8 Great Black, Queer Movies To Celebrate Black History Month

As we round out Black History Month here in the US, we wanted to take a look at some of the best Black, Queer films out there. We are thankfully in a moment in time where Black and Queer stories are getting more visibility than they ever have before. These films celebrate the intersectional juncture of those two facets of what it means to be American, and the deep complexities that are layered within those identities. Here's a look at 8 of the best:

Moonlight

Considered by many to be one of the greatest movies of this generation, Moonlight tells the story of Chiron, a gay, Black boy growing up in Miami. Moonlight takes a gut-wrenching deep-dive into Chiron's journey as Black, as Queer, and as a man, and tells it through the lens of his relationship to family, whether biological or chosen. Writer Tarell Alvin McCraney adapted this from his play, In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue, earning him and director Barry Jenkins the Oscar for Best Picture in 2016. Also, let's not forget when the men of Moonlight were Calvin Klein's underwear campaign! WHEW!

Portrait of Jason

From director Shirley Clarke, Portrait of Jason was the 1967 documentary about Jason Holliday, iconic cabaret performer and sex worker, who waxes philosophical about his experience as a Black, gay man during the Civil Rights movement. Born Aaron Payne, Holliday says "Jason Holliday was created in San Francisco, and San Francisco is a place to be created." His career "began at five years old running errands for hookers, pimps, and bootleggers" and all throughout the film he's charming, witty, and unapologetic in his existence as a gay, Black man. "Everyone in New York City has a gimmick. So I found out that mine was 'hustler'." This man is an absolute icon and if you didn't know about him before, then now is your chance to get on board!

Paris Is Burning

Decade: '80s. City: New York. Era: ICONIC. Filmed over 7 years by director Jennie Livinston, Paris Is Burning is the brilliant documentary about the 1980s Ball Culture of NYC’s Black and Latinx Queer community. The gays of today love calling things "Mother", but there was no "Mother" before there was Ball Culture. Nor would there be a RuPaul's Drag Race without Ball Culture. Paris Is Burning covers everything from fashion to AIDS, to a homophobic and racist society that wants (present tense intended) to threaten Black and Queer existences. This movie is also a crash course in some of the most iconic names of Black, Queer history.

Kiki

While Paris Is Burning is the OG Queen of the Ball, Kiki is decidedly the heir to its throne. The 2016 documentary tells the story of a new set of Black, Queer artists in NYC who are a part of the Ball Culture. Kiki looks at the Ball Culture as a "competitive scene to get away from rejection, homophobia, lack of acceptance." This art is a "safe haven" from a system that polices Black, Queer existence, and also prevents them from gaining access to resources needed to even survive.

Naz & Maalik

It's already difficult enough to be simultaneously Black and Gay in America, but throw being Muslim into the mix and you've got an entirely new set of prejudices to contend with. That's the gist of Naz & Maalik. From director Jay Dockendorf, the film stars Kerwin Johnson Jr. and Curtiss Cook Jr. as Naz and Maalik, respectively. It spans one Friday for the two Brooklynites, and their makeout sessions in the alleys catch the eye of an FBI agent who has been watching their mosque. This rattles their day, their lives, and their romance. The two stars are not only outstanding actors, but also gorgeous up-and-coming stars, and this movie is definitely worth a watch!

Tangerine

Filmed entirely on an iPhone, Tangerine was one of the most talked about and celebrated movies of 2015. Tangerine explores the lives of Sin-Dee (Kitana Kiki Rodriguez) and Alexandra (Mya Taylor), two Black, trans sex workers in Los Angeles. Fresh out of a month-long stint in prison, the two are on the hunt to find out if Sin-Dee's pimp boyfriend has been cheating on her while she was locked up. The movie is gritty, hilarious, beautifully intimate look at a part of society most don't get to see.

Bessie

Bessie Smith was Black, beautiful, big, brilliant, and bisexual, and few artists have had a more important impact on the shaping of American music and culture than she did. Starring Queer actress Queen Latifah, Bessie tells Smith's story and how she fought against racism, homophobia, and economic class warfare while earning herself the title of "The Empress of Blues." Bessie also stars gay icon, the late, great Michael K. Williams. If you haven't seen this movie yet, it's decidedly a "must" and part of the Queer canon.

The Wound

If you ever needed a reminder about how deeply rooted Queerness is to our existence as people, look no further than The Wound. This movie explores the tribal ceremonies of the South African Xhosa people, specifically a male's circumcision as part of his journey into becoming a man. The role of male figures in shaping our manhood is brought to the forefront, particularly because two of the male leaders in this film are gay, one of whom is assigned to a tribe member who is also gay. The movie is a profoundly beautiful look at tradition, community, and society's view of masculinity through the lens of the Xhosa people. The Wound was also South Africa's entry for Best Foreign Language Film at the 90th Academy Awards.

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