100 Years of Black History: From Erasure to the Power of Black Film

This February marks the 100th year that, as a country, we have given Black Americans federal recognition and have been celebrating their accomplishments, struggles, and stories. In 1926, Carter G. Woodson launched Black History Week to address the almost total absence of Black people in U.S. history books. It was placed in February to honor Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. Black History Month has evolved significantly since 1926; in 1976, it was officially recognized by the federal government and became a month-long cultural observance. 

In the past, there was more of an emphasis on significant cultural figures, ministers, scholars, abolitionists, and intellectuals, whereas now the focus has shifted to encompass all Black people and tries to encapsulate experiences from all paths. Here are a few examples of stories that were once ignored and are now spotlighted: enslaved people, laborers, Black women, queer and trans leaders, artists, athletes, and activists. 

Black History Month is a time to analyze, critique, and learn from systemic oppression and the injustices perpetrated against the Black community, while also leaving room to focus on Black artists, culture, and stories of resilience, success, and joy. Nowhere is this evolution more visible than in cinema.

Modern Black filmmakers are not only telling stories that were once excluded; they are also reshaping film itself. Directors like Spike Lee, Jordan Peele, Ryan Coogler, and Nia DaCosta have expanded the possibilities of Black storytelling on screen. From Lee’s politically urgent filmmaking to Peele’s genre-bending social horror to Coogler’s exciting epics to DaCosta’s bold reimagining of legacy and myth, these directors prove that Black cinema cannot be contained in neat categories. 

At TheArchive, we believe Black History Month is not only about looking forward but also about revisiting and preserving the stories that paved the way. One powerful example from our library is  A Woman Called Moses, available in full on our YouTube channel. 

Starring Cicely Tyson as Harriet Tubman, A Woman Called Moses dramatizes the life of the escaped enslaved woman who risked her freedom again and again to guide others north through the Underground Railroad. The series does not shy away from the physical and emotional toll of Tubman’s work, including her epileptic seizures, which add urgency and vulnerability to her story. Narrated by Orson Welles and adapted from Marcy Heidish’s novel, the series stands as a reminder of how long Black filmmakers and performers have been fighting to bring these stories, and many others,  to the screen.

Looking for even more ways to watch and enjoy excellent movies & TV series?!? Head on over to YouTube and subscribe to Grapevine Documentaries, Multicom Entertainment, and TheArchive. These channels are dedicated to aficionados and lovers of cinema. You’ll find rare, retro, and restored films and TV, ranging from indies and series to Oscar-winning docs, unearthed MOWs, a killer horror library, and MORE!  

TheArchive channel is dedicated to aficionados and lovers of story, craft, and silver screen fun – streaming rare, retro, and restored films and classic TV. From indies and series to Oscar-winning documentaries, unearthed MOWs, and a killer horror library, TheArchive delivers forgotten, never-before-seen gems for free and many in 4K. Marilyn, Karloff, and Orson Welles stream alongside Reese, Keanu, and Samuel L. Jackson. Find true stories of Queen, Hendrix, and Sinatra, an LGBTQ library, MLK bios, and world history docs. TheArchive has the movies and shows you either saw, should’ve seen, or should be watching now!