Give Us Free: The 15 Must See Hollywood Flicks About Slavery

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The latest news in Hollywood is that slavery is big buck at the box office again, as Oscar buzz continues for Steve McQueen‘s period piece and ABC recently announced their new slave-inspired miniseries.

The television miniseries Roots was one of the first pieces of cinema to resonate with a majority audience. Upon its debut, the Alex Haley-authored picture chronicled one of America’s most shameful periods—and broke ratings records.

With McQueen’s aforementioned project threatening to change how the Academy treats movies about slavery, the game is yearning for a smart, artistic analysis that explores the darker aspects of human life. When you look at the history of film, pieces like Mandingo or Queen snuck in to cash in on the subject, but there hasn’t been any critically-acclaimed films in awhile.

The Academy is no longer safe from these compelling stories.

As 12 Years a Slave aims to educate young citizens about the slavery business in America, we urge you to take a look at the 15 Must See Hollywood Slave Flicks of All Time.

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Photo: Fox Searchlight

12 Years a Slave

Actor Chiwetel Ejiofor stars as Solomon Northup, a free man from New York who is tricked and sold into slavery. Brad Pitt, Michael Fassbender and Quvenzhané Wallis co-star in the picture which will hit theaters on October 18th.

Amistad

Another true-to-life tale about the schooner La Amistad, a ship carrying newly captured Sierra Leoneans who initiated a mutiny on the ship. The Steven Spielberg picture focused on Sengbe Pieh (Djimon Hounsou), most known by his slave name, “Cinqué” (meaning “fifth”).

Ben-Hur

A classic Hollywood tale, this film follows the events of Judah Ben-Hur (Charlton Heston), a governor who is ousted by the Romans from his over a town, and forced in servitude. Having to work his way back into Roman favor in order to return home, the film boasts one of cinema’s most famous sequences (the nine-minute chariot race) and one of the largest sets built for any film produced.

Cobra Verde

Klaus Kinski portrayed a Brazilian bandit in this Werner Herzog-directed film. After discovering that he is being financially exploited, Cobra Verde (Green Snake) murders his boss and goes on the lam. He is then sent to the West Coast of Africa as a punishment to re-open the slave trade, yet ends up leading an uprising against the local king.

Django Unchained

The “revenge-fantasy” put forth originally by Quentin Tarantino in Inglourious Basterds came to a head with this film. Starring Jamie Foxx in the titular role alongside Leonardo DiCaprio, Samuel L. Jackson and Kerry Washington—this Western tackled the subject of slavery no-holds-barred.

Jefferson In Paris

Before becoming President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson served as an Ambassador to France in the 1780s. During his time there, he develops two romantic relationships, first with Maria Consway (played by Greta Scacchi) and later Sally Hemings (Thandie Newton), a young slave. Nick Nolte plays the U.S. Founding Father.

Sankofa

Directed and written by Haile Gerima, this 1993 drama centered directly around the Atlantic slave trade. Following the events involving Mona, a contemporary American model on a film shoot in Ghana, West Africa, she encounters a mysterious old man, Sankofa (played by Kofi Ghanaba) and is schooled on African history.

Gone With the Wind

The 1939 epic historical romance film glorified slavery and triggered changes to the way African Americans are depicted on film. The Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable starring picture found the two battling it out for love against the backdrop of the American Civil War and the Reconstruction era.

Glory

Based on the personal letters of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman and Cary Elwes star in this 1989 dramatic war film. Directed by Edward Zwick, the film tells the inspirational story of the 54th Massachusetts, the fist all-black volunteer regiment of the Union army.

Beloved

Based on the Toni Morrison novel, this 1998 picture told the story of a slave woman (Oprah Winfrey) who kills her child to prevent her from experience the horrors of slavery. Set in 1873, during the Reconstruction era, the film adaptation of Morrison’s Pulitzer Prize winning novel called to attention the psychic damages that slaves endured.

Amazing Grace

Starring the world famous Senegalese musician Youssou N’Dour and Ioan Gruffudd, this film depicts how British abolitionists brought the slave trade to a halt in Great Britain. The film chronicles the life of William Wilberforce, a social advocate and evangelical Christian, and John Newton, who served as Wilberforce’s mentor and wrote the song, “Amazing Grace.”

Spartacus

Directed by Stanley Kubrick and starring Kirk Douglas, this film told the tale of the rebellious slave, Spartacus. The 1960 epic historical drama film was inspired by the true life story of the Thracian gladiator and the events of the Third Servile War.

Rosewood

The historic events of the 1923 Rosewood massacre in Florida was the set-up for which John Singleton directed this 1997 film. Introducing fictional characters and changes from historic accounts, Ving Rhames, Don Cheadle and Jon Voight become entangled in an attempt to save their community from racist whites attacking the black denizens of Rosewood.

Drum

No, this is not the sequel to Mandingo you all hoped for. Director Zola Maseko based this 2004 film on the life of South African investigative journalist Henry Nxumalo, who worked for the popular Drum magazine. Called “the first black lifestyle magazine in Africa,” the picture dealt squarely with the issues of apartheid and the forced removal of residents from Sophiatown. American actors Taye Diggs and Gabriel Mann played Henry Nxumalo and Jürgen Schadeberg respectively, while most of the rest of the cast were South African actors.

Sally Hemings: An American Scandal

This epic historical drama explored the complicated, yet fruitful relationship between Thomas Jefferson and slave Sally Hemings. The twosome conducted a 38 year love affair, spanning an ocean, ultimately producing children, grandchildren, and a host of controversy.