Turner Classic Movies announced on Thursday that it is partnering with the African-American Critics Association for a month-long programming event focusing on the portrayals of black people throughout cinematic history.
The event, starting Sept. 4 and ending Sept. 27, is called “The Black Experience on Film” and looks to provide a wide-ranging retrospective from the 1920s through the 1990s.
“Since the earliest days of film, the portrayal of black characters has ranged from stereotypical and one-dimensional to more nuanced and complex. With this programming tentpole, we will explore this important part of film history specifically from an African-American perspective with insightful commentary from some of the nation’s most prominent film critics,” Charles Tabesh, TCM’s senior vice president of programming and production, said in an announcement. “Our partnership with the AAFCA is important, and together we aim to tell a contextualized and curated story of The Black Experience on Film.”
“The Black Experience on Film,” which will air every Tuesday and Thursday night on TCM in primetime, will showcase four films a night, and be hosted by 13 different members of the AAFCA who will discuss different topics and themes each night.
The first night’s programming will explore black identity in film. AAFCA president Gil Robertson & cultural critic Ronda Racha Penrice will explore Oscar Micheaux’s searing look at racial violence in his 1920 film “Within Our Gates” and end the night with Julie Dash’s 1991 story following three generations of Gullah women in “Daughters Of The Dust.” Check here for a full schedule.
“It is both an honor and a privilege for AAFCA and its members to work with Charles Tabesh and the rest of the TCM team to facilitate such impactful programming,” Robertson said in a statement. “The legacy of African-Americans in cinema often goes untold, but it has been a long and arduous journey. Since the earliest beginnings of the art form, African-Americans have had a presence in cinema. That is the point we hope these 32 films will drive home. Our intent is that audiences be engaged, entertained and enlightened by the sheer diversity and breadth of this substantial arc of film programming.”
Recently Hollywood has been more interested in exploring the history and cultures of black people and other races and people of color. Recent films such as “Crazy Rich Asians,” “BlacKkKlansman,” “Sorry to Bother You” and “Black Panther” have sparked conversations about how the industry and cinema portrays different groups.
In addition to exploring black identity, the month-long event will look at topics such as hollywood confronts racism, African-Americans coming of age, black romance, African-American musicals, strong black women, African-American comedies and black stories from around the world.
'How Stella Got Her Groove Back' and 9 Other Black Rom-Coms to Watch on 20th Anniversary (Photos)
"How Stella Got Her Groove Back"
"How Stella Got Her Groove Back" turned 20 on Aug 14. The film, adapted from Terry McMillan's best-selling novel, introduced the film community to Taye Diggs, then a broadway actor known for "Rent." It also gave Angela Bassett one of the defining roles of her career. Her Stella character is an overworked single mom in need of a vacation and some romance, so best friend Whoopi Goldberg takes her to Jamaica, where she meets and falls in love with Winston Shakespeare (Diggs), a man 20 years her junior. RollingStone critic Peter Travers said of the film: "Whether you regard Stella’s getting her groove back as a feminist battle cry or as a silly wish-fulfillment fantasy, the movie delivers guilt-free escapism about pretty people having wicked-hot fun in pretty places."
Rotten Tomatoes
"She's Gotta Have It"
Spike Lee's feature film debut, "She's Gotta Have It," has to be considered the quintessential black rom-com. The film, which Lee updated as a Netflix series, tells the story of Nola Darling and her three unique boyfriends. It's been heralded as helping to usher in the indie film movement of the '80s and changing the representation of black people in American cinema.
IMDb
"Coming to America"
Probably more comedy than romance, but Eddie Murphy's 1988 rom-com "Coming to America" is a classic in either genre. This fish out of water tale follows Prince Akeem (Murphy) of Zamunda on his journey to America, fleeing an arranged marriage. Landing in New York City, he and his sidekick Semmi (Arsenio Hall) try to acclimate to American life, while trying to find a wife of his own. The film also marked the first time Murphy dressed up to play more than one character.
