The documentary, Racionais MC’s From The Streets Of Sao Paulo tells the story of the influential hip-hop group Racionais MC’s and how they used their voices to speak on behalf of Black people in Brazil against racism.

Considered to be on par with Public Enemy,  Racionais MC’s gained notoriety in the early 90s as they used their poetry, musical abilities and life experiences to speak truth to power.

Their journey began as street artists inspired by the hip hop they were exposed to from the U.S. It turned into a powerful movement, in which Racionais MC’s became a ‘threat’ and an enemy to the establishment. 

Incorporating interviews and footage from over the years of the group, Racionais MC’s From The Streets Of Sao Paulo highlights issues of poverty, violence and the racism which affects Black Brazilians and the Black diaspora, and how these four hip hop artists sought to put an end to it.

Entertaining and informative Racionais MC’s From The Streets Of Sao Paulo is a must see for anyone interested in activism, and truly appealing if you appreciate hip-hop.

Elvis Mitchell’s documentary, Is That Black Enough For You?!?, is jam-packed with nuggets of information on Black cinema from Hollywood’s golden age to the Blaxploitation era. 

Elvis does a wonderful job weaving movie clips, interviews with Black filmmakers and actors, and personal anecdotes along with historical facts on the representation of Blacks in the film industry, both in front of and behind the camera. 

Insightful and aspirational, the documentary paints a picture of the influence Black cinema had on the film industry as a whole, although they were not part of the mainstream. 

Whether you’re a cinephile, history buff or interested in a great documentary, Is That Black Enough For You?!? is worth watching.

Besides that, one of my favorite actors, artist, activist is in it- Harry Belafonte. Check it out…

#NEVAHBLACKDOWN