10 Shows Like Women of the Movement (2022)

Description: This adaptation of Alice Walker's novel follows an African American woman's journey through abuse and oppression to self-discovery and empowerment in the early 20th century South.

Fact: Oprah Winfrey made her film debut in this movie. The film was shot in chronological order, which is rare for major productions.

Description: This biographical epic chronicles the life of the controversial African American leader, from his criminal past to his transformation into a civil rights activist and his eventual assassination.

Fact: Spike Lee raised money independently when Warner Bros. refused to increase the budget. The film's final cut was over three hours long.

Description: Inspired by true events, this film follows an African American butler who served in the White House through multiple administrations, witnessing key moments in civil rights history.

Fact: The film's protagonist was based on Eugene Allen, who served eight presidents. Over 40 actors portrayed historical figures in the film.

Description: This film explores the lives of African American maids working in white households in the 1960s, highlighting themes of racial injustice, resilience, and the power of storytelling.

Fact: The novel it's based on was inspired by the author's own experiences growing up in Mississippi. The film was shot in just 60 days.

Description: A harrowing depiction of Solomon Northup's kidnapping and enslavement, this film unflinchingly portrays the brutality of slavery and the resilience of the human spirit.

Fact: The film is based on Northup's 1853 memoir, one of the few first-hand accounts of slavery. Brad Pitt's production company financed the film when others wouldn't.

Description: Set in 1950s Pittsburgh, this film adaptation of August Wilson's play examines family dynamics, racial tensions, and the African American experience through the lens of one working-class family.

Fact: Denzel Washington insisted on using August Wilson's original play script word-for-word. The entire film was shot in just 33 days.

Description: This drama series follows three siblings who inherit a sugarcane farm in Louisiana, dealing with family legacy, racial tensions, and personal struggles in the contemporary South.

Fact: Ava DuVernay directed the first two episodes and mandated that all subsequent episodes be directed by women. The show is based on a novel by Natalie Baszile.

Description: This biographical film focuses on Harriet Tubman's escape from slavery and her work with the Underground Railroad, showcasing themes of courage, freedom, and the fight against oppression.

Fact: Cynthia Erivo performed all her own stunts, including the river escape scenes. The film was in development for over 25 years before production began.

Description: It tells the true story of African American women mathematicians at NASA who played crucial roles in the space race, emphasizing themes of perseverance, intelligence, and breaking racial and gender barriers.

Fact: The real-life Katherine Johnson, one of the women depicted, attended the premiere and received a standing ovation. The film's script was based on a book that hadn't been published yet.

Description: This TV movie tells the true story of how Henrietta Lacks' cancer cells were taken without consent and became crucial to medical research, raising important questions about medical ethics and racial injustice.

Fact: Henrietta's cells (HeLa cells) have been used in developing the polio vaccine and cancer treatments. The Lacks family wasn't compensated for decades of medical use of her cells.