Black Lives Matter protests have erupted nationwide after the death of George Floyd.
Local, state and national leaders are racing to respond to the daily demonstrations.
Are you like many Americans wondering what you can do during this tragic time?
Cinema history may provide the answer.
Kevin Sampson, founder of the D.C. Black Film Fest, ranked his top 25 films on the issue.
Lists, he says, are traditionally crafted by mostly white scholars, critics and Academy members.
Instead, let’s use this opportunity to get a fresh black perspective by someone who has lived it.
Virgil Tibbs and Atticus Finch are notably absent from his list — and that’s precisely his point.
Even the most beloved “classics” contain inherent biases, often by well-meaning filmmakers.
So what can we viewers do to become better people in spite of our roots or privilege?
Maybe take a deep breath and realize that we are all imperfect human beings.
Allow ourselves to listen more than we speak.
Take the time to be open to new ideas.
Try something different.
Everyone has a stake in this because we are all Americans.
Regardless of your politics, try starting with these 25 movies:
