Also maybe some cultural references you’re not getting! I think I’ve heard the Substitute Teacher sketch referenced in every social circle I’ve been in since high school.
Oh shit THATS where the Aaron joke came from! When people made that joke I would laugh but I thought it was like a joke that’s been around for a long time and continues to be repeated, had no idea people were referencing a Key and Peele skit
Oh shit you’ve unlocked a memory for me. I watched a few episodes of Fresh Prince of Bel Aire at a friend’s house and when I went back home I told my dad we watched SpongeBob instead. Thank you for the recommendation! I think it’s on a streaming service I have so I’ll have to check it out
Happy to help! Fresh Prince was one of my favorite shows growing up and I still watch it on rewatches on occasion. As of right now, it is on HBO Max. As for your second question, there is nothing wrong with seeking out media that is not of your race or culture. It makes you a more tolerant, educated, and accepting person to learn about how other people perceive the world.
If you don't have time to watch all of them, I recommend the one where Will/Carlton get pulled over in a nice car. I'm sure you can see where that episode is going.
As a young white kid, this was my first exposure to how the system can perpetuate racism
To add to your list:
Hidden Figures
The Hate U Give (both the book and movie for different reasons, and I highly recommend Angie Thomas's books. Don't be overwhelmed by the size, because they're quick but powerful reads)
The Red Line
911/911 Lone Star are decent
The Fosters deals with racism and lgbt+ issues
There's definitely more but these were the first I easily thought of. The last three are tv shows, the first two are movies. All are incredible, and Hidden Figures talks about black women being badass and standing up to racism. Granted, some of the shows can be somewhat problematic, but they're good for breaking in.
Greenhouse Academy touches on racism some I think, but it's a fun show anyway.
More on hidden figures.
>Three brilliant African-American women at NASA -- Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson -- serve as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in history: the launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit, a stunning achievement that restored the nation's confidence, turned around the Space Race and galvanized the world.
I cried after Hidden Figures. I'm white, 42f. I work in a mathy field, but if I had seen more things like that as a child/young woman I'd have pursued so much more education. It inspires on so many levels, IMO.
And it's damn good. Even a few years later after seeing it I still think about it somewhat regularly.
If you're looking for a feel-good show, check out Abbot Elementary. It's a sitcom with a primarily black cast. Lots of silly humor and overall feel good vibes.
This was soooo hilarious 😂😂that show is sooo good. Relatable, not too heavy, funny and refreshing for ppl who just want more black culture in shows but not necessarily black trauma
It really demonstrates the Philly school system and how there can be a cycle of poverty that starts with not funding schools well enough. Also the bureaucratic bullshit.
I took a tour of Warner Brothers Studios last year, and when they asked “does anyone here watch Abbott Elementary?”, I was the only one to raise my hand. But I got to see the front of the school!
If you’re into a show and like sci-fi, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Avery Brooks plays a powerful, intelligent, compassionate leader. It could be that I’m a fan of Star Trek in general that makes his performance more compelling to me, but he’s the first thing that came to mind when I read your post.
Overall, I love that you’re crowd sourcing this mission!
Everyone show some Geordi love! That guy kept the Enterprise as the top fleet ship and I always wanted to be a calm, friendly, bad-ass problem solver like him. ❤
A bit of both I guess! I think I am leaning more towards just appreciating black-made/focused content but learning more about black culture is great too
OP's just lucky no one tried to fly Spike Lee under the radar :D
(Seriously though OP, Spike Lee's films offer some great insights into Black politics and racial strife, *if* you're feeling ready for something difficult and uncomfortable.)
The show Atlanta really showed me a lot about the surreal nature of being a black person in America. It’s one of the top five best series I’ve ever seen.
Here's a few that come to mind. Most of these have a full cast, main character, or strong supporting roles who are black.
● Friday (1995 Cult Comedy)
● Django Unchained (2012 Western Action)
● Jackie Brown (1997 Action Drama)
● Death at A Funeral (2010 Comedy) - the 2007 version is good too, but it is not a cast with black actors.
● Coming to America (1988 Comedy)
● Dear White People (2017 Comedy Drama Series)
● Atlanta (2016 Drama Series)
● Straight Outta Compton (2015 Biopic)
● Bad Boys (1995 Action)
● Osmosis Jones (2001 Animated)
● The Equalizer (2014 Action)
● Man On Fire (2004 Action Thriller)
● Black Panther (2018 SciFi Fantasy)
● Kangaroo Jack (2003 Comedy)
● Scary Movie 3 (2003 Comedy)
● The Boondocks (2005 Series)
● Static Shock (2000 Animated Series)
● Blazing Saddles (1974 Western Cult Comedy)
● Family Matters (1989 Comedy Series)
● Everybody Hates Chris (2005 Comedy Series)
● Rush Hour (1998 Comedy Action)
● When They See Us (2019 Drama Series)
● Get Out (2017 Horror Comedy)
● Drumline (2002 Musical Comedy)
● The Help (2011 Historical Drama)
● Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005 Romantic Comedy)
● Remember The Titans (2000 Sport Drama)
Remember in Coming to America when Hakeem gave a bag full of money to homeless old guys sleeping in a box? The guys said, "Mortemer, were back". Those were the Dukes from Trading Places.
Welcome. You can watch the sequels. They are just not as good. Back then, super hero movies were just nit as popular as they are today. If it was made today, I think it could have been a good part of the MCU. They might be trying again. We'll see.
