8 Black queer documentaries that explore history, race, sexuality, and identity.
Documentary films are an essential tool in archiving the vibrant and powerful history of the Black queer community and narratives. From Paris is Burning to Mama Gloria, these films have shed light on the intersection of race, sexuality, and identity in the Black queer experience.
We’ve curated a list of must-see docs highlighting powerful stories of Black queerness across the LGBTQ+ spectrum, which have influenced popular culture and continue to inspire change globally.
Paris Is Burning
This seminal documentary immerses viewers in the ballroom culture of 1980s New York City, where Black and Latin queer communities created a space to express identity, defy societal norms, and find family. Directed by Jennie Livingston and released in 1990, the film chronicles the lives of iconic figures like Pepper LaBeija and Dorian Corey, exploring themes of gender, sexuality, race, and class. While it celebrates the creativity and resilience of the ballroom scene, it also confronts the harsh realities of homophobia, transphobia, racism, and the AIDS crisis. Paris Is Burning remains a cornerstone in understanding the resilience of queer Black history and cultural innovation.
