Film, Music, Poetry and Photography

Summary

All items listed in the REAL resource bank were suggested by research participants of the ‘Exploring Race and Ethnicity on Social Science Degree Programmes’ project, or colleagues at University of Brighton, as resources they had found useful in their own teaching. They are not intended as definitive recommendations from the project team, and readers should make their own judgements as to which items would be most useful and appropriate for their needs. Similarly, the short summaries of each listed item are meant as approximate indicators rather than comprehensive synopses and should act primarily as a starting point for further exploration.

American Fiction (2023) Directed by Cord Jefferson. Orion Pictures, 120 mins [Feature film].

Cord Jefferson’s American Fiction satirically explores race, representation, and the publishing industry through the story of African-American novelist Thelonious “Monk” Ellison, who writes a faux “Black” memoir to critique stereotypes. The film interrogates cultural expectations of Black writers, authenticity, and systemic pressures, making it a compelling resource for discussions on race, identity, and media representation.

Angelou, M. (1978) Still I Rise [Poem]. In: And Still I Rise: A Book of Poems. Random House.

This poem by Maya Angelou is a confident declaration of resilience against oppression and racism, affirming dignity, self‑worth and hope. It speaks of overcoming historical injustice, discrimination and the legacy of slavery, asserting that no matter the attempts to suppress, the speaker will continue to “rise.” It resonates across race, gender and power dynamics.

BlacKkKlansman (2018) Directed by Spike Lee. Universal Pictures, 135 mins [Feature film].

A Black police officer infiltrates the Ku Klux Klan with support from a white colleague who attends in person. Blending satire and historical drama, the story exposes white supremacy, police racism and propaganda, while connecting segregation-era racism to contemporary America and the enduring legacy of colonialism, nationalism and racial violence.

Chi-Raq (2015) Directed by Spike Lee. Lionsgate, 120 mins [Feature film].

In South-Side Chicago, two rival gangs escalate violence while a grieving mother and community elder rally women to launch a sex strike until the men lay down arms. Directed by Spike Lee, the film uses satire and musical elements to explore gun violence, masculinity, race and community activism.

Dave (2019) Black [Song].

This UK rap track reflects on what being Black means from the perspective of the artist, combining pride and critique. It explores identity, belonging and systemic injustice, asserting that “Black is beautiful, Black is joy, Black is pain,” while situating the experience within broader cultural, historical and racial structures.

Do the Right Thing (1989) Directed by Spike Lee. Universal Pictures, 120 mins [Feature film].

Set in Chicago amid escalating gun violence, the film follows women who organise a sex strike to force men to stop gang conflict. Using satire, music and political commentary, it explores race, misogyny, community activism, systemic neglect and the legacy of colonial power structures that shape contemporary racialised violence and inequality.

 I, Too, Am Harvard (2014) [Online exhibition] Tumblr.

This photographic campaign features Black and other racially minoritised students at Harvard University holding handwritten signs articulating their experiences of belonging, exclusion or stereotype. It exposes how racial identity intersects with elite education and invites reflection on institutional culture, representation, voice and the legacy of exclusion in higher education.

M.I.A. (2016) Borders [Song].

M.I.A.’s “Borders” is an electronic track blending hip hop and global influences, written in two hours and released with a provocative video highlighting the 2015 migrant crisis. Featuring real refugees, it critiques global inequality and border politics. The video went viral, generating praise, controversy and debate about representation and activism.

 Muzondiwa, T. (2019) New Zealand Race Unity Speech Award Finalist [Poetic speech].

A young immigrant from Zimbabwe and finalist in the Race Unity Speech Awards at Mount Albert Grammar School, Takunda Muzondiwa delivers a poetic speech reflecting on diaspora identity, belonging and the legacy of colonialism. She explores language, culture and educational inequity, asserting that systemic bias rooted in coloniality still affects learners today.

 Pollard, I. (1988) Pastoral Interlude [photograph collection].

A photographic series by Ingrid Pollard positioning Black figures within the rural English landscape—particularly the Lake District—the work challenges assumptions about belonging, whiteness and national identity. Each image pairs hand-tinted photographs with evocative text, exposing how colonial legacies and racial absence inflect notions of “heritage” and the countryside in Britain.

 Small Axe (2020) BBC 1, December 13, 5 x 60 mins [TV series].

This five-part anthology chronicles the lives of West Indian immigrants and their descendants in London from the late-1960s to the early-1980s, depicting resistance to racism, policing, schooling and institutional neglect through dramatized real-life episodes. It foregrounds colonial legacies, Black British identity and histories often omitted from national narratives.

Smith, D. (2014) ‘Alternate names for black boys’ [Poem]. Poetry, March.

This poem by Danez Smith explores the ways Black boys are racialised and socially categorised, examining the impact of stereotypes, systemic bias, and societal expectations on identity and self-perception. It highlights the intersections of race, masculinity, and structural inequality, inviting reflection on how language and culture shape experiences of marginalisation.

The Eye of the Storm (2011) Directed by Fred Schepisi. Transmission, 120 mins [Feature film].

This Australian drama follows a powerful, dying matriarch whose adult children return home seeking inheritance. Beneath the family’s wealth and privilege lies a story shaped by class hierarchies, emotional estrangement and cultural arrogance linked to Australia’s colonial legacy. The film exposes how power, entitlement and heritage influence identity, relationships and social inequality.