Juneteenth (Freedom Day, Liberation Day, Jubilee Day, or Emancipation Day) is one of those celebrations that I’ve always heard about, though I’ve never been surrounded by the festivities. It’s marks the end of slavery, and it’s been happening every year on June 19, 1865. I love to explore history, and I’m fascinated by what this event represents and how it has unfolded, as a part of Black history and culture. It’s also the perfect time to watch (or re-watch) those epic movies about Black History.
Movies to Watch on Juneteenth
There are so many that I’d love to share, but I’ve tried to highlight some of the best representations of Juneteenth and Black History. Because they are SO great, it’s possible that you’ve heard about or maybe even seen some of these. Watch them again and tell a friend about it! They’re worth sharing.
Juneteenth: A Celebration of Overcoming (Hulu)
This 42-minute Juneteenth documentary aired on ABC News last year (2020). It’s the perfect introduction (or really reminder) of what racial equality is all about. But, if you want to watch more, you can also see the all-new Juneteenth: Together We Triumph special on ABC.
The two-hour 2021 documentary features music by Leon Bridges, Chloe Bailey, and Jimmy Allen. But Good Morning America co-anchor Michael Strahan’s exclusive interview with Barack Obama is one of the most compelling features, along with stories about Black farmers, businesses, and artists.
Miss Juneteenth (BET)
Miss Juneteenth is another great movie to watch to celebrate emancipation, the end of slavery. It follows a single mom, Turquoise Jones (Nicole Beharie), who’s also a former beauty queen. Her daughter, Kai (Alexis Chikaeze), is a 15-year-old who just wants to be part of the dance crew, while her mother wants her to win the Miss Juneteenth pageant and the accompanying college scholarship. It’s a compelling story about resilience and even hope, with a mother-daughter bond that makes it all worthwhile.
Emancipation Road (tubi)
Emancipation Road follows the history of slavery in America, with its beginnings in the 17th century through the 400,000 slave owners to final freedom in the Civil War. It was a span of some 250 years, and it was in a land that was founded on the inalienable right of man to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Yet, four million men, women, and children were enslaved.
Monster (Netflix)
Monster was first released as a book by Walter Dean Myer. The movie follows the life and trial of Steve Harmon (Kelvin Harrrison, Jr.), a smart, young kid who was charged with the murder of a bodega owner.
Anita (Amazon Prime)
Anita Hill was a young, brilliant African-American lawyer when she was called to testify for the confirmation hearing of Clarence Thomas, for the Supreme Court Justice seat. It was a firestorm, undercutting what appeared to be a slam-dunk for Thomas, but also helping to publicize the experiences of women in the workplace who experience unwanted and highly offensive sexual overtures.
Just Mercy (Amazon Prime)
Just Mercy is a biographical legal drama about Bryan Stevenson (Michael B. Jordan), a civil rights attorney who fights for justice, not only by representing those individuals who aren’t able to afford a lawyer, but also with his advocacy via the Equal Justice Initiative. You can also check out True Justice: Bryan Stevenson’s Fight for Equality on HBO to learn more about his work.
What About the TV?
The movies have more time to explore the topics of Juneteenth and Black History, but some TV shows have offered a different, more current perspective on how Juneteenth figures into our everyday experience.
black-ish (ABC)
In Season 4, the “Juneteenth” musical episode has Dre (Anthony Anderson) honoring freedom and the end of slavery as a way to bring us all together. It reminds me of Schoolhouse Rock, but (of course), it highlights historical inaccuracies as well. This particular episode is also one of the reasons the show won those Emmy nominations. Eight episodes of the TV series are scheduled to be aired on FX, FXX, FXM.
Atlanta (FX)
The “Juneteenth” episode on Atlanta drew attention to the celebratory nature of Juneteenth events, while adding their bit of satirical spin. As a series, it’s about two men, who are hoping to break into the rap scene in Atlanta. Eight episodes of the TV series are scheduled to be aired on FX, FXX, FXM.
If you’ve not yet experienced these movies, documentaries, and TV shows, go watch them! Then, let us know what you think about them below in the comments!
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