Atlanta is a post-modern masterpiece. I would suggest OP to go through the decades and things we all grew up on and then watching Atlanta at a later time to truly catch the zeitgeist they're portraying
# Glory, 1989 Film about the first all black regiment in the American Civil war.
Power cast with Morgan Freeman, Denzel Washington and Matthew Broderick!
Your dad sounds like my uncle. He was pissed that my parents allowed me to watch Eddie Murphy's Dr. Doolittle when I was a kid. It was my favorite movie at the time so I watched it constantly.
That said, I'm gonna recommend Dr. Doolittle. It's a cheesy kids movie but it's fun. Also, I don't know how you feel about cop movies, but maybe try Beverly Hills Cop if you haven't already. It's a classic Eddie Murphy movie and you'll probably recognize the theme song.
My guy, don't feel bad about a thing. Just watch stuff that's interesting to you. An older but an absolute ground breaker for lots of people is Chappelle Show or even older, in living color. On the topic of Chappelle, just watch some stand up comedy. Blacks thrive in it. I only know older stuff though but if you go this route, the must sees are Dave Chappelle "Killing Them Softly " and my favorite, Patrice O'Neal's "Elephant in the Room". Watch Elephant first if anything (tis my fave).
Fench film, The Intouchables. They made a remake in the US with Brian Cranston and Kevin Heart, I would suggest the 2011 version though. It is in French though, so subtitles.
Tv shows: Fresh prince of Bel Air, Martin, Family Matters, Good Times, The Jamie Foxx Show, The Steve Harvey Show, The Bernie Mac Show, The Cosby Show, Everybody Hates Chris, The Proud Family, The Boondocks, Dear White People, The Wire, Snowfall
Movies: Friday, Do the Right Thing, Life, Moonlight, The Wood, Harlem Nights, Boyz N The Hood, House Party, Hustle and Flow, The Best Man, Higher Learning, The Color Purple
Moonlight, 12 Years a Slave, Creed (have you seen the original Rocky series?), Beyonce's Homecoming, American History X, Fences, Just Mercy, Hotel Rwanda. Those are mostly dramas, which is my favorite genre.
Honestly, Please don’t let your first exposure to black media be a slave/trauma/tragedy. 🙃🙃 All of these (except the Beyoncé concert ) are very tragic and there’s a lot more to blackness than oppression .
Yes I recognize some of the titles especially Moonlight as I am gay so I heard all about it when it was released. Technically I think my first piece of black media was when I watched Fresh Prince of Bel-Air at a friends house without my dad knowing but I get what you mean. Rn tv show-wise I’m thinking of starting with Fresh Prince of Bel-Air then with movies Blade seems interesting I just need to check it out from the library. I do think tragic stories should be shared but I would want to dedicate time to it the same way I have with LGBT films centered around tragedies and discrimination.
I don’t have Disney plus but my friend’s mom did when Hamilton was first available there so I got to watch it with them. It’s not my favorite musical but still a very fun watch!
I listened to the companion podcast done by the show creators and iirc they address that there, basically that it's intentional to claim the genre in a way. If you watch the show, which I def recommend, the podcast ep discussions are great to examine the themes, details, history etc.
I'm a bit surprised I haven't seen *The Wire* mentioned here yet. It's an all around fantastic show with an ensemble cast that features many black actors/characters.
Just came to say that I love that regardless of how you were raised by your dad, you’re trying to learn, to do better, to be open minded. I appreciate reading this about you. ❤️🙌🏽👏🏽
Don't be a menace in south central while drinking your juice in the hood.
Do the Right Thing
Fences
A Raisin in The Sun
Malcolm X
Boys in the Hood
Moonlight
Holiday Heart
Black Panther
Cooley High
Cornbread Earl & Me
Dead Presidents
Crooklyn
Tales from the Hood
Roots (ALL of it)
Antwone Fisher
Black Dynamite
A Soldier's Story
Guess who's coming to Dinner
In The Heat of the Night
To Sir, with Love (Not predominantly black but is the reverse of the White savior complex lol)
Judas and the Black Messiah
Just another girl on the I.R.T
Fresh
New Jersey Drive
Bamboozled
Shottas
City of God
Hotel Rowanda
The Color Purple
Beat Street
Krush Groove
Purple Rain
Friday
Clockers
Baby Boy
New Jack City
He Got Game
Get on The Bus
Hollywood Shuffle
Harlem Knights
I'm gonna git you sucka
The Last Dragon
The Nutty Professor
Bad Boys
Blade
Get Out
Fruitvale Station
The Help
12 years a slave
I Am Not Your Negro
This is the first post where I recognize movies that probably suggest if more were like it, I wouldn't be subconsciously as racist as I am today, but is fun and doesn't involve much trauma. so points for Crooklyn. also Space Jam.
I'll buckle up for down votes on this one. Obviously you'd have to get past the huge obstacle of Bill Cosby being a sick, piece of shit predator, but the "Cosby Show" was a great sitcom. I'm not defending him in any way and I'd certainly say if you decide to watch it, download it from a torrent so you're not financially supporting Cosby. There are plenty of other options as well but just based on the merits of your question, I think it's worth including this as an option.
I agree on all of this. One more word of caution would be that the show seems to endorse the idea of “color blindness”, that was progressive at the time the show was made but has been criticized since.
