5 Movies that Celebrate Inspirational Black Lives

I love the thrill of an inspirational movie. The energy that pours out from within long after the lights on the TV screen turn to black. The vivid visions of fulfilled dreams that keep you awake at night. The hope that pulses with every beat of your heart as you whisper the words: "I can, too." Inspirational stories are power; not because they challenge you to dream, but because they challenge you to believe that dreams come true.

However, not all stories inspire you to hope. So many movies today fill our minds with depressing thoughts and worldviews. They tell us we are alone and must beat out our own path in an unjust world. We can see the results of this in our American climate, especially when it comes to our recent racial conflicts. Our culture right now is saturated with frustration and pain, and though these emotions are absolutely warranted, we’ve allowed them to dominate us. The result is an explosion of hate and violence.

That’s why we need stories that inspire us to freedom and faith. That tell us we are never alone and true divine justice is not blind. That tell us love is the strongest weapon of all - not hate.

We need movies that inspire us to change our world.

And so, with no further ado, here is a list of five films that inspire you to change your world...one choice at a time.

#1. Gifted Hands

Gifted Hands was the first inspirational African-American movie I ever saw, so it holds a very special place in my heart. Based on Ben Carson's autobiography, a young African American boy from a low-income, single-parent home discovers a passion for medicine and against all odds becomes one of the world’s top neurosurgeons. There is a singular element of beauty and hope in this story, particularly from his illiterate mother, who consistently reminds her son he can be anybody he wants to be, if only he puts his mind to it. And this is only a taste of the richness to mine in this beautiful film. You won’t be the same after watching this.

#2. Pelé

Set in 1950s Brazil, a young boy from the slums exhibits exceptional skill in soccer and saves the dying national team in the 1958 World Cup. This is a unique favorite of mine, wholeheartedly inspirational, with a touching message about family and appreciating your roots. I also love the lush colors and creative cinematography in this film!

#3. The Pursuit of Happiness

If you have ever fallen prey to the lie that you are confined to your social expectations, then you need to watch this movie. In a nutshell, a failed salesman sets out to pursue the happiness and satisfaction he observed in an affluent broker. In order to do so, however, he takes an internship and encounters grueling obstacles with his young son as they fight to survive. Incredibly penetrating and moving, this film demonstrates how you can achieve anything you put your mind to - regardless of culture’s labels and expectations.

#4. Belle

Once upon a time, I thought this movie was yet another fairytale adaptation. (Somehow, many of the non-Disney adaptations I've watched haven't really impressed me.) To my surprise, I was mistaken. In this film, a young mulatto woman raised in a prestigious home in 18th-century England discovers the clandestine details of a case involving a slave-trading ship that has the potential to alter the course of the slave-trade industry. With stunning cinematography, actors, and historical setting, (and a dab of romance!) this film swept me off my feet. Though the value of Black lives is the theme of the entire movie, it's really much deeper. As one of the characters explains, the value we give to one "race" really defines how much we believe every human is worth.

#5. Melody 1963: Love Has to Win

Although this movie is a 45-minute Amazon Original, it’s really well worth the watch. Both inspirational and impacting, this film follows a young African-American girl in the 1960s as she encounters racism and wrestles with her response to it: Love or Hate? I believe, particularly during these times, everyone faces this choice every day, regardless of our color of skin. Because racism is not really about the color of our skin; it’s about the color of our heart.

Though we might not perceive it, our choices of entertainment subtlely determine the underlying beliefs that color our heart. The movies you watch, the books you read, the media you consume unquestionably define the way you think and perceive life. Watch horror movies 24/7 and what do you think you'll become? You'll become fearful, superstitious, and suspicious. In contrast, watch inspirational movies, and what do you think will pour out of you? Hope, optimism, and gratitude, just to name a few. I love this quote from Oscar Wilde, and I feel it speaks directly to this point:

It is what you read when you don’t have to that determines what you will be when you can’t help it. - Oscar Wilde

Who do you want to be when you can’t help it? The stories you allow to fuel you, the information you allow to grow you, the people you allow to influence you all affect who you become. This is why I believe it is so crucial to be aware of what you watch. And that is why, when I watch movies about African Americans, I want to watch stories that inspire me to rebel with love and perseverance, not with hate and warfare. I want stories that inspire me to be more. To

Have a dream that...children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. - Martin Luther King, Jr.

These are the movies I want to watch. Because this is the person I want to be.

Who do the movies you watch inspire you to be?

What do the movies you watch tell about the nation you want to live in? What stories do you want to see shape America? Share your thoughts in the comments below!