Film Recommendations

• 13th:  An in-depth look at the prison system in the United States and how it reveals the nation's history of racial inequality, by Director Ava DuVernay. (2016)
• 1969: The six-part series features first-hand accounts of how the year's events came together at the same dizzying, chaotic time. (2019)
• A Place at the Table: A documentary that investigates incidents of hunger experienced by millions of Americans, and proposed solutions to the problem. Featuring Jeff Bridges and Tom Colicchio. (2012)
• After Maria:  Strong Puerto Rican women forced to flee the island after Hurricane Maria have bonded like family in a FEMA hotel in the Bronx. They seek stability in their new life as forces try to pull them apart. (2019)
• After Parkland: An intimate chronicle of families as they navigate their way through the unthinkable, reckoning with unexpected loss, journeying through grief, and searching for new meaning. (2019)
• American Factory: In post-industrial Ohio, a Chinese billionaire opens a factory in an abandoned General Motors plant, hiring two thousand Americans. Early days of hope and optimism give way to setbacks as high-tech China clashes with working-class America. (2019)
• Blood Diamond: A fisherman, a smuggler, and a syndicate of businessmen match wits over the possession of a priceless diamond. (2006)
• Crip Camp: Down the road from Woodstock, a revolution blossomed at a ramshackle summer camp for teenagers with disabilities, transforming their lives and igniting a landmark movement. (2020)
• Freedom Summer: A look back at the summer of 1964, when more than 700 student activists took segregated Mississippi by storm, registering voters, creating freedom schools and establishing the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party. (2014)
• Hillary: A look at the life and work of Hillary Rodham Clinton, interweaving biographical chapters of her life with behind-the-scenes footage from her 2016 U.S. presidential campaign. (2020)
• Just Mercy: Based on the memoir of the same name, this film, starring Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Fox follows world-renowned civil rights defense attorney Bryan Stevenson as he works to free a wrongly condemned death row prisoner. (2019)
• Knock Down the House:  A look at the people involved with various political campaigns during the 2018 U.S. congressional election, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. (2019)
• Maya Angelou And Still I Rise: The first feature documentary about the remarkable writer, poet, actress, activist Maya Angelou. (2016)
• Milk: The story of Harvey Milk, and his struggles as an American gay activist who fought for gay rights and became California's first openly gay elected official. Starring Sean Penn. (2004)
• Mrs. America: Conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly leads an unexpected fight against the Equal Rights Amendment movement during the 1970s, starring Cate Blanchett as Phyllis Schlafly and Rose Byrne as Gloria Steinem. (2020)
• Oklahoma City: Documents the beliefs and experiences of Timothy McVeigh in the lead-up to his bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, which claimed 168 lives. (2017)
• One of Us: Penetrating the insular world of New York's Hasidic community, focusing on three individuals driven to break away despite threats of retaliation. (2017)
• Out of One, Many: The United States has long offered a promise of opportunity and safety to arriving immigrants - The American Dream. However, currently facing a time of deep political, social, and cultural divide, immigration has become a divisive issue. (2018)
• Philadelphia: When a man with HIV is fired by his law firm because of his condition, he hires a homophobic small time lawyer as the only willing advocate for a wrongful dismissal suit. Starring Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington. (1994)
• Public Figure: A documentary that investigates the psychological effects of everyday social media use while exploring how our influencers deal with the fame, money, hate and obsession that comes with it. (2019)
• RBG: The exceptional life and career of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who has developed a breathtaking legal legacy while becoming an unexpected pop culture icon. (2018)
• Sergio: A look at the life and work of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Sergio Vieira de Mello, and the rescue operation when he was trapped and injured by a bomb explosion at UN headquarters in Baghdad. (2009)
• Selma: Another film by Ava DuVerny, Selma chronicles Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s campaign to secure equal voting rights via an epic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, in 1965. (2015)
• Slow Burn: In this adaptation of the award-winning podcast, Slow Burn's Leon Neyfakh excavates the strange subplots and forgotten characters of recent political history, including the events that lead to Richard Nixon’s resignation. (2020)
• The Cave: Amidst air strikes and bombings, a group of female doctors in Ghouta, Syria struggle with systemic sexism while trying to care for the injured using limited resources. (2019)
• The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson: Victoria Cruz investigates the mysterious 1992 death of black gay rights activist and Stonewall veteran, Marsha P. Johnson. Using archival interviews with Johnson, and new interviews with Johnson's family, friends and fellow activists. (2017)
• The End of America: A historical look at trends in once-functioning democracies from modern history that are being repeated in our country today. Based on the book by the same name by author Naomi Wolf. (2008)
• The Good Lie: A group of Sudanese refugees, given the chance to resettle in the U.S., arrive in Kansas City, Missouri, where their encounter with an employment agency counselor forever changes all of their lives. Starring Reese Witherspoon, with a cameo appearance by the Kean University Anne Evans Estabrook Senior Human Rights Fellow John Prendergast.  (2014)
• The Plot Against America: Based on the novel by Philip Roth, the series imagines an alternate American history told through the eyes of a working-class Jewish family in Newark as they watch the political rise of Charles Lindbergh, an aviator-hero, who becomes president and turns the nation toward fascism. (2020)
• The White Helmets: As daily airstrikes pound civilian targets in Syria, a group of indomitable first responders risk their lives to rescue victims from the rubble. (2016)
• Watchers of the Sky: Four modern stories of remarkable courage while setting out to uncover the forgotten life of Raphael Lemkin, the man who coined the term 'genocide'. Inspired by Samantha Power's Pulitzer Prize-winning book, 'A Problem From Hell', 'Watchers of the Sky' traverses time and continents to explore genocide and the cycle of violence. (2014)
• We are Columbine: Nearly 20 years after one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history, four survivors return to Columbine High School to share their experiences and journeys toward healing. (2019)
• What Happened to Miss Simone?: A documentary about the life and legend Nina Simone, an American singer, pianist, and civil rights activist labeled the "High Priestess of Soul.” (2015)
• When They See Us: Based on a true story, this mini-series explores the lives of Five teens from Harlem become trapped in a nightmare when they're falsely accused of a brutal attack in Central Park. Directed by Ava DuVernary. (2019)
• Whose Streets?: Whose Streets? is an unflinching look at how the police killing of 18-year-old Mike Brown inspired a community to fight back and sparked a global movement. (2017)