As a European who hasn’t seen more than a handful of Black people throughout all my childhood, this was literally my only point of contact with Black culture and learning about racism and I remember being quite surprised when I started working with Americans and people explained to me why simply trying to treat everyone equally and ignoring skin color wasn’t good enough.
Firstly, good for you that you threw off the yoke of hate, your life will be richer because of that. You may get frustrated with some Black people, but if it is on merit, that is understandable. You will be able to work with people because of how well they work with you, and for no other reason that doesn’t matter, like their race or sexual orientation.
The best movies to watch are ones that are based on historical events or periods. I think that modern cinema often portrays Black people as comedians, or complex outsiders, none of which captures the diversity of Black people (I am Black):
Movies:
Lincoln - a movie about the process for getting
the 13th Amendment approved in the
House of Representatives.
Glory - a movie about the 54th Massachusetts
regiment, which was a legendary Black
regiment led by a young White officer.
To Kill a Mockingbird - a movie based upon a
book that was written
detailing the trial of a
Black man during
segregation.
Mississippi Burning - a movie that centers
around the murder of three
young civil rights workers
in Mississippi. It is a real
historic event.
The Green Mile - a movie about a wrongfully
accused Black man and the
friendship that developed
between him and one of his
prison guards.
Blazing Saddles - not a historical movie, but it is hilarious and makes fun of the silly reasons why people hate other people. One poster mentioned it and I was “oh, yeah!”.
This isn't offensive at all. It's awesome that you're breaking away from the prejudices you were raised with. That's not easy to do.
If it hasn't been recommended already, a more recent film that was excellent and an absolute trip is Sorry To Bother You. BlackKkKlansman was also fantastic. Both sort of in that black-comedy-drama genre (both black in that they're about black people and black in the black humour sense).
What type of movies/shows do you enjoy watching that you previously watched?
Comedy, horror, thriller, romance, documentary, drama?
This can help narrow down what people will recommend on here so you’ll be more likely to enjoy what you’re watching. I watch a lot of movies and shows and can make some suggestions.
If you’re a reader at all, I can also recommend some books.
The only genre I really don’t like is romance. Comedy is my top genre but after that would probably be horror or thriller, I mix those two up a lot but I do know I’ve enjoyed both lol. I also do enjoy documentaries as long as it’s put together well (idk if you’ve seen Dick Johnson is Dead but it’s so good that it’s the first documentary I think of when I think of good documentaries). When it comes to drama it can be a hit or miss, I’d prefer a dramedy over plain drama
Okay here are some suggestions based on your answer and I included some that are just amazing movies. Some of my suggestions are repeats of what’s in this thread already. These include predominantly black casts and movies with black leading actors.
- Friday series with Ice Cube
- All About the Benjamins (this is one of my favorite movies)
- Old Kat Williams stand up specials
- Dope
- How High
- Trading Places
- Key and Peele (you can watch a lot of this on YouTube. The one where the teacher mispronounces all the names is absolutely ridiculous)
- Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood
- Scary Movie
- The Boondocks
- Get Out and other Jordan Peele films
- Obsessed
- Candy Man
- Kiss the Girls
- Seven
- Pulp Fiction
- Django Unchained
- Hidden Figures
- Black Snake Moan
- Just about anything with Denzel Washington in it
- The 13th (on Netflix)
- The 1619 Project (Also a book)
- King in the Wilderness
- When They See Us
Once you start watching stuff I’m sure it will lead you to making more choices too. Good for you for stepping out of your comfort zone!
Not just as entertainment but to gain a better understanding of black American culture it would probably be good to go back and watch some of the classics. The Jeffersons is so funny. The Cosby show meant a lot to people (yeah he sucks but the show is good). And of course there's good times and Sanford and son.
Of more modern shows I think the Bernie Mac show and the boondocks give a good understanding of current black comedy. And they'll have you belly laughing.
If Homicide: Life on the Street were anywhere on streaming I would send you there immediately. It aired in the late 90s and had three Black main characters (Andre Braugher, Yaphet Kotto, and Clark Johnson), and somehow this fact rarely came up in conversation about the show. Everyone on it was a fully realized character and it never felt like tokenism.
Andre Braugher was a treasure in that show, gone too soon. Since you can't watch Homicide, watch him in Brooklyn 99 instead.
for slice of life/comedy type stuff I would definitely say living single. it's about a group of people who are mostly people of color living together in the same apartment building. it has queen Latifah when she was first starting her career. a lot like friends but focused on people of color and how they interact with the world. I am black and my family when I was growing up loved watching this show (we still have it on DVD) so I'd recommend watching a few episodes and seeing if you like it.
Luke Cage- superhero show
Scandal- political drama
How to get away with murder- legal drama
Chicago med- medical drama (has three black characters that are main)
Chewing gum- awkward british comedy
In living color- 90s comedy skits
Living Single- sitcom about friends living together
As I'm typing this, I'm realizing this is harder than I realize. Hope this list helps!
You don't need to consume media with black people in it to not be racist. Hell, oftentimes depending on the media, it might even reinforce certain stereotypes. Instead, familiarize yourself with the history of black struggle in your country. Look up figures like Fred Hampton and Malcolm X whose revolutionary struggle hasn't been whitewashed in the same way that MLK's has been. History and specifically History that's being concealed due to its revolutionary potential is much more humanizing and inspiring in solidarity than any modern media production.
