From multi-award-winning anthology series to indie shorts.
TV & Film From multi-award-winning anthology series to indie shorts. The murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25, 2020, sparked a number of global demonstrations and protests against police brutality, anti-Blackness, and systematic racism. A year on, Black communities and anti-racist allies continue to fight for these causes, including here in the UK. In this country, a disproportionately high number of people from Black and ethnic minority backgrounds die as a result of use of force and restraint by police, according to investigative charity Inquest, and incidents such as the Windursh scandal illustrate the ways in which anti-Blackness is entrenched in our political and social systems. Standing in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement is a powerful – and necessary – way to enact change, but it is also important to listen and learn about the Black British experience, be that by reading books or articles on the matter, listening to podcasts, or supporting anti-racist organisations. What we watch is another way of educating ourselves, and that includes the television shows and films we stream. To that end, here are a sample of movies and series that offer meaningful glimpses into the lives and experiences of the Black British community (including what it is like to encounter anti-Blackness first hand); some through comedy, others through drama. Michaela Coel’s award-winning TV series Chewing Gum follows Beyoncé-obsessed Tracey Gordon as she tries to understand the world outside of her strictly religious household. Watch on All4 Set in a fictional East London housing estate, Top Boy follows its residents as they deal with the ongoing tensions between drug gangs in the area. Top Boy was taken off air in 2013 after two season but last year, much to fans delight, rapper Drake stepped in to revive the show. Season three is not yet available to stream, but seasons one and two are on Netflix UK. Watch on Netflix UK Still living with his parents and fast approaching 30, Dane (played by British comedian Dane Baptiste) is becoming increasingly frustrated with life, and his hilariously unsuccessful attempts at bettering himself are brilliantly displayed in this 2016 BBC comedy. Watch on BBC iPlayer E4’s 2013 comedy-drama Youngers centres on a group of aspirational teens from South East London who dream of making it big in the urban music scene. Watch on Amazon UK A struggling jazz band from South London discover that an elevator in a run-down block of flats is actually a time machine. A hilarious, joyful show of friendship and misadventure. An award-winning sitcom about a British family living in Peckham. Bayo and Gladys Adebanjo are a first-generation Nigerian couple who are raising their British-born children. Meet the Adebanjos uses humour to portray what a clash of African traditional values and British culture can look like. All three season and 50 episodes are now available to stream on Netflix UK. Watch on Netflix UK This classic Channel 4 sitcom centres on a British-Guyanese family whose barbershop becomes a social hub for their diverse south London community. Watch on Netflix Directed by Oscar-winner Steve McQueen, this BBC anthology film series tells five different stories of Black resilience and triumph from within London’s vibrant West Indian community. A celebration of Black culture – specifically food, music, and fashion – is at the heart of Small Axe, which went on to win numerous BAFTAs, as well as a Golden Globe, a Critic’s Choice Award, and a New York Critics Circle Award. Watch on BBC iPlayer A romantic drama set in Camden, Been So Long sees Michaela Coel and Arinzé Kene shows off their singing skills in a beautiful tale of love, motherhood, and modern dating told partly through music.
