| Looking for films to see during the holiday season and into New Year? One of the heartening trends in film in 2016 has been an increase in the number of quality Black films. Just last year, a controversy erupted around the Academy Awards for lacking diversity. While the Medea comedies, the Barbershop series, black comedians, inner city crime, and Denzel or Will Smith always have an audience, movies with complex black characters and honest depictions of African American life have had a difficult time getting made or finding an audience. This year that has changed. Here is a list of highly regarded films about African American life from past years. They are followed by a list of eight from this year that are well worth seeing. In 1971, Melvin Van Peebles Sweet Sweetback SWEETBACKS . . . READ MORE |