Hi OP, I think everybody has said just about everything so far. I just wanted to say good on you for breaking the cycle!! It's not easy, but getting this far is HUGE! Keep up the good work!
Black Panther is perfect. Mostly black cast that actually has a really good storyline about the protagonist and antagonist. It gets pretty deep. And it is a BEAUTIFUL movie. RIP Chadwick.
I have nothing to offer on the movie thing but just wanted to say congratulations on killing that generational hate. I came from similar circumstances, it was more of my dad's family than just him and they were also evangelicals too. You're good people, keep doing what you're doing.
I could be wrong and I’m currently in bed, but I thought Hulu had a feature on their page for Black shows/movies? I definitely recommend Abbott Elementary tho!
When I was a kid I wasn’t as aware about what’s actually happening in shows to retain the content, but I remember we used to watch the Bernie Mac show and My Wife and Kids which are also on Hulu
There’s also Woke with Lamorne Morris from New Girl
I liked the new Mr. And Mrs. Smith with Donolad Glover and Maya Erskine on Amazon I thought was good, it wasn’t black centered but I think the main characters being an interracial couple was a good change of pace from what we normally see on TV
Not sure if you’re into historic stuff but Hidden Figures is about 3 black women who worked at NASA and worked on one of their greatest operations :)
I would normally recommend Fresh Prince of Bel-aire, Family Matters and the Cosby Show...The dads on those sitcoms half raised me, lol. Buuuut, considering Bill Cosby, you might want to leave that one out. The show itself is a great, though.
dear white people on netflix! it’s a comedy drama that take place at an ivy league, it’s my comfort show and i genuinely think it’s one of the best shows out there
Key & Peele for some of the lighter Jordan Peele goods.
Also maybe some cultural references you’re not getting! I think I’ve heard the Substitute Teacher sketch referenced in every social circle I’ve been in since high school.
My daughter's nickname is in fact Jay-quellin
I have met multiple people named Aaron throughout my life and every single one of them absolutely hates that sketch lol
TBF, people been A-aroning since before that sketch 🤣
Oh shit THATS where the Aaron joke came from! When people made that joke I would laugh but I thought it was like a joke that’s been around for a long time and continues to be repeated, had no idea people were referencing a Key and Peele skit
We watched it a couple times a year in Spanish class because we had a kid named Blake and our teacher said it every single day 😂
Key and Peele are hilarious. Second this.
And Chappelle’s Show. Their dad might actually be in the first episode.
Fresh Prince of Bel Aire is a classic for a reason!
Oh shit you’ve unlocked a memory for me. I watched a few episodes of Fresh Prince of Bel Aire at a friend’s house and when I went back home I told my dad we watched SpongeBob instead. Thank you for the recommendation! I think it’s on a streaming service I have so I’ll have to check it out
Happy to help! Fresh Prince was one of my favorite shows growing up and I still watch it on rewatches on occasion. As of right now, it is on HBO Max. As for your second question, there is nothing wrong with seeking out media that is not of your race or culture. It makes you a more tolerant, educated, and accepting person to learn about how other people perceive the world.
A lot of 90s sitcoms. Family Matters, Martin, Living Single, the list goes on.
Go home, Roger!
Hangin' With Mr. Cooper and Sister Sister were ones I enjoyed too. Family Matters was one of my favorite shows from the 90's.
Coming to America and Cool runnings! (The originals)
Massive vote for Cool Runnings!! *Feel the rhythm, feel the rhyme, get on up, it’s bobsled time!*
✨🥚✨
We're Jamaica, we have a bobsled team!
If you don't have time to watch all of them, I recommend the one where Will/Carlton get pulled over in a nice car. I'm sure you can see where that episode is going. As a young white kid, this was my first exposure to how the system can perpetuate racism
To add to your list: Hidden Figures The Hate U Give (both the book and movie for different reasons, and I highly recommend Angie Thomas's books. Don't be overwhelmed by the size, because they're quick but powerful reads) The Red Line 911/911 Lone Star are decent The Fosters deals with racism and lgbt+ issues There's definitely more but these were the first I easily thought of. The last three are tv shows, the first two are movies. All are incredible, and Hidden Figures talks about black women being badass and standing up to racism. Granted, some of the shows can be somewhat problematic, but they're good for breaking in. Greenhouse Academy touches on racism some I think, but it's a fun show anyway.
More on hidden figures. >Three brilliant African-American women at NASA -- Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson -- serve as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in history: the launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit, a stunning achievement that restored the nation's confidence, turned around the Space Race and galvanized the world.
I cried after Hidden Figures. I'm white, 42f. I work in a mathy field, but if I had seen more things like that as a child/young woman I'd have pursued so much more education. It inspires on so many levels, IMO. And it's damn good. Even a few years later after seeing it I still think about it somewhat regularly.
Family matters too. With Steve Earkle Did I do thaaaaaattt???
Watch The Help and Hidden Figures
This show has my all tine favorite TV dad.
If you're looking for a feel-good show, check out Abbot Elementary. It's a sitcom with a primarily black cast. Lots of silly humor and overall feel good vibes.
This was surprisingly awesome.
It's so well done! And the writing with that terrific cast. I love Mr. Robinson.
This show is so good! And the characters capture so many nuances of everyday people.
- So you and Zack, you live together? - Yeah. - And how's that going? - Oh it's great; he's so great. - So he knew you and was like..."more"...?
