Five Must-Watch Movies and Books That Will Help You Understand White Privilege and Systemic Racism

Image courtesy of Black Lives Matter

Films and books and are a great way of inspiring change. We can learn so much about black history, systemic racism and what white privilege really means through entertaining storylines, moving dialogue and characters who inspire us to collectively work for change. Educating ourselves is key but also unlearning our own unconscious bias and actively being anti-racist is crucial to keeping the Black Lives Movement at the top of the agenda. So I’ve put together, five must-watch movies and books that show you just how ingrained systemic racism is in today’s societies.

When They See Us - Netflix mini-series about The Central Park Five - directed by Ava DuVernay

I watched this movie about a year ago. It’s a harrowing and blatant story of injustice, where five black and latino teenagers were wrongly convicted of a rape they did not commit. Known as The Central Park Five, Kevin Richardson, 14, Raymond Santana, 14, Antron McCray, 15, Yusef Salaam, 15, and 16-year-old Korey Wise, were jailed between six to thirteen years in prison, until the true perpetrator confessed. It’s a difficult film to watch, but Ava DuVernay’s honest story telling keeps you well and truly hooked. It’s one of those films that’s as gripping as it is challenging, but you know you’ll be wiser for it. The most heartbreaking thing is that it’s a true story and though the five were eventually released and compensated, you can’t help but be moved by their suffering. One of the five, Raymond Santana now owns a clothing label called Park Madison NYC . A portion of the proceeds goes towards the Innocence Project - an organisation that supports innocent people who remain incarcerated, and helps bring about change and reform to the penal system. I follow them on Instagram, why not give them a like and follow if it’s your style.

Queen & Slim -directed by Melina Matsoukas

Queen and Slim is a movie about a couple who go on a first date that takes a shocking turn. Pulled over by a racist policeman for a minor traffic offence, the situation escalates where the cop shoots Queen in the leg and Slim shoots the officer in self-defence. Now labelled cop killers, the two are left with no choice but to go on the run. When a video of the incident goes viral, they become a symbol of grief and pain for people all across the country.
For me this film highlights the everyday injustice and pain African Americans feel. But its relevance goes beyond borders. Anyone whose experienced racism will understand the subtleties of inequality peppered throughout the film. It’s a beautifully shot movie and you go through the same rollercoaster of emotions felt by the couple. It’s totally gripping, so get your popcorn ready, a box of tissues and be ready for the harsh realisation that although the story is fiction, the reality is the opposite.

The Hate You Give - directed by George Tillman Jnr

Both a book and a film, The Hate You Give follows the story of Starr Carter, a Black high schooler who attends a privileged prep school yet lives in a poor Black neighbourhood. Starr is forced to reckon with her own values, when she witness her friend Khalil shot by a white police officer. Although I prefer the book to the film, it’s still worth a watch as you get to see how Starr has to navigate all her relationships with friends and family in order to make a stand for her beliefs.

13th - Directed By Ava DuVernay

Another Ava DuVernay triumph, 13th is a documentary about the 13th Amendment of the Constitution, which states that it’s unconstitutional to keep a person as a slave. However, a loophole in the Amendment is continuously exploited and leads to the mass incarceration of black people in America. It’s a shocking revelation into how black people have been kept in subservience, profited from and exploited over and over. This documentary leaves no stone unturned in terms of the knowledge and research behind it. It’s a must-watch and I would say an opportunity to learn about white privilege and injustice. Not to be missed!

I Am Not Your Negro - Written By James Baldwin, directed by Raoul Peck

In the gripping documentary, Raoul Peck dramatises James Baldwin’s unfinished manuscript called Remember This House, in which he tells the stories of Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, and Medgar Evers. With a combination of archival footage from James Baldwins activism and narration by Samual L. Jackson, the weaving of tv footage and photographs is brilliantly done. This documentary is as relevant today as it was during the civil rights movement.

What to Read

Me and White Supremacy - Layla Saad

What started off as an Instagram challenge later evolved into a published book. Me and White Supremacy takes readers through a journey of understanding their white privilege and participation in white supremacy, so that they can stop (often unconsciously) inflicting damage on black, indigenous and people of colour, and in turn, help other white people do better, too.

How to Be An Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi

On my list of books to read, historian and New York Times best-selling author Ibram X. Kendi uses his personal experiences, history, and science to show how a person can go from being racist to anti-racist, with the aim to show how we can all work towards a new anti-racist society.

Black and British - David Olusoga

David Olusoga is a British historian, professor and presenter amongst other notable titles. Recently he’s been gracing our tv screens with his tv series - A House Through Time, so it’s no wonder he’s written a fair amount of books on subjects including race, empire and slavery. Black and British explores the long shared relationship and history between Britain’s slave trading empire and Africa.

Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire - Akala

Kingslee James McLean Daley, otherwise known as Akala, is a British musician, journalist, author and activist. I especially picked this book because I think there’s something about Akala and the way he talks that’s inspiring, inter-generational and honest. This book explores how race and class have shaped Akala's life and outlook and covers everything from the police, education and identity to politics, sexual objectification and the far right.

Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race - Reni Eddo-Lodge

The title of this book started off as a blog that later went viral and ended up as a book. In 2014, award-winning journalist Reni Eddo-Lodge wrote about her frustration with the way that discussions of race and racism in Britain were being led by those who weren't affected by it. She posted a piece on her blog, entitled: 'Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race'. The post went viral and comments flooded in from others who wanted to share their own experiences. Motivated by this clear need for open discussion, she decided to explore the socio-political issues of black history, white dominance, class and race.

This is of course not an exhaustive list, so if you’ve got any recommendations, do let me know. Feel free to comment below if you’ve read any of the books or watched any of the films I’d love to know your thoughts!

For more information about the Black Lives Matter Movement please visit their website.