Black History

I've been catching some great docs this week in celebration of Black History Month.

HBO is airing Elvis Mitchell and Timothy Greenfield-Sanders' The Black List: Volume 3, the third annual installment of this provocative first-person documentary series, featuring intimate portraits and candid insights from some of today's most fascinating African-American icons. The cinematography in particular is terrific - the subjects are shot beautifully against a plain blackdrop, which makes their stirring perspectives stand out even more.

The fine folks at VH1 Rock Docs have assembled a fun history of the legendary, influential television dance series, Soul Train in Soul Train: The Hippest Trip in America. The documentary celebrates the 40th anniversary of this landmark show, which was steered by charismatic host and executive producer Don Cornelius, and was the longest-running, first-run syndicated series in history. It was also the arbiter of African-American music and culture through the eras of soul, disco and hip-hop, before ending its successful run in 2006. After watching the film, I feel like standing up for the Soul Train dance line - who's with me?!

I also want to see PBS Independent Lens' upcoming documentary, Behind the Rainbow, which chronicles the changes in South Africa's post-apartheid political landscape. Looks to be a compelling film about that nation's struggles with equality.

Check these out for cool reflections and inspiring voices in the history of the African diaspora.