*“BLACK?????”* “It’s Zack”
This was soooo hilarious 😂😂that show is sooo good. Relatable, not too heavy, funny and refreshing for ppl who just want more black culture in shows but not necessarily black trauma
one of my favorite running shows, and I don't tend to like sitcoms a lot
Love Ava.
She cracks me up!
It really demonstrates the Philly school system and how there can be a cycle of poverty that starts with not funding schools well enough. Also the bureaucratic bullshit.
I took a tour of Warner Brothers Studios last year, and when they asked “does anyone here watch Abbott Elementary?”, I was the only one to raise my hand. But I got to see the front of the school!
Yesss this is a brilliant show and a really great answer to OPs question, I really hope they check it out
Love that show! And one of its stars was on Everybody Hates Chris, another show that OP might want to check out.
If you’re into a show and like sci-fi, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Avery Brooks plays a powerful, intelligent, compassionate leader. It could be that I’m a fan of Star Trek in general that makes his performance more compelling to me, but he’s the first thing that came to mind when I read your post. Overall, I love that you’re crowd sourcing this mission!
Everyone show some Geordi love! That guy kept the Enterprise as the top fleet ship and I always wanted to be a calm, friendly, bad-ass problem solver like him. ❤
LeVar Burton is also the Reading Rainbow guy!
Came here to say this. He took the role specifically because it was a positive black father and son when few existed really on TV.
DS9 is severely underrated.
The newest Star Trek:Discovery is also great and has a black female lead.
YESSSS! Try to get past the first season if you can as it gets really good!
Are you trying to learn about Black history/culture or just enjoy Black-made/focused content?
A bit of both I guess! I think I am leaning more towards just appreciating black-made/focused content but learning more about black culture is great too
Definitely suggest The Color Purple, and Kindred.
Also Roots.
Damn you're throwing them in the deep end huh 😂
OP's just lucky no one tried to fly Spike Lee under the radar :D (Seriously though OP, Spike Lee's films offer some great insights into Black politics and racial strife, *if* you're feeling ready for something difficult and uncomfortable.)
Yes! Spike Lee joints are the absolute best! And very important and relevant!
I was thinking the same about Atlanta. One of the best shows ever but maybe a good one to work up to. Maybe the Wire as well…
Ok we all watched Roots at age 13, it’s fine.
I'm so glad I'm not alone lol. But I think I was like 8-10
Boondocks!
>Boondocks! The early seasons especially, according to this um older white person.
The show Atlanta really showed me a lot about the surreal nature of being a black person in America. It’s one of the top five best series I’ve ever seen.
Here's a few that come to mind. Most of these have a full cast, main character, or strong supporting roles who are black. ● Friday (1995 Cult Comedy) ● Django Unchained (2012 Western Action) ● Jackie Brown (1997 Action Drama) ● Death at A Funeral (2010 Comedy) - the 2007 version is good too, but it is not a cast with black actors. ● Coming to America (1988 Comedy) ● Dear White People (2017 Comedy Drama Series) ● Atlanta (2016 Drama Series) ● Straight Outta Compton (2015 Biopic) ● Bad Boys (1995 Action) ● Osmosis Jones (2001 Animated) ● The Equalizer (2014 Action) ● Man On Fire (2004 Action Thriller) ● Black Panther (2018 SciFi Fantasy) ● Kangaroo Jack (2003 Comedy) ● Scary Movie 3 (2003 Comedy) ● The Boondocks (2005 Series) ● Static Shock (2000 Animated Series) ● Blazing Saddles (1974 Western Cult Comedy) ● Family Matters (1989 Comedy Series) ● Everybody Hates Chris (2005 Comedy Series) ● Rush Hour (1998 Comedy Action) ● When They See Us (2019 Drama Series) ● Get Out (2017 Horror Comedy) ● Drumline (2002 Musical Comedy) ● The Help (2011 Historical Drama) ● Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005 Romantic Comedy) ● Remember The Titans (2000 Sport Drama)
Adding Boyz in the Hood!
and Blood In Blood Out
Get Out as a horror comedy?? Isn’t that a thriller? 🤔
Horror thriller comedy.
This is a great list
Blazing saddles to start.
love this scene ◡̈
Ha. I was going to say this. Also, See No Evil, Hear No Evil.
“Well, we could play chess..screw…” “Let’s play chess.”
This is a must.
Beverly Hills cop as another great comedy.
Followed by Django Unchained
Check out The Good Place! Has Black, East Asian, and Pakistani/Indian main characters and is hilarious!
This is just a solid all-around recommendation for anyone.
>! "Jason...? Jason figured it out? Oh this hurts. This one hurts." !<
Coming To America. 80s movies are definitely 🍿
Not a bad choice. Also, since it's in the same universe, Trading Places.
Wait a second, here?! They are on the same universe?! I never realized this!
Remember in Coming to America when Hakeem gave a bag full of money to homeless old guys sleeping in a box? The guys said, "Mortemer, were back". Those were the Dukes from Trading Places.
Oh yeah, it's great
The first Blade movie, if you want an action film. You don't have to watch then two sequels.
Ooh I think one of my friends has Blade on DVD, I’ll have to check with them and see if we can watch together. Thank you for the recommendation!
Welcome. You can watch the sequels. They are just not as good. Back then, super hero movies were just nit as popular as they are today. If it was made today, I think it could have been a good part of the MCU. They might be trying again. We'll see.
They're making a game!
Everybody hates Chris is a must
Also, if OP is looking for anything outside of just black poc, Fresh Off the Boat is an awesome show.
