There are many good movies about racial issues out there, but these three are my favorite because each one explores the issue with a unique twist (arranged in order of the time period they are set in):
1. Belle (2013)
This period drama is set in 18th century England. Bell, the illegitimate mixed-race daughter of a Royal Navy Admiral, is taken to live with her great-uncle's wealthy white family.
Unique Twist - Belle experiences racial issues through a truly mixed lens as she is considered too high of rank to dine with the servants and to low to dine with her family. The movie also reverses social classes on a psychological level, as the Belle receives her father's inheritance while her white cousin, Elizabeth, receives no inheritance. This issue comes to a climax as the girls get in a fight over the man Elizabeth wishes to marry, who harassed Belle. Elizabeth declares that the man would never touch Belle because she is "beneath him" and "Illegitimate." Belle replies:
"My mother and father never married - you are correct. But my father acknowledged me as his child. It is yours who refuses to legitimize your position, Bette - that is why you are poor! And that is why it is not me who is beneath Mr. James, Bette.
2. Race (2016)
This movie is about Jesse Owen's journey experience up to and during the 1936 Olympics in Germany when Adolf Hitler was in power. (I just have to say, this title is the perfect play on words and makes me so happy!)
Unique Twist - The movie explores the racial issues surrounding the olympic games specifically during this time period, when all americans were divided on whether or not the United States should compete in the games. Owens receives pressure from both the white and black community from both sides of the issue, and he has to decide for himself whether competing in the 1936 Olympics will be viewed as an action in support of or against Hitler's ideology concerning racial issues. The movie also briefly highlights the experience of his two Jewish teammates during the games.
3. Gentleman's Agreement (1947)
A journalist is given the assignment to report on antisemitism in America and decides to do so by pretending to be Jewish in order to really experience the issue beyond the researched facts.
Unique Twist - The amazing thing about this movie is that it was made in 1947, only two years after WWII ended, so it is not a period drama. Racism doesn't always mean skin color. This movie is surprisingly complex as the main character (played by Gregory Peck... pardon me while I swoon...) experiences antisemitism from several angles. This movie also cleverly explores the passive side of racial issues through the main character's love interest, who verbally opposes antisemitism but subconsciously accepts it as part of reality.
