With Women’s History Month underway, UMC (www.UMC.tv) – the first and largest streaming service for Black TV and film – is bringing #BlackGirlMagic to the forefront with a selection of scripted and real-life stories showcasing the strength and successes of amazing Black women.
These women have made contributions to not only Black America but America at large. The women are showcased through this streaming service through documentaries and feature films.
Here are the offerings:
#1 – True First
In “True First,” each episode profiles an iconic historical figure that overcame fierce oppression and injustice to change history and break new ground in their field. While the series features both men and women, the first four episodes highlight pioneering women such as the first Black postal worker – Stagecoach Mary; the first African-American to run for president Shirley Chisolm; the mother of Rock n’ Roll – Sister Rosetta Tharpe; and the first African-American swimmer to win an Olympic gold medal, Simone Manuel.
#2 – Winnie Mandela
Academy Award-winner Jennifer Hudson and Academy Award nominee Terrence Howard star in this biographical feature film that profiles and chronicles the life of Winnie Mandela, showcasing her experiences from her childhood through her marriage and her husband’s incarceration.
#3 – The History Makers
Through a series of real-life stories and experiences, this documentary chronicles the stories of many well-known and unsung African-American history-makers by exploring how faith and courage led to the achievement of success. The featured list of history-making women includes poet Nikki Giovanni, political activist Angela Davis, author Terry McMillan, former ESSENCE Editor-In-Chief Susan L. Taylor, and actress Kim Fields.
#4 – The Tested
In a story reminiscent of the 2006 police killing of 23-year-old Sean Bell, Aunjanue Ellis (“Birth of a Nation”) takes on the role of Darralyn Warren, a heartbroken mother struggling to deal with the loss of her eldest son, Derek, at the hands of police.
#5 – Ties That Bind
NAACP Image Award winner Kimberly Elise stars in this powerful tale of three women bound together by a similar pain – the loss of a child. Together they embark on a journey to redemption, love, life and forgiveness as they renovate a dilapidated clinic for their local villagers.
#6 – You Belong To Me: The Ruby McCollum Story
In 1952, Ruby McCollum – a prominent and wealthy Black wom- an – killed a white doctor in Florida after suffering years of sexual abuse tied to practices in the Jim Crow South. Remarkable secrets and terrible truths were revealed during her trial and incarceration, which paved the way for change in our society. This story is made real in this documentary.