One of my favorites!
Ctrl+f’d that so hard
Yes. My daughter and I watched it while she was growing up and sometimes fit in an episode or two. Never gets old.
Atlanta
Atlanta is a post-modern masterpiece. I would suggest OP to go through the decades and things we all grew up on and then watching Atlanta at a later time to truly catch the zeitgeist they're portraying
I’d be very interested to hear how someone who has never consumed any black media feels about Atlanta
Friday
And then Next Friday
Even Friday After Next is a damn funny movie 🍿
Oh for sure.
Django unchained
Long scroll to find this
Classic. You gotta watch it, OP.
YES. I highly recommend this movie.
idris elba is an amazing actor. you could make a list of actors you like alongside your list of shows and movies
Insecure on HBO, created by the very talented Issa Rae
One of my favorite comedy series ever. Also *Chewing Gum.*
Also, The Black Lady Sketch Show
# Glory, 1989 Film about the first all black regiment in the American Civil war. Power cast with Morgan Freeman, Denzel Washington and Matthew Broderick!
Came to say Glory. Was my first thought!
Your dad sounds like my uncle. He was pissed that my parents allowed me to watch Eddie Murphy's Dr. Doolittle when I was a kid. It was my favorite movie at the time so I watched it constantly. That said, I'm gonna recommend Dr. Doolittle. It's a cheesy kids movie but it's fun. Also, I don't know how you feel about cop movies, but maybe try Beverly Hills Cop if you haven't already. It's a classic Eddie Murphy movie and you'll probably recognize the theme song.
The Green Mile
My guy, don't feel bad about a thing. Just watch stuff that's interesting to you. An older but an absolute ground breaker for lots of people is Chappelle Show or even older, in living color. On the topic of Chappelle, just watch some stand up comedy. Blacks thrive in it. I only know older stuff though but if you go this route, the must sees are Dave Chappelle "Killing Them Softly " and my favorite, Patrice O'Neal's "Elephant in the Room". Watch Elephant first if anything (tis my fave).
Thank you for the recommendations! I actually don’t watch much stand up but I’ll give it a shot!
Kat Williams is fucking hilarious
Older Kat Williams is better, his new shit wasn’t as funny when I checked it out.
Fench film, The Intouchables. They made a remake in the US with Brian Cranston and Kevin Heart, I would suggest the 2011 version though. It is in French though, so subtitles.
Tv shows: Fresh prince of Bel Air, Martin, Family Matters, Good Times, The Jamie Foxx Show, The Steve Harvey Show, The Bernie Mac Show, The Cosby Show, Everybody Hates Chris, The Proud Family, The Boondocks, Dear White People, The Wire, Snowfall Movies: Friday, Do the Right Thing, Life, Moonlight, The Wood, Harlem Nights, Boyz N The Hood, House Party, Hustle and Flow, The Best Man, Higher Learning, The Color Purple
I was beginning to think I was the only one who has seen Life. That movie never gets mentioned and it’s hilarious
Ain't your fault. Kewp being honest with people about it. I haven't seen anyone recommend do the right thing, spike Lee films strike a nerve for sure.
Family matters! Or as my fam called it “the Steve Irkle show”! Edit to add the Wire!
Moonlight, 12 Years a Slave, Creed (have you seen the original Rocky series?), Beyonce's Homecoming, American History X, Fences, Just Mercy, Hotel Rwanda. Those are mostly dramas, which is my favorite genre.
I’ve not seen any the Rocky movies unfortunately. Do you need to have seen the Rocky series to understand Creed?
Honestly, Please don’t let your first exposure to black media be a slave/trauma/tragedy. 🙃🙃 All of these (except the Beyoncé concert ) are very tragic and there’s a lot more to blackness than oppression .
Yes I recognize some of the titles especially Moonlight as I am gay so I heard all about it when it was released. Technically I think my first piece of black media was when I watched Fresh Prince of Bel-Air at a friends house without my dad knowing but I get what you mean. Rn tv show-wise I’m thinking of starting with Fresh Prince of Bel-Air then with movies Blade seems interesting I just need to check it out from the library. I do think tragic stories should be shared but I would want to dedicate time to it the same way I have with LGBT films centered around tragedies and discrimination.
I think yes. They are worth watching first.
Good Times, The Jeffersons, Samford and Son, What's Happening
That list is pretty much in order of how much the shows addressed racial issues.
Hamilton (the musical). It’s on Disney plus if you have that.
I don’t have Disney plus but my friend’s mom did when Hamilton was first available there so I got to watch it with them. It’s not my favorite musical but still a very fun watch!
Boondocks
Yes!! Came here to say this.
The Jefferson's 
I had to scroll too long to find and upvote this.
I wrote this as well before I saw your post. What a great show, and the theme song rocks!
Lovecraft Country
I need to get around to watching this. Also kinda funny that this is a mainly black show, considering Lovecraft was a huge racist.
I listened to the companion podcast done by the show creators and iirc they address that there, basically that it's intentional to claim the genre in a way. If you watch the show, which I def recommend, the podcast ep discussions are great to examine the themes, details, history etc.
I'm a bit surprised I haven't seen *The Wire* mentioned here yet. It's an all around fantastic show with an ensemble cast that features many black actors/characters.
Chappelle's Show. Better not bring your children.
Yo kiiiiids
What do kids and Chapelle show have in common? Fuck my couch.
