This is a list of quality podcasts, movies, and other resources, to broaden your understanding of the issues surrounding racism.
As a white person, listening to this show was transformative for me, and really walked me through a bunch of stuff that I wasn't eager to see. I knew I had to delve deeper, pull my head out of the sand, and find some way to help.
- Seeing White - Scene on Radio
Just what is going on with white people? Police shootings of unarmed African Americans. Acts of domestic terrorism by white supremacists. The renewed embrace of raw, undisguised white-identity politics. Unending racial inequity in schools, housing, criminal justice, and hiring. Some of this feels new, but in truth it’s an old story.
Why? Where did the notion of “whiteness” come from? What does it mean? What is whiteness for?
- S2 E1: Turning the Lens
Events of the past few years have turned a challenging spotlight on White people, and Whiteness, in the United States. An introduction to our series exploring what it means to be White. By John Biewen, with special guest Chenjerai Kumanyika. Download a transcript of the episode.
- S2 E2: How Race Was Made
For much of human history, people viewed themselves as members of tribes or nations but had no notion of “race.” Today, science deems race biologically meaningless. Who invented race as we know it, and why? By John Biewen, with guest Chenjerai Kumanyika. Photo: The Monument to the Discoveries, Lisbon, Portugal. The highlighted figure in the center ...
- S2 E3: Made in America
Chattel slavery in the United States, with its distinctive – and strikingly cruel – laws and structures, took shape over many decades in colonial America. The innovations that built American slavery are inseparable from the construction of Whiteness as we know it today. By John Biewen, with guest Chenjerai Kumanyika. Image: Meeting of the Virginia House ...
- S2 E4: On Crazy We Built a Nation
“All men are created equal.” Those words, from the Declaration of Independence, are central to the story that Americans tell about ourselves and our history. But what did those words mean to the man who actually wrote them? By John Biewen, with guest Chenjerai Kumanyika. Image: Bronze Statue of Thomas Jefferson being erected in Jefferson Memorial, ...
- S2 E5: Little War on the Prairie
Growing up in Mankato, Minnesota, John Biewen heard next to nothing about the town’s most important historical event. In 1862, Mankato was the site of the largest mass execution in U.S. history – the hanging of 38 Dakota warriors – following one of the major wars between Plains Indians and settlers. In this documentary, originally ...
- S2 E6: That’s Not Us, So We’re Clean
When it comes to America’s racial sins, past and present, a lot of us see people in one region of the country as guiltier than the rest. Host John Biewen spoke with some white Southern friends about that tendency. Part Six of our ongoing series, Seeing White. With recurring guest, Chenjerai Kumanyika. Image: A lynching on ...
- S2 E7: Chenjerai’s Challenge
“How attached are you to the idea of being white?” Chenjerai Kumanyika puts that question to host John Biewen, as they revisit an unfinished conversation from a previous episode. Part 7 of our series, Seeing White. Download a transcript of the episode. Composite image: Chenjerai Kumanyika, left; photo by Danusia Trevino. And John Biewen, photo by Ewa ...
- S2 E8: Skulls and Skin
Scientists weren’t the first to divide humanity along racial – and racist – lines. But for hundreds of years, racial scientists claimed to provide proof for those racist hierarchies – and some still do. Image: Skulls in the Samuel Morton Collection, University of Pennsylvania Museum. Photo by John Biewen Download a transcript of the episode. Resources for this ...
- S2 E9: A Racial Cleansing in America
In 1919, a white mob forced the entire black population of Corbin, Kentucky, to leave, at gunpoint. It was one of many racial expulsions in the United States. What happened, and how such racial cleansings became “America’s family secret.” Image: Train track in Corbin, Kentucky. Photo by John Biewen Download a transcript of the episode. The history of ...
- S2 E10: Citizen Thind
The story of Bhagat Singh Thind, and also of Takao Ozawa – Asian immigrants who, in the 1920s, sought to convince the U.S. Supreme Court that they were white in order to gain American citizenship. Thind’s “bargain with white supremacy,” and the deeply revealing results. Photo: Bhagat Singh Thind in U.S. Army uniform. Smithsonian Institution Download a ...
