The Anti-Racist Documentaries You Can Watch on Netflix Right Now

57 years ago Martin Luther King Jr. addressed a crowd of some 250,000 people at the Lincoln Memorial to call for an end to racism. “I Have a Dream” is one of the most powerful speeches delivered in history. To date, King’s fight for freedom from racism continues. Whether you’re an American or from another part of the world, whether you’re white, black, brown or yellow, whether you’re removed from the situation or in the thick of it, you’re a part of the human narrative. And that’s enough reason to care about what is happening around the world.

We all have a part to play in the place that the world becomes. If you’re wondering where you stand in all of this, for one, it starts with understanding that every voice matters. It all really starts with you educating yourself about the ongoing protests in America, why all of this is happening and how you can then productively contribute to the ongoing conversation about racism no matter which part of the world you may be from. The resources at your disposal are aplenty. On Instagram, @nowhitesaviours, @laylafsaad, @ckyourprivilege, @katycatalyst and @thegreatunlearn are some of the many accounts you can follow for concise bites of knowledge. But to delve deeper into the issue for a broader understanding, these documentaries on Netflix will do the job. Watch, learn, apply.

13TH

Released in 2016, 13th dives deep into the history racial inequality in America through an inquisition into the disproportionate number of African Americans kept behind the bars in prisons across the country. It presents a wider context to the problem and highlights the sheer effect and toll systematic racism has taken on the entire community of African Americans despite the passing of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution which ended slavery.

Patriotic Act with Hasan Minhaj: The Broken Policing System

In an episode dedicated to America’s broken policing system, Hasan Minhaj sheds light on all the ways in which policies and laws have been designed to protect even policemen who outrightly violate their intended role in society of protecting the people. You can trust Minhaj to approach even the toughest issues in good humour.

The Rachel Divide

The Rachel Divide follows the narrative of Rachel Dolezal – a controversial white woman who identifies as black. While it is a riveting story, this documentary is one that has prompted discomfort amongst the African American community whose narrative has been presented from the point of view of a white woman. At the end of the documentary, you should be asking yourself if you weren’t a minority, how do you speak out about racism without making it about you.

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