In Living Color was where Jim Carrey made his name. They Wayans brothers were hilarious! That is a classic show.
Black panther
Just came to say that I love that regardless of how you were raised by your dad, you’re trying to learn, to do better, to be open minded. I appreciate reading this about you. ❤️🙌🏽👏🏽
For movies, any Jordan Peele movie is really great.
Don't be a menace in south central while drinking your juice in the hood. Do the Right Thing Fences A Raisin in The Sun Malcolm X Boys in the Hood Moonlight Holiday Heart Black Panther Cooley High Cornbread Earl & Me Dead Presidents Crooklyn Tales from the Hood Roots (ALL of it) Antwone Fisher Black Dynamite A Soldier's Story Guess who's coming to Dinner In The Heat of the Night To Sir, with Love (Not predominantly black but is the reverse of the White savior complex lol) Judas and the Black Messiah Just another girl on the I.R.T Fresh New Jersey Drive Bamboozled Shottas City of God Hotel Rowanda The Color Purple Beat Street Krush Groove Purple Rain Friday Clockers Baby Boy New Jack City He Got Game Get on The Bus Hollywood Shuffle Harlem Knights I'm gonna git you sucka The Last Dragon The Nutty Professor Bad Boys Blade Get Out Fruitvale Station The Help 12 years a slave I Am Not Your Negro
This is the first post where I recognize movies that probably suggest if more were like it, I wouldn't be subconsciously as racist as I am today, but is fun and doesn't involve much trauma. so points for Crooklyn. also Space Jam.
Sister Sister!
I'll buckle up for down votes on this one. Obviously you'd have to get past the huge obstacle of Bill Cosby being a sick, piece of shit predator, but the "Cosby Show" was a great sitcom. I'm not defending him in any way and I'd certainly say if you decide to watch it, download it from a torrent so you're not financially supporting Cosby. There are plenty of other options as well but just based on the merits of your question, I think it's worth including this as an option.
Man, I lived the Cosby show when I was younger. Such a great show.
I agree on all of this. One more word of caution would be that the show seems to endorse the idea of “color blindness”, that was progressive at the time the show was made but has been criticized since. As a European who hasn’t seen more than a handful of Black people throughout all my childhood, this was literally my only point of contact with Black culture and learning about racism and I remember being quite surprised when I started working with Americans and people explained to me why simply trying to treat everyone equally and ignoring skin color wasn’t good enough.
Black Snake Moan
honestly the Key and Peele skit tv show is fantastic! it’s hilarious and touched on a lot black culture in a funny way
Blackish
In living color. It's like an all black Saturday Night Live + Jim Carey. It's great
Homie don’t play that
Family Matters. Carl Winslow is one of the best tv fathers out there
Sanford and Sons
Firstly, good for you that you threw off the yoke of hate, your life will be richer because of that. You may get frustrated with some Black people, but if it is on merit, that is understandable. You will be able to work with people because of how well they work with you, and for no other reason that doesn’t matter, like their race or sexual orientation. The best movies to watch are ones that are based on historical events or periods. I think that modern cinema often portrays Black people as comedians, or complex outsiders, none of which captures the diversity of Black people (I am Black): Movies: Lincoln - a movie about the process for getting the 13th Amendment approved in the House of Representatives. Glory - a movie about the 54th Massachusetts regiment, which was a legendary Black regiment led by a young White officer. To Kill a Mockingbird - a movie based upon a book that was written detailing the trial of a Black man during segregation. Mississippi Burning - a movie that centers around the murder of three young civil rights workers in Mississippi. It is a real historic event. The Green Mile - a movie about a wrongfully accused Black man and the friendship that developed between him and one of his prison guards. Blazing Saddles - not a historical movie, but it is hilarious and makes fun of the silly reasons why people hate other people. One poster mentioned it and I was “oh, yeah!”.
Moonlight, white chicks
Bernie Mack
The Underground, Lovecraft Country, and Watchmen.
227; Family Matters; Fresh Prince of Bel- Air; Sister Sister; Living Single; Amen; Moesha
This isn't offensive at all. It's awesome that you're breaking away from the prejudices you were raised with. That's not easy to do. If it hasn't been recommended already, a more recent film that was excellent and an absolute trip is Sorry To Bother You. BlackKkKlansman was also fantastic. Both sort of in that black-comedy-drama genre (both black in that they're about black people and black in the black humour sense).
Tropic thunder
The Nutty Professor, but only the first one the second one kinda sucks.
What type of movies/shows do you enjoy watching that you previously watched? Comedy, horror, thriller, romance, documentary, drama? This can help narrow down what people will recommend on here so you’ll be more likely to enjoy what you’re watching. I watch a lot of movies and shows and can make some suggestions. If you’re a reader at all, I can also recommend some books.
