Top five black empowerment films to watch
Sanaa Lathan depicts Violet Jones in the Netflix original “Nappily Ever After.”
February 24, 2019
To end off this year’s Black History Month, here are some shows and movies that showcase black empowerment.
Cast: Oprah Winfrey, Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover
Based on Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “The Color Purple,” Steven Spielberg’s film adaptation grants viewers a glimpse of the harsh reality of surviving a sexist, racist, abusive household as a black woman in early 20th century Georgia. Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey are among some of the actresses the highly-nominated film boasts.
Cast: Sanaa Lathan, Ricky Whittle, Lynn Whitfield
Starring Sanaa Lathan, an Ad executive begins a new journey to rebuild who she is after shaving off her glorified hair during a personal breakdown. The film explores themes of natural beauty, love and black women empowerment.
Cast: Genevieve Nnaji, Nkem Owoh, Pete Edochie
When her father becomes ill, Adaeze’s uncle becomes the new Chief of the family business. She proves her value in a male-dominated world in a struggle to stabilize the business.
“The Wiz”
Cast: Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Ted Ross, Nipsey Russell
Released in 1978, “The Wiz” features an all-black cast in its take on the original “The Wizard of Oz.” Dorothy, a Harlem schoolteacher, magically ends up in Oz, embarking on a journey to return home.
Cast: Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson, Queen Latifah, Alicia Keys, Sophie Okonedo
As a teenager girl, Lily Owens and her caregiver escape her abusive father in search of secrets behind her late mother’s past. Owens meets the Boatwright sister who teaches her about beekeeping, honey and the Black Madonna.