Ray, chosen by Joy Allen

Personal Quote: “This movie advocates for disability rights; I firmly believe that individuals with disabilities should be seen as people first, with their disabilities not defining their limitations, which is why this movie is such a great adaptation of this idea!”

The 2004 biographical drama Ray, directed by Taylor Hackford, tells the inspiring story of iconic musician Ray Charles, whose journey from a challenging upbringing in Georgia to worldwide acclaim is beautifully captured. The film highlights his resilience as he navigates the hardships of losing his sight at a young age, overcoming addiction, and confronting racial barriers, all while transforming the music industry with his unique blend of rhythm and blues, jazz, gospel, and country. Jamie Foxx’s Academy Award-winning performance masterfully portrays Ray's charisma, vulnerabilities, and resourcefulness, such as his use of hollow soles and tactile methods to adapt to blindness. A powerful message of empowerment and advocacy emerges, resonating deeply with personal experiences, like helping a blind friend defy expectations. With its poignant depiction of Ray’s mother teaching him to stand strong and its celebration of the human spirit’s tenacity, Ray is not only a tribute to a musical genius but also a profound reminder of the transformational power of resilience and music.

The Color Purple, chosen by Faith Clark

Personal Quote: “The Color Purple is not only a story about hardship and struggle but more importantly about love, growth, and empowerment. The relationships that the main character Celie makes along the way shapes her into becoming the best version of herself, learning to have hope, love herself and to have the strength not to take abuse from anyone.”

The Color Purple explores themes of empowerment, resilience, and the intersection of race, gender, and spirituality, depicting the profound personal growth of Celie as she transforms through the support of strong female relationships. Characters like Shug Avery and Sofia teach Celie self-love, resilience, and the importance of standing up against abuse, helping her reclaim her independence and self-worth. The film delves into the emotional and psychological scars of abuse, showing how Celie and Sofia grapple with the systemic oppression they face due to their race and gender. It contrasts Celie’s meekness with Sofia’s assertiveness and Shug’s independence, illustrating how their bonds inspire Celie’s empowerment. Faith and religion also play pivotal roles, as Celie’s evolving relationship with God fosters hope and a renewed understanding of her worth beyond societal constraints. Finally, the titular color purple symbolizes beauty, freedom, and spiritual awakening, emphasizing how the characters find strength and joy amidst suffering, with Celie’s journey culminating in a triumphant reconnection with her sister and her sense of self.

12 Years a Slave, chosen by Yerlin Holguin

Personal Quote:  “I would recommend this movie for educating people about the historical realities about the things going on during slavery. It is an amazing movie, though a hard watch only because of how raw it is in depicting the suffering and brutality of the lives of enslaved individuals.”

12 Years a Slave is a movie based on a true story about a free black man named Solomon Northup, who was kidnapped and sold into slavery. This film forces the viewers to confront the harsh truths about the human cost of slavery. This movie highlights the complicity of society through the many people who didn’t help Solomon. It sheds light to the horrors of injustice of kidnapping and enslavement but also the importance of freedom and human rights. The film’s portrayal of these events and the actors were all truly exceptional. Chiwetel Ejiofor's performance of Solomon Northup really brang the harrowing experience of his character to life and was deeply moving. This movie is wonderful and can get the viewers really emotional. In essence, this movie truly speaks for itself and is a must watch. Trigger warning for physical and sexual abuse, racial language, and emotional distress.