Seeing as though it's good 'ol black history month again, I want to recommend two films that were not targeted at a mainstream audience and delve deeper than Roots/Amistad. The films are Haile Germia's Sankofa, and Tomás Gutiérrez Alea's The Last Supper...Both provide a more indepth portrait of the harsh realities of slavery and the latter provides an interesting look at Chrisitanity's effect on the African World View. The are both independent films and they are told from the perspective of the respective groups. Very interesting viewing.

The Man, starring James Earl Jones, is also a great film. Jones plays a high-ranking Senate official who -- through a freak accident -- becomes the first black president of the United States.

Shot during the 1970s, it takes a strong look at black activism, civil rights issues, foreign policy and family tensions. A great movie. And, Jones rocks the house.

lady sings the blues

Soul Food (one of my all-time favorites)
Mahogany
Rosewood

Roots.

Within Our Gates (1920) - Oscar Micheaux--the first black director--'s brilliant refutation of D. W. Griffith's "Birth of a Nation"

Imitation of Life (1934) - this is the version with Claudette Colbert; chronicles the phenomenon of the "tragic mulatto" trying to pass for white

Carmen Jones (1954) - updated reinvention of the opera starring Harry Belafonte & Dorothy Dandridge

Raisin in the Sun (1961) - adaptation of Lorraine Hansberry's play, starring Sidney Poitier, Ruby Dee, Ivan Dixon, Louis Gossett Jr. etc.

Nothing But a Man (1964) - starring jazz/blues singer Abbey Lincoln and Ivan Dixon

Native Son (1986) - adaptation of Richard Wright's book of the same name, starring Oprah Winfrey and others. I haven't seen the earlier version that stars Richard Wright as Bigger Thomas himself, but I know it's out there.

The Women of Brewster Place (1989) - tv-adaptation of the Gloria Naylor book chronicling the lives of a group of black women; with an amazing cast

Daughters of the Dust (1991) - much slept on flick by director Julie Dash; looks at generational, cultural, religious life and change in a family living in the Gullah Islands at the turn of the century. Beautiful cinematography.

And of course Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing, and what other folks have already mentioned.

Jack Johnson Movie,The Court Marshall of Jackie RObinson,Paul Roberson Documetary,Roots the FUll Volumes,Malcom X,Too Sleep with Anger,That's Black Entertainment a Full Overview that truly focuses on so much.plus also what has been mentioned.Peace