Watch a film to celebrate Black History Month

You’ll need

Device with access to the internet
Device to show photos, videos, or slides
Chairs
Projector
Screen
Speakers
Popcorn or other snacks (optional)

Before you begin

Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. There's also more guidance to help you carry out your risk assessment, including examples.
Make sure all young people and adults involved in the activity know how to take part safely.
Make sure you’ll have enough adult helpers. You may need some parents and carers to help.

Planning and setting up this activity

Choose a theme for your movie night. You could watch a film that’s about an aspect of black history or choose one that’s a good example of black representation on screen. We’ve included some suggestions below.
Make a shortlist of three or four films and send the shortlist to parents and carers, so they have a chance to chat to you if they have any concerns.
The BBFC classifies films and there’s usually some detail about why they get the classification. If you wanted to avoid certain content or topics (for example, bad language, drug use or gun violence), you could search whether the films are suitable.
Decide how you’ll show the film and make sure you have everything you need, including any licenses. Set up the equipment before everyone arrives so you’re ready to go. You may want to see if you can ask a local cinema to put the film on for you or watch a film that’s currently at the cinema. Take a look at our guidance on motion picture licensing.
If you’re serving food, check for allergies, intolerances, fasting, food-related medical conditions, eating problems, food sensitivities or dietary requirements, then adjust the food items used as needed. This may include making sure there’s no cross-contamination of packaging and no cross-contamination during the storage, preparation, cooking and serving. If you’re unsure, check with the young person and their parents or carers. You can check with the adult directly if it’s a volunteer or helper.
If you want some extra support or information on discussing Black History Month with young people, take a look at Scouts’ Black History Month information. It’s a good idea to do this before your session so you feel prepared to lead a discussion.

Running this activity

Set up your cinema

It’s up to you to decide how you’ll set the scene and make your cinema experience feel like the real deal. Some things to think about are:

Will you host your cinema indoors or have an open-air cinema for a screening under the stars?
Make sure you’ve got enough chairs (or cushions or beanbags) for everyone.
Think about how to make it comfortable. Why not see if people could bring their own pillow (or even a sleeping bag) from home to avoid sharing?
How will you show the film? You could use a projector (ask another group or a local school if they have one you can borrow) and project onto a screen, wall, or old white sheet.
No film is complete without snacks! You could ask everyone to bring their own, or buy a big bag of popcorn and put it in individual containers for everyone to enjoy.

Choose your film

Gather everyone together, explain that you’re going to watch a film and introduce the theme chosen, then either name the film you’re going to watch or let everyone vote from the shortlist of films. You should’ve already shown your shortlist to people’s parents and carers.
Let people have a chance to ask any questions they have about the films and chat about their choices. It’s up to you how you vote – people could close their eyes and put their hands up to make it anonymous.
Enjoy watching your film!

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018): This animated film features Miles Morales, a bi-racial teenager who becomes Spider-Man. His dad is African-American and his mum is Afro-Puerto Rican.
The Lion King (2019): A live-action remake of the classic animated film that follows young Simba as he learns about responsibility and bravery after the tragic loss of his father, King Mufasa, and his journey to reclaim his throne.
Hidden Figures (2016): This inspiring film tells the true story of three African American women mathematicians who played crucial roles at NASA during the Space Race, highlighting their contributions and struggles for equality.
The Karate Kid (2009): A remake of the classic film, it tells the story of Dre, a young boy who learns kung fu from Mr. Han, his mentor, to defend himself against bullies and find confidence in a new environment.
Cool Runnings (1994): This comedy is inspired by the true story of the first Jamaican bobsled team, who, despite facing challenges and skepticism, train hard to compete in the Winter Olympics, highlighting determination and friendship.
The Proud Family Movie (2005): Based on the animated series, this film follows Penny Proud and her family as they face a villain who wants to take over their town, emphasising the importance of family and friendship.
The Pursuit of Happyness (2006): Based on a true story, this inspirational film follows Chris Gardner as he struggles with homelessness while raising his young son, showcasing his determination to create a better life for them.
Sister Act (1992): A comedy about a lounge singer, Deloris, who goes into witness protection in a convent. She brings her unique style to the choir, revitalising the nuns and forming unexpected friendships.
The Little Mermaid (2023): A live-action adaptation of the beloved animated classic, it tells the story of Ariel, a young mermaid princess who dreams of living on land and falls in love with a human prince, exploring themes of love and identity.
Annie (2014): This musical adaptation follows Annie, an optimistic orphan, who is taken in by billionaire Will Stacks. She teaches him about love and family while searching for her real parents.
Hairspray (2007): Set in the 1960s, this musical follows Tracy Turnblad, a plus-sized girl who dreams of dancing on a local TV show. The film tackles issues of race, body positivity, and acceptance through its catchy songs.
Becoming (2020): This documentary film follows former First Lady Michelle Obama as she embarks on her book tour, sharing her experiences and insights while connecting with people across the country.
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (2019): Based on a true story, this film tells the tale of a young Malawian boy, William, who builds a windmill to save his village from famine, showcasing ingenuity and resilience.

Reflection

This activity was all about learning about black history and black culture. Why’s it important to learn about black history and culture or celebrate Black History Month?

Now, think about the film everyone watched. Who was your favourite character? Why were they your favourite? What do you think the most important part of the film was? How did the film make you feel? Can you describe the film in three words? Why do you think it’s important to have black main characters on screen? If your film was about a particular aspect of black history, what was the most interesting thing you learned? Did anything surprising happen in the film? Would you recommend this film to a friend? Why or why not?

Ask everyone to think about the books, films, and TV shows that they watch. Think about the different roles that black people play: are they often leading roles or supporting characters? Are they authority figures, heroes, or villains? Why is it important that black people are represented in films? People could think about how underrepresentation is linked to injustice and inequity. Do people think they could find other examples of films that challenge people’s preconceptions or teach them something new?

Safety

All activities must be safely managed. You must complete a thorough risk assessment and take appropriate steps to reduce risk. Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. Always get approval for the activity, and have suitable supervision and an InTouch process.

Online safety: Supervise young people when they’re online and give them advice about staying safe. Take a look at our online safety or bullying guidance. The NSPCC offers more advice and guidance, too. If you want to know more about specific social networks and games, Childnet has information and safety tips for apps. You can also report anything that’s worried you online to the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command. As always, if you’ve got concerns about a young person’s welfare, including their online experiences, follow the Yellow Card to make a report.