February is Black History Month! What better way to observe this uniquely American celebration than with a curated list of films and television shows that tell Black stories! Disney+ offers a plethora of its works both old and new.
The beauty of this streaming service is its rich array of Disney content dating back to the 1930s. With such a massive library comes access to the films and TV shows that highlight diversity through the scope of Disney magic. To find the Disney content that highlights black stories, look no further! Here is a list of things to stream on Disney+ in observance of Black History Month.
Remember the Titans (2000)
Starring the marvelous Denzel Washington, Remember the Titans (2000) is the story of a Virginia high school in 1971 that is forced to integrate by the school board, merging an all-black football team with an all-white one. The championed team must overcome the trials of segregation and generational racism to maintain it’s victorious reputation. This film received the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Motion Picture!
Smart Guy (1997)
Tahj Mowry plays a 10-year-old genius in Smart Guy, the Disney Channel series that ran from 1997 until 1999. This hilarious sitcom followed a boy-genius throughout high school where he was challenged by adults, fellow students, and bullies.
T.J. Henderson must navigate his way through a grown-up world while still being an adorable boy raised by his loving dad and siblings.
Ruby Bridges (1998)
Ruby Bridges (1998) is the real-life story of the brave 6-year-old girl who is chosen to help integrate an all-white school in New Orleans. Ruby would be among the first black students to integrate schools within the Deep South. This film follows Ruby’s journey as she is assisted by her teacher and a child psychiatrist to help her through this scary and violent time. It is incredible to consider that children as young as Ruby were expected to face crowds of white adults, threatening, and chanting with signs. This film highlights what bravery and determination can accomplish in the fight towards equality.
That’s So Raven (2003)
Starring the amazing Raven-Symoné, this next choice is a favorite for viewers across generations! That’s So Raven (2003) follows psychic teenager Raven Baxter through her high school days.
Raven must balance family, friends and her grades, all while figuring out her abilities to see into the future. This series is often compared to a modern-day “I Love Lucy," featuring wild costumes and hilarious hi-jinks! That’s So Raven won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children’s Program.
Cool Runnings (1993)
Black history is not just exclusive to the United States. There are many great black stories to tell from all over the globe! This heartwarming story takes place in Jamaica. Cool Runnings is the story of four young men from Jamaica who have dreams of competing in the Winter Olympics as a bobsledding team (although they’ve never seen real snow). This story is equal parts funny and nail-biting as the team uses the help of a disgraced former bobsled champion to achieve victory.
The Princess and the Frog (2009)
The story of Princess Tiana, Disney’s first African-American Princess! The Princess and the Frog (2009) brought a historical moment with its debut. This film, because of it’s a momentary return to hand-drawn animation and the introduction of a black woman into the Disney-Princess Canon, is remarked on as a favorite and a staple in black history! This film follows Tiana as she is accidentally turned into a frog by Voodoo master Doctor Facilier. We follow her on a journey to return to her state as a human being and finding true love along the way.
Queen of Katwe (2016)
The beautiful Lupita Nyong’o Stars in this next film, taking place in a village called Katwe in Uganda. Phiona is a 10-year-old girl who struggles with her small family in poverty when her life is changed by her introduction to the game of chess. Phiona becomes fixated on chess, developing a natural knack for the game. It is through her talent that she uses chess as an escape for her family from a life of poverty. Queen of Katwe is triumphant! It tells a story of both struggle and victory as well as examine what education can do for girls in African nations and around the world!
The Proud Family (2001)
The Proud Family ran from 2001 until 2005 and is filled with comedy, adventure, music and heartwarming stories from an African-American family. Penny Proud is a growing tween navigating family life and her social life. The show follows her daily experiences as well as the vibrant personalities of her family members!
The proud family is a familiar hit that featured the voice talents of several well known black actors such as Kyla Pratt, Tommy Davidson, and Jo Marie Payton as “Suga Mama”.
The Color of Friendship (2000)
The Color of Friendship (2000) is a Disney Channel Original Film that beautifully depicts the Black American family through the eyes of a young white girl from South Africa. Taking place in 1977 during apartheid, Mahree is visiting a US congressman to stay with his family for a semester abroad. Both parties are surprised at the race of the other upon meeting, presenting a racial divide with the added layer of cultural differences between South Africa and the USA. Nevertheless a friendship blossoms between Mahree and Piper, the black girl who must look past her own prejudices about white people during this time.
Black Panther (2018)
Black Panther (2018) earned a historic $1.3 Billion in the box offices! The first black title character for an MCU film, Black Panther is a well-known hero among Marvel comic book fans. This film, however, introduced a new black audience to King T’Challa who must defend his nation against the wrath and hatred of those scorned by the reality of blackness in the modern world. There’s truly no black history month celebration without the one and only Black Panther, a historic milestone in a film to see a black character as a Marvel superhero!