- S2 E11: Danger
For hundreds of years, the white-dominated American culture has raised the specter of the dangerous, violent black man. Host John Biewen tells the story of a confrontation with an African American teenager. Then he and recurring guest Chenjerai Kumanyika discuss that longstanding image – and its neglected flipside: white-on-black violence. Photo: A police car near a ...
- S2 E12: My White Friends
For years, Myra Greene had explored blackness through her photography, often in self-portraits. She wondered, what would it mean to take pictures of whiteness? For her friends, what was it like to be photographed because you’re white? With another conversation between host John Biewen and series collaborator Chenjerai Kumanyika. Photo: Matt Geesaman, Chicago, 2009. By Myra ...
- S2 E13: White Affirmative Action
When it comes to U.S. government programs and support earmarked for the benefit of particular racial groups, history is clear. White folks have received most of the goodies. By John Biewen, with Deena Hayes-Greene of the Racial Equity Institute and recurring series partner Chenjerai Kumanyika. Photo: U.S. soldiers returning home from World War Two the same month ...
- S2 E14: Transformation (Seeing White, Part 14)
The concluding episode in our series, Seeing White. An exploration of solutions and responses to America’s deep history of white supremacy by host John Biewen, with Chenjerai Kumanyika, Robin DiAngelo, and William “Sandy” Darity, Jr. Download a transcript of the episode.
- S2 E1: Turning the Lens
The Provosts, a family of sugar-cane farmers in Louisiana, had worked the same land for generations. When it became harder and harder to keep hold of that land, June Provost and his wife, Angie, didn’t know why — and then a phone call changed their understanding of everything. In the finale of “1619,” we hear the rest of June and Angie’s story, and its echoes in a past case that led to the largest civil rights settlement in American history.
On today’s episode: June and Angie Provost; Adizah Eghan and Annie Brown, producers for “1619”; and Khalil Gibran Muhammad, a professor of history, race and public policy at Harvard University and the author of “The Condemnation of Blackness."
- Introducing ‘1619’
In August of 1619, a ship carrying more than 20 enslaved Africans arrived in the English colony of Virginia. America was not yet America, but this was the moment it began. No aspect of the country that would be formed here has been untouched by the 250 years of slavery that followed. On the 400th anniversary of this fateful moment, it is time to tell the story.
- Episode 1: The Fight for a True Democracy
America was founded on the ideal of democracy. Black people fought to make it one. This episode includes scenes of graphic violence.
- Episode 2: The Economy That Slavery Built
The institution of slavery turned a poor, fledgling nation into a financial powerhouse, and the cotton plantation was America’s first big business. Behind the system, and built into it, was the whip. On today’s episode: Matthew Desmond, a contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine and the author of “Evicted,” and Jesmyn Ward, the author of “Sing, Unburied, Sing.”“1619” is a New York Times audio series hosted by Nikole Hannah-Jones. You can find more information about it at nytimes.com/1619podcast.This episode includes scenes of graphic violence.
- Episode 3: The Birth of American Music
Black music, forged in captivity, became the sound of complete artistic freedom. It also became the sound of America. On today’s episode: Wesley Morris, a critic-at-large for The New York Times.
- Episode 4: How the Bad Blood Started
Black Americans were denied access to doctors and hospitals for decades. From the shadows of this exclusion, they pushed to create the nation’s first federal health care programs. On today’s episode: Jeneen Interlandi, a member of The New York Times’s editorial board and a writer for The Times Magazine, and Yaa Gyasi, the author of “Homegoing.”
- Episode 5: The Land of Our Fathers, Part 1
More than a century and a half after the promise of 40 acres and a mule, the story of black land ownership in America remains one of loss and dispossession. June and Angie Provost, who trace their family line to the enslaved workers on Louisiana’s sugar-cane plantations, know this story well. On today’s episode: The Provosts spoke with Adizah Eghan and Annie Brown, producers for “1619.”
