of African-American servicemen and women since the founding of the republic.
Furthermore, the story covers the Revolution in Iraq and explains why these brave men and women fought so heroically for freedoms they did not have.
This concludes our list of the best slavery movies on Netflix for Black History Month. Please take time to watch at least one of these movies.
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