Humans learn about and interpret the world and their relationships through stories, which is one of the reasons it’s so important to reflect a broad diversity of people, ideas, and situations in the artistic telling of our cultural stories. We have seen a flourishing of film and television in recent years showcasing African American characters, communities, and history. In honor of Black History Month, we wanted to share a few films focused on stories about finance and entrepreneurship. If you haven’t seen these, settle in and get ready to be inspired:

The Banker, 2020

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6285944/

Starring Anthony Mackie and Samuel L. Jackson, the film follows the true story of two of the first African American bankers in the U.S., who partner with a white man to serve as front man to bypass racist practices.

The Pursuit of Happyness, 2006

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0454921/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

Based on the memoir of Chirs Gardner, this Will Smith film chronicles the tale of Gardner’s experience going from homeless salesman to becoming a stockbroker (and eventually forming his own multimillion-dollar brokerage firm).

She Did That, 2019

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11708860/plotsummary/?ref_=tt_ov_pl

A documentary from Renae Bluitt, author of the “In Her Shoes” blog, about four Black female entrepreneurs who work to set the stage for the next generation of female business leaders.

Self Made, 2020

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8771910/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

Octavia Spencer and Tiffany Hadish star in this based-on-a-true story of Madam C.J. Walker, America’s first female self-made millionaire who launched a beauty empire in the late 19^th century.

Lionheart, 2018

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7707314/?ref_=fn_al_tt_4

Produced in Nigeria, this film, described as both a drama and a comedy, tells the story of a woman who wants to take over her father’s company in a male-dominated industry when he must step down as a result of health issues.