Slavery on Screen

The election of the first African-American president prompted something of a renaissance for films about slavery and race as audiences became more receptive to this new history. During Obama’s presidency, films including Lincoln, Django Unchained, 12 Years a Slave, The Birth of a Nation, and 13th were released. These movies have helped popularize a more holistic history of slavery and its legacy, and in doing so have broadened the space in public discourse to consider the role of racism in the United States today.