"Boomerang"
Another Eddie Murphy film makes the list. This time there's no need for him to play any other characters because he's joined by Halle Berry, Martin Lawrence, David Allen Grier, Grace Jones, Ertha Kitt and Chris Rock -- need we say more? "Boomerang" is your prototypical rom-com, with a little signature Murphy. He plays a New York marketing exec and womanizer, Marcus. But what goes around comes around in this romantic comedy, leading Murphy's character to find and realize true love.
IMDb
"Love Jones"
You would be hard pressed to find a more charming, more attractive pair to co-star in a black romantic comedy in the '90s outside of Larenz Tate and Nia Long. "Love Jones" follows the love at first sight and up and down relationship of two young black artists in Chicago. In an oral history of the film for it's 20th anniversary, Tre'Vell Anderson wrote for the Los Angeles Times: "'Love Jones,' at its core, is about possibilities, those opportunities people of color know exist for them -- in love, life and career."
New Line Cinema
"The Best Man"
It's the rare (black) rom-com that warranted revisiting with a sequel, some 14 years later. "The Best Man," staring Taye Diggs, touts an ensemble cast of Diggs, Nia Long, Terrence Howard, Morris Chestnut, Harold Perrineau and Monica Calhoun as a group who come together for their friends' wedding only to have old flings, feelings and drama resurface thanks to a new, semi autobiographical book Diggs' character Harper wrote that threatens the wedding and friendships.
Universal Pictures
"Love and Basketball":
"Love and Basketball" isn't exactly a romantic comedy, but this coming of age young love story written and directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood is a classic. The film follows the friendship and relationship of Quincy (Omar Epps) and Monica (Sanaa Lathan) as they grow up and pursue their shared dream of playing professional basketball. The film abandons comedy and instead culminates in a one-on-one basketball game for the future of their relationship that will surely make your heart ache.
New Line Productions
"Two Can Play That Game"
This Vivica A. Fox-Morris Chestnut rom-com pulls from a familiar story: A self-assured relationship veteran finds herself having difficulty maintaining a relationship. In "Two Can Play That Game" Fox's character puts forth an all-out assault dubbed the "10-day-plan" in order to get Chestnut crawling back to her.
Screen Gems
"Brown Sugar"
This list clearly needed more representation from Taye Diggs and Sanaa Lathan. Their 2003 rom-com boasts supporting roles from Queen Latifah and Mos Def. In "Brown Sugar" Dre (Diggs) and Syd (Lathan) have been close friends since childhood, but after Dre proposes to his girlfriend Syd realizes that her best friend might actually be the love of her life.
IMDb
"Deliver Us From Eva"
It's a take on William Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew." In "Deliver Us From Eva," which stars Gabrielle Union and LL Cool J, Eva is an uptight single woman meddling in her sisters' love lives. To keep her from disrupting their relationships the sisters' boyfriends pay notorious ladies man Ray to romance her, date her and break it off a few weeks later. But of course, they fall in love. Eleanor Ringel Cater wrote for the Atlanta Journal Constitution when the film came out: "Not only is this a funny and romantic movie, but it proves, yet again, that movies can and, in some instances, should be colorblind."
Jim Sheldon/IMDb
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“Deliver Us From Eva” and “She’s Gotta Have It” are among the hits that prove that movies, especially romantic comedies, can be colorblind
"How Stella Got Her Groove Back"
"How Stella Got Her Groove Back" turned 20 on Aug 14. The film, adapted from Terry McMillan's best-selling novel, introduced the film community to Taye Diggs, then a broadway actor known for "Rent." It also gave Angela Bassett one of the defining roles of her career. Her Stella character is an overworked single mom in need of a vacation and some romance, so best friend Whoopi Goldberg takes her to Jamaica, where she meets and falls in love with Winston Shakespeare (Diggs), a man 20 years her junior. RollingStone critic Peter Travers said of the film: "Whether you regard Stella’s getting her groove back as a feminist battle cry or as a silly wish-fulfillment fantasy, the movie delivers guilt-free escapism about pretty people having wicked-hot fun in pretty places."
Rotten Tomatoes
IMDb