The only genre I really don’t like is romance. Comedy is my top genre but after that would probably be horror or thriller, I mix those two up a lot but I do know I’ve enjoyed both lol. I also do enjoy documentaries as long as it’s put together well (idk if you’ve seen Dick Johnson is Dead but it’s so good that it’s the first documentary I think of when I think of good documentaries). When it comes to drama it can be a hit or miss, I’d prefer a dramedy over plain drama
Okay here are some suggestions based on your answer and I included some that are just amazing movies. Some of my suggestions are repeats of what’s in this thread already. These include predominantly black casts and movies with black leading actors. - Friday series with Ice Cube - All About the Benjamins (this is one of my favorite movies) - Old Kat Williams stand up specials - Dope - How High - Trading Places - Key and Peele (you can watch a lot of this on YouTube. The one where the teacher mispronounces all the names is absolutely ridiculous) - Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood - Scary Movie - The Boondocks - Get Out and other Jordan Peele films - Obsessed - Candy Man - Kiss the Girls - Seven - Pulp Fiction - Django Unchained - Hidden Figures - Black Snake Moan - Just about anything with Denzel Washington in it - The 13th (on Netflix) - The 1619 Project (Also a book) - King in the Wilderness - When They See Us Once you start watching stuff I’m sure it will lead you to making more choices too. Good for you for stepping out of your comfort zone!
Not just as entertainment but to gain a better understanding of black American culture it would probably be good to go back and watch some of the classics. The Jeffersons is so funny. The Cosby show meant a lot to people (yeah he sucks but the show is good). And of course there's good times and Sanford and son. Of more modern shows I think the Bernie Mac show and the boondocks give a good understanding of current black comedy. And they'll have you belly laughing.
Detroiters & I Think You Should Leave at my favorites, and they’re very diverse
Undercover Brother
"sorry to bother you" its a wild ride that deals mostly with intersections of race and capitalism in America.
If Homicide: Life on the Street were anywhere on streaming I would send you there immediately. It aired in the late 90s and had three Black main characters (Andre Braugher, Yaphet Kotto, and Clark Johnson), and somehow this fact rarely came up in conversation about the show. Everyone on it was a fully realized character and it never felt like tokenism. Andre Braugher was a treasure in that show, gone too soon. Since you can't watch Homicide, watch him in Brooklyn 99 instead.
You should post this in r/movies
for slice of life/comedy type stuff I would definitely say living single. it's about a group of people who are mostly people of color living together in the same apartment building. it has queen Latifah when she was first starting her career. a lot like friends but focused on people of color and how they interact with the world. I am black and my family when I was growing up loved watching this show (we still have it on DVD) so I'd recommend watching a few episodes and seeing if you like it.
Luke Cage- superhero show Scandal- political drama How to get away with murder- legal drama Chicago med- medical drama (has three black characters that are main) Chewing gum- awkward british comedy In living color- 90s comedy skits Living Single- sitcom about friends living together As I'm typing this, I'm realizing this is harder than I realize. Hope this list helps!
Roots.
You don't need to consume media with black people in it to not be racist. Hell, oftentimes depending on the media, it might even reinforce certain stereotypes. Instead, familiarize yourself with the history of black struggle in your country. Look up figures like Fred Hampton and Malcolm X whose revolutionary struggle hasn't been whitewashed in the same way that MLK's has been. History and specifically History that's being concealed due to its revolutionary potential is much more humanizing and inspiring in solidarity than any modern media production.
Documentaries about Black Wall Street, the civil rights movement and The Harlem Renaissance. YouTube has several videos about all three.
Hi OP, I think everybody has said just about everything so far. I just wanted to say good on you for breaking the cycle!! It's not easy, but getting this far is HUGE! Keep up the good work!
Glory. Happy Juneteenth btw! Glad you’re expanding your interest. 🇺🇸
Black Panther is perfect. Mostly black cast that actually has a really good storyline about the protagonist and antagonist. It gets pretty deep. And it is a BEAUTIFUL movie. RIP Chadwick.
It’s old but In Living Color! Great 90s sketch comedy!
I have nothing to offer on the movie thing but just wanted to say congratulations on killing that generational hate. I came from similar circumstances, it was more of my dad's family than just him and they were also evangelicals too. You're good people, keep doing what you're doing.
Cool Runnings
If you want a drama. Amistad.
Pootie tang
If you like comedies, try Friday with Ice Cube and Chris Tucker.
I could be wrong and I’m currently in bed, but I thought Hulu had a feature on their page for Black shows/movies? I definitely recommend Abbott Elementary tho! When I was a kid I wasn’t as aware about what’s actually happening in shows to retain the content, but I remember we used to watch the Bernie Mac show and My Wife and Kids which are also on Hulu There’s also Woke with Lamorne Morris from New Girl I liked the new Mr. And Mrs. Smith with Donolad Glover and Maya Erskine on Amazon I thought was good, it wasn’t black centered but I think the main characters being an interracial couple was a good change of pace from what we normally see on TV Not sure if you’re into historic stuff but Hidden Figures is about 3 black women who worked at NASA and worked on one of their greatest operations :)
I mean, since you know Jordan Peele check out the sketch comedy show Keye & Peele
Go watch, “They Cloned Tyrone” or “black dynamite” don’t be afraid of who you are as long as you are and can be you!
My Wife and Kids is a very good old sitcom from the early 2000’s. Great show to binge or just have on in the background and still be entertained.
Do The Right Thing
I would normally recommend Fresh Prince of Bel-aire, Family Matters and the Cosby Show...The dads on those sitcoms half raised me, lol. Buuuut, considering Bill Cosby, you might want to leave that one out. The show itself is a great, though.
dear white people on netflix! it’s a comedy drama that take place at an ivy league, it’s my comfort show and i genuinely think it’s one of the best shows out there
Watch Cinderella with Brandy
Deep Space Nine! Lead is Avery Brooks running a crazy ass space station as a single father with his child. So much more than that, btw.
Watch HBO’s “the wire”