February 26, 2025

Written by: Jaylin Emond-Hardin | Entertainment Editor

The voices, stories and lives of Black creators are through these works, collected in honor of Black History Month.

Movies and Shows:

“One Night in Miami” — Regina King’s directorial debut, “One Night in Miami,” follows a fictionalized account of the Feb. 25, 1964 meeting of Malcolm X, Cassius Clay, Sam Cooke and Jim Brown. The four reflect on their place in society as prominent African American men during the Civil Rights movement, and the movie shows the tension among African American activists and figureheads leading up to Malcolm X’s assassination in 1965. “One Night in Miami” is free to stream on Amazon Prime and Tubi.

“Black-ish” — Running from 2014 to 2022 for eight seasons, “Black-ish” follows the Johnson family as they juggle personal, familial and sociopolitical issues, especially their wishes to stay true to their black identities while they live in a wealthy, suburban, white neighborhood. The show is available for purchase on Apple TV and Google Play.

“The Boondocks” — Part of the original lineup on Adult Swim, “The Boondocks” is an animated comedy series that follows the Freeman family as they settle into the fictional suburb of Woodcrest. Showcasing a mixture of cultures, social classes, lifestyles and racialized identities provides the show with its comedy and conflict throughout each episode. “The Boondocks” is streaming on Max and Adult Swim. 

“Poetic Justice” — This 1993 film follows Justice, a talented poet, as she road trips to Oakland with her friends in a mail truck. All four are struggling with the loss of different friends, and the film stands as a journey of discovery, rather than a commentary on society. The film is streaming on Apple TV. 

Books:

“Children of Blood and Bone” by Tomi Adeyemi — Inspired by Nigerian mythology, the first book in the “Legacy of Orïsha” trilogy follows Zélie, Tzain and Princess Amari as they set out to restore their people’s system of magic to Orïsha. While it is a young adult novel, it deals heavily with themes of oppression, racism and slavery, with the kosidán and maji — both fictitious social classes — standing in place of real-world institutions and groups. The book is also set to become a movie, starring Cynthia Erivo, Idris Elba and Amandla Stenberg, and directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood. 

“All We Were Promised” by Ashton Lattimore — Set in 1837 Philadelphia, “All We Were Promised” follows three black women — Charlotte, a fugitive slave; Nell, an abolitionist from a wealthy black family; and Evie, Charlotte’s friend from her time as a slave — as they navigate life and find freedom in Philadelphia during a time marked by race riots and attacks on abolitionists. “All We Were Promised” is currently a nominee for the 2024 Readers’ Favorite Debut Novel award from Goodreads. 

“Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe — Considered one of the great novels about the colonial era, “Things Fall Apart” follows Okonkwo, a traditional leader of the fictional Igbo tribe of Umuofia. A feared warrior and wrestling champion, Okonkwo opposes colonialism and the early Christian missionaries, and the book follows him as he claws his way through the turbulent period. 

“It’s Elementary” by Elise Bryant — How far is too far when it comes to parents getting involved in their children’s lives? Bryant’s novel explores just that. Mavis has never been a PTA mom, not when she has too much on her plate, but she surprises herself when she caves to PTA president Trisha Holbrook’s wish for her to lead the school’s DEI committee. When the principal goes missing after Mavis sees Trisha wearing long yellow gloves and hauling cleaning supplies and black trash bags to her minivan, she’s determined to get to the bottom of things. With help from the school psychiatrist, Mavis launches an investigation that ends up challenging her views on parenting, friendship and elementary school politics. 

Music: 

“Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell — Gaye and Terrell’s duet is an uplifting, soulful anthem about unconditional love, devotion and support. The song talks about how no obstacle — mountain, valley or river — can keep people from being apart from the one they care about most. The song is a classic, uplifting the importance of commitment and the strength of human connection. 

“Hurry Up Tomorrow” by The Weeknd — The Weeknd’s newest studio album debuted Jan. 31 and wraps up the trilogy that includes his 2020 album “After Hours” and his 2022 album “Dawn FM.” With 22 songs spanning well over 90 minutes, it explores themes of fame, personal struggle and artistic transformation, with heavy R&B and synth-pop elements. The album currently sits at number one on the Billboard 200 Chart, where it’s been since its debut. 

“Exodus” by Bob Marley and the Wailers — One of the most influential and iconic reggae albums of our time, Marley recorded this 1977 album in London after surviving an assassination attempt while in Jamaica. Divided into two halves, “Exodus” focuses on political struggle, exile and social justice, while also delivering timeless, soulful songs about love and unity. In 1999, Time magazine named “Exodus” the best album of the 20th century, which solidified Marley’s legacy as both a musical and cultural icon.  

“Proud Mary” by Tina Turner — Originally performed by Creedence Clearwater Revival, Turner turned this song into one of her most iconic, adding her own signature to it. Lyrically, the song tells the story of leaving behind a mundane life to work on a Mississippi Riverboat and Turner’s version adds personal freedom and the joy of living life to the fullest. Blending soul and funk, Turner’s version of “Proud Mary” has become a timeless classic even more well-known than the original. 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu