Netflix has launched a Black Lives Matter catalogue with over 50 titles focus on the Black experience and racial injustices towards the African American community in the US. All we have to do is log on to netflix.com/blacklivesmatter or search ‘Black Lives Matter’ in the Netflix search bar.
Netflix took to Twitter to offer an explanation behind its new collection.
“When we say ‘Black Lives Matter,’ we also mean ‘Black storytelling matters. With an understanding that our commitment to true, systemic change will take time — we’re starting by highlighting powerful and complex narratives about the Black experience.”
This comes at the heels of Netflix’s statement in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, a tweet that garnered more than 1 million likes.
“To be silent is to be complicit. Black lives matter. We have a platform, and we have a duty to our Black members, employees, creators and talent to speak up.”
However, this catalogue is more for US Netflix subscribers than countries outside the US. While you can click on the link even here in Malaysia, and will be directed to a page with content on the Black experience, the library isn’t as stacked as Netflix US’. The collection also isn’t as streamlined here as it is in the US. On top of that, apart from Netflix originals — which is available to Netflix users globally — licensed content vary from country to country. For example, a Netflix user in the US will be able to watch Spike Lee’s Malcolm X on the streaming platform, but the film isn’t available to Malaysian users.
That said, there are still plenty of great African American political films available to us, both Netflix originals and otherwise.
Here are some great ones that you should check out:
- Who Killed Malcolm X (Documentary)
- 13th (Documentary)
- Dear White People (Series)
- Mudbound
- 12 Years a Slave
- When They See Us (Series)
- If Beale Street Could Talk
