Common Sense Media: Movies featuring inspiring Black girls/women and teen books exploring Black history

Our friends at Common Sense Media have two great guides that we wanted to share with you.

The first is a guide to movies that include inspiring Black female characters. 

“Hollywood has made some progress toward diversity in films, but it’s not enough. Fortunately, there are movies with inspiring Black role models who positively affect girls’ ideas of their self-worth,” Common Sense says.

“From Tiana, the first Black Disney princess, to Misty Copeland, the first Black principal dancer at the American Ballet Theater, the hardworking heroines in these films work hard and overcome adversity to accomplish their goals. Some of these titles might need more parental input when tough topics like racism and enslavement come up. But ultimately they provide kids with messages of strength and perseverance.” 

Movies include the animated “Dancing in the Light,” which explores the journey of Black ballerina Janet Collins. Others include “Akeelah and the Bee,” “Amazing Grace” and “Woman in Motion,” a documentary about trailblazing actress Nichelle Nichols. 

You’ll find Common Sense’s entire guide to Movies with Inspiring Black Girls and Women right here.  

Also, Common Sense has a great guide to books for that let teens explore Black History. 

“Teens respond to stories that are authentic, and the books on this list emerge from real-life experiences with everything from the Civil War and sharecropping in the American South to today’s racial profiling and police shootings of young African Americans,” Common Sense Media writes. “From classics like Richard Wright’s autobiography “Black Boy” to the graphic novel “I Am Alfonso Jones,” these selections should interest a wide range of readers.

You’ll find that guide to 15 compelling books right here. 

For more great teen reads, you can also check out Common Sense’s Award-Winning African American Books and Books for Teens.