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black history month

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BLACK HISTORY MONTH One-A-Day Movie Watch 2022

Jennifer Merin ,

Listed in alphabetical order, AWFJ presents the titles of 28 watch-worthy movies, a one-a-day selection of films to view during February 2022. We also suggest several double bills for binging. Our compendium of titles was selected from hundreds of the beautifully crafted, relevant and relatable films that elucidate Black experiences, tell stories of Black lives and illuminate Black history — and represent recent trending and best productions about Black history and culture. We chose films that represent a variety of diverse perspectives as expressed in both obscure titles and blockbusters, covering genres ranging from romcom to horror, from sci fi fantasy to biopic and documentary, with release dates ranging from 1920 to the present.

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Reviews 

THE BLOOD OF JESUS (1941) – Retroview by Marilyn Ferdinand

Marilyn Ferdinand (Archived Contributor) , , , , ,

Among the creators of the race films that brought stories by and about African Americans to segregated Black audiences from the 1920s through the 1940s, Spencer Williams holds a prominent place. He acted in 33 films, including the 13 films he directed, and made the most of his low budgets and largely unskilled actors, showing impressive growth in technique, storytelling, and versatility as he worked. The Blood of Jesus was the first feature film he directed and shows what a formidable talent he was.

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Reviews 

WITHIN OUR GATES (1920) – Retroview by Diane Carson

Diane Carson , , , ,

An extraordinary, early twentieth-century entrepreneur, Oscar Micheaux wrote, produced, directed, and exhibited what were then called race films. From 1919’s The Homesteader (now considered lost) to 1948’s The Betrayal, Micheaux’s forty productions explicitly addressed contemporary issues in a Jim Crow era. The earliest surviving feature by an African-American director, Within Our Gates (1920), tackles subjects still relevant and dramatically presented.

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Reviews 

JUST ANOTHER GIRL ON THE I.R.T. (1992) – Retroview by Diane Carson

Diane Carson , , , ,

Feisty and fantastic, Chantel is much more than Just Another Girl on the I.R.T. And the film, written, produced, and directed by Leslie Harris is much more as well, shifting our point of view to that of seventeen-year-old Chantel Mitchell who has definite ideas about her future. She has spunk, determination, and strength, along with an in-your-face assertiveness. Informed by Harris’ hours of interviews at the Brooklyn Teen Pregnancy Center, events express real-world perspectives and challenges. As Chantel, Ariyan A. Johnson is as believable as she is charismatic, resolute, and confident.

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Commentaries 

Reflecting on Black History Month – Jazz Tangcay reports

Jazz Tangcay 0 Comments , , , , , , ,

Director Kasi Lemmons says, “I celebrate black history all year.” For the Harriet and Self Made director and other African American film artists, Black History Month isn’t just about February, it’s every day. In a series of guest columns, Ruth Carter, Karin Gist, Robin Thede and Lemmons are among the artists who contributed to Variety’s spotlight on Black History Month.

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