Last year, NASW-CA’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee put their heads together and came up with a list that we recommended our members take the time to read, watch, and take in. Now, we are expanding our Black History & Art Guide with new recommendations!
The following movies, books, and podcasts are centered on Black people and their experience navigating the world. Most of these selections are directed, written, or hosted by Black creatives. These are only a few recommendations and we know that there are countless works of art that we did not include. If you would like to add anything to our list, please contact Jane at jkim.naswca@socialworkers.org
WATCH:
Pariah (2011) directed by Dee Rees
Melancholy for Medicine (2008) directed by Barry Jenkins
The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975 (2011) directed by Göran Olsson
Just Mercy (2019) directed by Destin Daniel Cretton
I am Somebody (1970) directed by Madeline Anderson
Paris is Burning (1990) directed by Jennie Livingston
Blindspotting (2018)directed by Carlos López Estrada
The Last Black Man in San Francisco (2019) directed by Joe Talbot
Girlhood (2014) directed by Céline Sciamma
READ:
All About Love: New Visions by bell hooks
Another Country by James Baldwin
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
The Dead Are Arising: The Life of Malcolm X by Les Payne and Tamara Payne
Heavy by Kiese Laymon
Beloved by Toni Morrison
A Taste of Power by Elaine Brown
Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson
This Bridge Called My Back: Writings by Radical Women of Color by Cherríe Moraga
LISTEN | PODCASTS:
Seizing Freedom hosted by Dr. Kidada E. Williams
The Brown Girl’s Guide to Politics hosted by A’shanti Gholar
Code Switch hosted by Shereen Marisol Meraji and Gene Demby
Historically Black hosted by The Washington Post’s coverage of the Smithsonian’s new National Museum of African American History and Culture
Louder Than a Riot hosted by Rodney Carmichael and Sidney Madden
About Race hosted by Reni Eddo-Lodge
Resistance hosted by Saidu Tejan-Thomas Jr.
The Humanity Archive hosted by Jermaine Fowler
Natal – docuseries about the experiences of Black parents
The United States of Anxiety hosted by Kai Wright
1619 hosted by Nikole Hannah-Jones
Dear Culture hosted by Gerren Keith Gaynor and Shana Pinnock
FOLLOW:
- Black creative accounts
- Educational/Social Justice accounts:
Explore last year’s resources:
- Social Worker Highlight Series – Part 1
- Social Worker Highlight Series – Part 2
- Black History & Art Guide 2021
Check out this year’s Spotlight Series