- Episode 5: The Land of Our Fathers, Part 2
The Provosts, a family of sugar-cane farmers in Louisiana, had worked the same land for generations. When it became harder and harder to keep hold of that land, June Provost and his wife, Angie, didn’t know why — and then a phone call changed their understanding of everything. In the finale of “1619,” we hear the rest of June and Angie’s story, and its echoes in a past case that led to the largest civil rights settlement in American history.
On today’s episode: June and Angie Provost; Adizah Eghan and Annie Brown, producers for “1619”; and Khalil Gibran Muhammad, a professor of history, race and public policy at Harvard University and the author of “The Condemnation of Blackness.”
- Player.FM - Blacklivesmatter Podcasts
- Lynching in America
The Equal Justice Initiative believes we need to change the narrative about race in America in order to advance our collective goal of equal justice for all. As part of this work, we extensively researched the period between the Civil War and World War II, when over 4,000 African Americans were lynched in this country. We published our findings in the report Lynching in America: Confronting the Legacy of Racial Terror, the most comprehensive work done on lynching to date. Many racial terror lynchings, however, went unreported and their victims remain unknown.
- 10 Anti-Racist Podcasts and Talks That Are Helping Me Become a Better Ally
- The Secret Life of Canada
highlights the people, places and stories that probably didn't make it into your high school textbook. Join hosts Leah and Falen as they explore the unauthorized history of a complicated country.
- BAD + BITCHY PODCAST
HAS BEEN THE HOME OF INTERSECTIONAL FEMINIST ANALYSIS OF CANADIAN POLITICS AND CULTURE SINCE 2017. CENTRING THE VOICES OF BLACK, INDIGENOUS, AND RACIALIZED WOMEN, BAD + BITCHY BEGAN AS AN OUTLET FOR WOMEN FRUSTRATED WITH THE MISREPRESENTATION OF OUR VOICES IN CANADIAN POLITICS AND MEDIA AND HAS SINCE TURNED INTO A GO-TO SOURCE INTERSECTIONAL FEMINIST ANALYSIS FOR FEMINISTS AND POLITICOS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. OUR PODCAST IS RECORDED ON UNCEDED ALGONQUIN TERRITORY.
- Sandy and Nora
Sandy and Nora are feminist musicians, gifted program survivors and former choir kids who have thrown away all their talents to become activist political nerds. They are both brilliant and can both be funny. But Nora is funnier.
Netflix Introduces a Black Lives Matter Category (harpersbazaar)
As the Black Lives Matter movement continues on, Netflix is highlighting works celebrating Black lives and highlighting the racial injustices they face. As of June 10, the mega streaming platform now has a page for its Black Lives Matter category, which features a range of curated films, TV series, documentaries and stand-ups that focus on "powerful and complex narratives about the Black experience." When users log onto Netflix, before reaching the home page, they'll be greeted with a page called "More than a Moment" that directs to the 40+ movies in the Black Lives Matter collection.
"When we say 'Black Lives Matter,' we also mean 'Black storytelling matters,'" the company tweeted with the announcement on Wednesday.
- #blackAF (2020)
Kenya Barris (creator of Black-ish) and Rashida Jones star as a wealthy couple juggling family, love, and success in this eight-episode comedy.
- 13th (2016)
Ava DuVernay’s harrowing, Oscar-nominated documentary exposes and analyzes the flaws in the U.S. prison system that disproportionately afflict the Black community.
- All American (2018-)
The CW series, which is now two seasons in, centers on a promising high school football player who’s recruited from his home grounds in Crenshaw to join a new team in Beverly Hills.
- All Day and a Night (2020)
A young Black man (Ashton Sanders, Moonlight) lands in the same jail as his father (Jeffrey Wright, Westworld) in this drama by Black Panther co-writer Joe Robert Cole, which shines a light on how the carceral system is stacked up against people of color their whole lives.
- American Son (2019)
A mother (Kerry Washington) fights to be taken seriously at a Florida police department as she and her husband (Steven Pasquale) search for their missing son.
