Media permeates our society. We binge watch more than ever, advertisements flood our screens and public places and social media is unavoidable. For many, this constant repetition of content reinforces one thing: you’re different. It is a privilege to see yourself constantly represented in the media; a privilege that is taken for granted. Imagine growing up and only seeing other children, in your schools and on your screens, that don’t look like you. You start to feel other-ed. Imagine whilst feeling this, the only depiction you see of someone who looks like you, is negative. But not only this, the people you meet then expect you to act like this negative stereotype, police treat you like a criminal for existing, access to healthcare and jobs are harder and you have to see politicians and media support the killing of your own community.
White people do not have a monopoly on art, culture or creativity yet we act like they do. White people, in fact, have black people to thank for some of their most prevalent and important movements. Our history, that we’ve been taught and regulated through white people, has often erased this and chosen to favour the stories and successes of white people, whilst ignoring those of black people or other minorities.
These weeks as we remember the lives of those who have been murdered and the fight for an end to systemic racism continues, it’s important to raise up black voices and represent their diversity. Resources are now flooding social media and this can be somewhat overwhelming if this is your first foray into the subject of race. For many, it is a given privilege that they do not need to think about race but also for many, it is a subject we are constantly faced with just for existing. Therefore, it is the job of privileged to educate themselves and engage with the discussion but most importantly, to not ask for the labour of black people. It is the role of other POC and minorities to take this on right now and fight, so that our black brothers and sisters can be angry, be heard and most importantly, focus on themselves.
I can’t go out and protest but I have a voice and a background that means I can try and educate, engage with the discussions and hopefully steer some people in a good direction. For me, representation in media is my strong suit and what I long for is a world where black people are represented diversely, without stereotype, and given the same facets of possibility that white representation is given. So, Below is a list of content creators and films/tv shows that show what a wealth of diversity black people bring to our arts and culture throughout the world. It’s a list that focuses on newer media (i.e, 2000’s onwards) and is fairly US centric and that is not to deny the representation before that or from other countries, but instead a focus to help keep this list somewhat concise and cohesive, in a sea of a lot of information (it’s also just what I know personally more about). I hope that you will read this, have a think about representation, your own privilege and see media in a new, analytical, light. But also that this will be a jumping off point for your own education into the wealth and beauty of black art and culture.
Content Creators
Steve Mcqueen, is a British filmmaker that won the Turner Prize in 1999, the first black filmmaker to win best picture at the Oscars and recieved a CBE from the Queen in 2011 for his service to the visual arts. His films are eclectic, emotionally intense and beautifully made.
List of films: Hunger (2008), Shame (2012), 12 Years a Slave (2013), Widows (2018).
Kenya Barris is a writer/director/ producer and creator of film and TV. His TV shows are emmy nominated, NAACP award winning and in 2016 he received the Rod Serling Award for Advancing Social Justice Through Popular Media.
List of Work: Black-ish (2014- ), Grown-ish (2018- ), Mixed-ish (2019- ), Black AF (2020- ), Girl’s Trip (2017), Shaft (2019), Little (2019).
Shonda Rhimes is a series creator, producer, and author. She’s emmy nominated, a GLAAD winner and a NAACP winner. Her show’s have also paved the way for LGBTQ+ representation, as well as POC representation. She famously ‘blind-casted’ her first TV show, meaning that no characters had race attached to them but that it was cast by actor’s performances alone.
List of work: Grey’s Anatomy (2005- ), Scandal (2012 – 2018), How To Get Away with Murder (2014 – 2020). Her book: Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand In the Sun and Be Your Own Person (2016).
Jordan Peele is a writer, director and producer that first got his start in comedy in MadTV and then went onto create a show with writer and actor Keegan-Micheal Key. After this he branched out into the horror genre, gaining him four academy award nominations and one win for best original screenplay.
List of Work: Key & Peele (2012 – 2015), Keanu (2016), Get Out (2017), Us (2019).
Spike Lee is a world renowned filmmaker that started creating films in the 80s and has been prolific up until now. He’s been nominated for everything and finally won an Oscar in 2019 for best adapted screenplay but previously in 2015 he was given the Academy Honorary Award for his contributions to filmmaking. Finally, four of his films were added to the Library of Congress for being culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.
List of Work: She’s Gotta Have it (1986), Do the Right Thing (1989), Jungle Fever (1991), Malcom X (1992), 4 Little Girls (1997), Chi-Raq (2015), BlackKklansman (2018).
List of Films
Girlhood (2014)
Pariah (2011)
Hidden Figures (2016)
Paris is Burning (1990)
The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson (2017)
13th (2016)
Good Hair (2009)
Reincarnated (2012)
Nappily Ever After (2018)
Straight Outta Compton (2015)
The Incredible Jessica James (2017)
Roxanne Roxanne (2017)
Homecoming (2019)
The Central Park Five (2012)
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (2019)
List of TV Shows
Dear White People (2017- )
Surviving R. Kelly (2019)
Astronomy Club (2019)
The Defiant Ones (2017)
Blood and Water (2020- )
She’s Gotta Have it (2017- 2019)
Luke Cage (2016- 2018)
Family Reunion (2019- )
Just to reiterate this is no where near a comprehensive or diverse enough list, this is a personal one of things I’ve seen that I hope can start a dialogue.
Love
N xxx
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