There’s nothing like hearing a good story directly from the very people who were there. It’s the best way to get the sensory details, the lively emotions, and the personal anecdotes that can’t be found in any textbook. It’s such a luxury to be able to learn about something by watching archival footage and listening to interviews with the foremost experts on a subject — all cut together in a compelling way, and on demand for your viewing convenience.
This is especially true when it comes to Black stories, many of which have historically been hidden from the spotlight or left out of textbooks. Whether you’re looking for instruction or intrigue, these documentary films and series loudly applaud the Black artists, activists, and cultural forces that have helped shape America.
Looking for even more? Netflix’s Black History Month collection has plenty of new and noteworthy picks worth adding to your list.
Meet the Zulu Krewe, a cultural organization in Louisiana comprising more than 800 Black men who are keeping the heart of Mardi Gras beating, carrying on a legacy of over 100 years. This movie follows the group from the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and Hurricane Ida in 2021, to their return to parading in the streets of New Orleans in 2022. The result: a modern portrait of Black brotherhood, resilience, and joy.
In 2018, Michelle Obama kicked off a 34-city book tour for her bestselling memoir. This intimate documentary follows the former first lady of the United States as she travels across the nation, speaks to audiences in sold-out arenas about her life, and spends time with her family. The film from Nadia Hallgren, who also directed the film Civil: Ben Crump and the docuseries Victoria Beckham, paints a celebratory portrait of Obama as an accomplished and accessible figure.
During his basketball career, Bill Russell won 11 championships in 13 seasons, was named the NBA’s most valuable player five times, and brought home the gold from the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. At the same time, he was a civil rights icon whose work advocating for racial equity changed the way athletes utilize their celebrity for good. This two-part documentary tells the full story of his legacy, complete with interviews with the man himself, captured before he died in 2022.
In 1968, Mattel introduced Christie, the toy company’s first Black doll who was marketed as a “friend of Barbie.” But it wasn’t until 1980 that Mattel launched a uniquely Black Barbie — complete with textured hair, fuller features, and a killer Diana Ross–inspired ensemble. This movie showcases the three Black women at the company who were responsible for the doll’s debut and evolution thereafter. It also examines why it’s important for children to have access to toys that represent their lived experience.
Known as “Black America’s attorney general,” Ben Crump is a civil rights attorney who has represented the families of victims of police brutality and systemic injustice, including those of Trayvon Martin, Breonna Taylor, Michael Brown, George Floyd, and Ahmaud Arbery. This documentary — also directed by Hallgren — follows Crump over the course of a year and pulls back the curtain on his life as a family man, leader, and activist.
Just as Black history is American history, Black food is American food. In this docuseries, chef and writer Stephen Satterfield travels across the country to showcase the roots of the foods that have helped define the American kitchen: gumbo, fried chicken, barbecued brisket, and more. The show is a feast, highlighting how Black cuisine has fueled social justice movements, transformed communities, and awakened cultural creativity in America in powerful ways.
History was made in 1973, when DJ Kool Herc played his original music at his sister’s party in The Bronx. That event is considered the birthplace of hip-hop, and this Peabody Award–winning docuseries traces the genre’s dynamic evolution from the 1970s through today. Hosted by rapper and broadcaster Shad, the show includes interviews with influential MCs, DJs, and moguls. Keep the party going with the limited series Ladies First: A Story of Women in Hip-Hop.
In 2018, Beyoncé made history as the first Black woman to headline Coachella — and thankfully, she took a camera crew along with her. This documentary tracks the artist through months of detailed planning, grueling rehearsals, and candid conversations about art and motherhood. Come for the clips of her critically acclaimed set — a two-hour hit parade, complete with surprise reunions and an homage to historically Black colleges and universities — and stay for the insights into her singular creative genius as she puts together an extraordinary show.
This documentary explores the history of Black representation in American cinema, with a specific focus on the provocative and groundbreaking Blaxploitation films of the 1970s — an era of filmmaking that shifted the limitations around Black stories and characters in Hollywood. Culture critic and film historian Elvis Mitchell guides viewers through the movies of this landmark era, complete with interviews with Samuel L. Jackson, Laurence Fishburne, Whoopi Goldberg, Zendaya, and more.
In case Quincy Jones didn’t have enough Grammy Awards to begin with (he had 27, from 79 nominations, at the time of filming), the Recording Academy also awarded one to this documentary about the eminent multihyphenate, for Best Music Film in 2019. Co-directed by Alan Hicks and Quincy’s own daughter Rashida Jones, the film is an intimate portrait of the producer, composer, songwriter, musician, and all-around cultural icon, tracing the history of his astonishing, decades-spanning career.
This four-part docuseries follows the most decorated gymnast in history, from her withdrawal from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics due to mental health concerns to her triumphant return at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The project doesn’t just focus on Biles’s physical training, but also her mental strength — a topic not often discussed among athletes. Biles speaks candidly about dealing with intense pressure, the high risk of injury, and the ticking clock of aging in gymnastics — a sport that greatly values youth.
Marsha P. Johnson was an icon of the gay rights movement in the 1960s. The “Saint of Christopher Street” became known for her advocacy for people with AIDS and her co-founding of the Transvestites Action Revolutionaries with fellow luminary Sylvia Rivera. However, when her body was found in the Hudson River in 1992, police called it a suicide and didn’t investigate. In this documentary, trans activist Victoria Cruz seeks to uncover the truth of Johnson’s death while simultaneously celebrating her legacy.
The legendary Nina Simone cannot be limited to a single descriptor. She is the standout singer of gospel, jazz, folk, and blues, to name a few genres. She trained as a classical pianist and often accompanied herself expressively during performances. And, she became a key activist in the civil rights movement in the 1960s. This documentary uses never-before-heard recordings, rare archival footage, and audio of her best-known songs to zoom in on the High Priestess of Soul.