- Astronomy Club: The Sketch Show (2019)
A hilarious, irreverent sketch series from the New York-based comedy and improv group of the same name.
- Barry (2016)
Devon Terrell stars as a young Barack Obama finding his footing as a college student in New York.
- Becoming (2020)
This intimate documentary follows Michelle Obama's work and family life as she tours the country promoting her book and transitions into her new life beyond the White House.
- Bobby Kennedy for President (2018)
The docuseries digs into the life and career of former U.S. Attorney General Robert Kennedy, who was a known advocate of the Civil Rights movement.
- Tamborine (2018)
The veteran comedian takes up the mic and tackles relationships, race, and more in his first stand-up special in 10 years.
- Da 5 Bloods (2020)
The latest from Spike Lee is an adventure between four Black army veterans who return to Vietnam and find an unlikely treasure.
- Dear White People (2017-)
Adapted from the film of the same name, the Netflix series focuses on a group of college students of color who challenge the "post-racial" culture at their Ivy League university.
- Get on the Bus (1996)
A group of Black men traverse the country on a bus ride from L.A. to Washington, D.C. to attend the Million Man March.
- Homecoming (2019)
Relive the magic of Beyoncé's 2018 Coachella set with this intimate, behind-the-scenes look of her momentous performance.
- Imperial Dreams (2014)
John Boyega stars as a father who returns home from jail hoping to rebuild his life and family, but his efforts are challenged by a system that works against him.
- Jewel's Catch One (2016)
The documentary delves into the storied L.A. club, Catch One, a historic safe space for the Black LGBTQ community, and its famous owner, Jewel Thais-Williams.
- LA 92 (2017)
A powerful portrayal of the painful history of police brutality and the Los Angeles uprisings following the 1992 acquittal of the four white police officers who beat Black motorist Rodney King. The film is also available to watch for free on YouTube.
- Let It Fall: Los Angeles 1982-1992 (2017)
Director and 12 Years a Slave screenwriter John Ridley's documentary examines the tensions between the Black community and police in years leading up to the Rodney King riots in 1992.
- Malcolm X (1992)
Denzel Washington stars as the titular icon in this epic directed by Spike Lee and co-starring Angela Bassett, Delroy Lindo, Albert Hall, and Al Freeman Jr.
- Luke Cage (2016-2018)
Equipped with superhuman strength and near invincibility, Luke Cage is an ex-convict turned Marvel hero protecting his neighborhood from crime.
- Michael Che Matters (2016)
Michael Che steps out from behind the SNL Weekend Update desk to the stage for this stand-up tackling racial identity, tensions with the police, gun rights, and other still-relevant political issues.
- Miss Virginia (2019)
Based on a true story, Uzo Aduba stars as a single mother who sparks a movement for change for lower-income families after she struggles to get her son into a private school.
- Moonlight (2016)
Barry Jenkins's Oscar-winning film highlights the coming-of-age experience for a young Black gay man in Miami in three tender and moving chapters.
- Mudbound (2017)
Dee Rees's poignant period drama focuses on two families in Mississippi with differing experiences of racism at the end of World War II.
- Oprah Winfrey Presents: When They See Us Now (2019)
Oprah Winfrey sits down with Exonerated Five (formerly known as the Central Park Five) as well as the creatives and stars of Ava DuVernay's When They See Us, which honors their stories.
- Orange Is the New Black (2013-2019)
A PR executive is sent to a women's prison for a crime from her past and makes unlikely connections while navigating life behind bars.
- Pose (2018-)
Ryan Murphy's ode to '80s ballroom culture in New York also features the largest cast of trans actors starring in a scripted TV series.
- Quincy (2018)
This Netflix documentary dives into the work and unparalleled career of music icon Quincy Jones, who's reigned over the industry for decades.
- ReMastered: The Devil at the Crossroads (2018)
The streamer's investigative documentary series shines a light on the mysterious blues musician Robert Johnson, who was said to have made a deal with the devil.
