dvds that celebrate african american culture

Rated PG

What It's About: David, the son of a Louisiana sharecropper, is forced to grow up after his well-intentioned father is sentenced to a year of hard labor for stealing a ham to feed his hungry family.

Why It's Important: This is a movie about hope and the value of family. The relationship between David's parents (including Cicely Tyson in a quietly moving performance) is strong and solid, and provides a crucial foundation for their children. Despite overwhelming hardship, the family members never give up, living by David's father creed, "You lose some of the time what you go after, but you lose all of the time what you don't go after."

Read the Flick for Kids Age-by-Age guide for Sounder.

Not Rated

What It's About: The only African American in a small Iowa town, Cora (Regina Taylor) works as a housekeeper for a wealthy white family and develops a special bond with her employer's daughter.

Why It's Important: The movie, based on a Langston Hughes short story, reveals the remarkable ability of the human spirit to endure and overcome great emotional pain. Cora is a proud, kindhearted woman who proves that compassion is color-blind. Her social climbing boss may have the money, but Cora is far richer in the things that really matter.

Rated G

What It's About: In this African-American version of The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy (Diana Ross) is a shy Harlem schoolteacher who finds herself in a magical land after getting caught in a blizzard.

Why It's Important: This musical extravaganza takes a timeless tale and reinterprets it with a cultural twist. The foot-stompin' music's got a Motown beat, and the beloved characters are portrayed by top African-American performers including Michael Jackson, Lena Horne, Nipsey Russell, and Richard Pryor.

Rated PG

What It's About: Against most people's expectations, an 11-year-old girl from south Los Angeles makes her way to the National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.

Why It's Important: With a stellar cast including Laurence Fishburne and Angela Bassett, this inspiring family film has many important messages to impart. As spunky Akeelah warily learns that she should be proud of her talent rather than hiding it for fear of appearing "nerdy," young viewers will also realize that they have the ability to control their destiny but must make the choice to do so. Kids may finally understand why they're always being told to "use their words," and will be surprised to discover that words have the power to literally change the world.

Read the Flick for Kids Age-by-Age guide for Akeelah and the Bee.

Rated PG-13

What It's About: After being replaced by her prettier but less talented back-up (Beyoncé), lead singer Effie (Jennifer Hudson) leaves the Dreamettes to pursue a solo career.

Why It's Important: Loosely based on the '60's music scene, this big-screen adaptation of the hit Broadway play brings kids back to a time when African-American performers were encouraged to tone down their style to appeal to a mass--a.k.a. white--audience. As the civil rights movement enters the picture, the movie offers a valuable history lesson and a glimpse into the roots of today's chart-toppers. The fact that Jennifer Hudson, who was kicked off American Idol, won an Academy Award for this performance, makes the whole story even more empowering for aspiring young stars.

Read the Flick for Kids Age-by-Age guide for Dreamgirls.

Not Rated

What It's About: The members of an extended African-American family living in a cramped Chicago apartment believe that a $10,000 insurance check will be their ticket to achieving the American dream, although they all have different ideas on which route to take to get there.

Why It's Important: This black and white classic based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning play was considered groundbreaking when it was originally released in 1961 as it was one of the first movies to feature an all-African-American cast (led by the incomparable Sidney Poitier). The story takes an unflinching look at one family's life and reveals that, no matter what our skin color, we all have the same needs and desires for dignity, respect and a safe place to call home.

Not Rated

What It's About: The history of black America is revealed through the memories of a 110-year-old woman (Cicely Tyson) who lived through slavery, the KKK, and the civil rights movement.

Why It's Important: This historical drama won nine Emmy awards for its sweeping look into the events that shaped the lives of African Americans. Focusing on the way these events affect one woman gives them greater impact and puts a human face on situations young children have only read about in school.