- ReMastered: The Lion's Share (2019)
Another installment of ReMastered focuses on Solomon Linda, the original writer of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight," who earned no royalties from the iconic song as he lived in poverty in South Africa.
- ReMastered: The Two Killings of Sam Cooke (2019)
An investigation into the iconic soul singer's death brings up provocative questions about whether his vocal support for the civil rights movement had any connection to his killing.
- ReMastered: Who Killed Jam Master Jay? (2019)
A deeper look at the still-unsolved murder of Run-DMC member Jam Master Jay.
- ReMastered: Who Shot the Sheriff? (2018)
Bob Marley survived an assassination attempt in 1976, but this episode digs into who was responsible for the dangerous plot.
- Rodney King (2017)
Directed by Spike Lee, actor Roger Guenveur Smith delivers a powerful spoken-word, one man show honoring Rodney King's life and legacy.
- School Daze (1988)
Young Laurence Fishburne and Giancarlo Esposito star as Dap and Julian, college students exploring activism and campus culture at their historically Black university.
- See You Yesterday (2019)
After her brother is shot and killed by police, C.J. and her best friend Sebastian use their homemade time-traveling devices to go back in time and save her fallen sibling before it's too late.
- Self-Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker (2020)
Octavia Spencer plays Madame C.J. Walker, a Black beauty mogul and the first female self-made millionaire.
- Seven Seconds (2018)
This Netflix crime drama uncovers a controversial police cover-up of a teenage boy's death from a hit-and-run where an officer was behind the wheel.
- She's Gotta Have It (1986)
Spike Lee's seminal work puts the spotlight on Brooklyn artist Nola Darling as she juggles three strikingly different romantic interests.
- She's Gotta Have It (2017-2018)
Netflix puts a modern spin on Lee's iconic film with DeWanda Wise as Nola Darling.
- Strong Island (2017)
Filmmaker Yance Ford delves into the pain and injustices following his brother's murder.
- Teach Us All (2017)
This documentary analyzes how far we've come (and how much we've receded) since Brown vs. Board of Education.
- The Black Godfather (2019)
Entertainers and cultural forces muse on the influence and achievements of Clarence Avant, a power player in music, politics, and beyond.
- The Innocence Files (2020)
Highlighting the work of The Innocence Project, this documentary exposes wrongful convictions and the injustices of the prison system.
- They've Gotta Have Us (2018)
Filmmakers, actors, and creatives take a look at the history of Black cinema through the years, from the early stereotypical portrayals to the celebrated and complex narratives of today, and where we go next.
- Time: The Kalief Browder Story (2017)
Kalief Browder, a teen from the Bronx, spent three years in jail at Rikers after being accused of robbery, even though he wasn't ever convicted of a crime.
- Trevor Noah: Son of Patricia (2018)
Noah ditches the Daily Show desk for the stand-up stage in this Netflix special, where he takes on politics, the immigrant experience, and more.
- Trigger Warning with Killer Mike (2019)
In this series, rapper Killer Mike pursues radical changes in various sectors including the economy, education, and religion.
- Uppity: The Willy T. Ribbs Story (2020)
Ribbs, known as the "Jackie Robinson of auto-racing," was the first Black man to race in the Indy 500.
- Wanda Sykes: Not Normal (2019)
Sykes delivers biting social commentary and unfiltered quips in her stand-up special.
- What Happened, Miss Simone? (2015)
An eye-opening portrayal of soul singer Nina Simone as both an artist and activist, featuring intimate archival footage from her life.
- When They See Us (2019)
Ava DuVernay takes on an incredible feat with this limited series, which tells the stories of the Central Park Five, a group of young men who served time for a notorious crime they were wrongly accused of.
- Who Killed Malcolm X? (2020)
Historian and activist Abdur-Rahman Muhammad seeks the truth behind Malcolm X's death in this docuseries.
- Zion: Body of Strength (2018)
This documentary short follows Zion Clark, a teen born without legs and raised in foster care, who inspires by pursuing his passion of competitive wrestling.
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