Trailblazers: Angela Bassett

Based on the life of the legendary soul singer, Tina Turner (Angela Bassett) — born Anna Mae Bullock — discovers her love of singing in her Tennessee church choir. She moves to St. Louis to pursue a career, and there she meets the charismatic Ike Turner (Laurence Fishburne), who rechristens her Tina and offers to help her succeed. As a musical team, Ike and Tina take the charts by storm. But as his physical abuse worsens, Tina has to make the tough decision to leave Ike and set out on her own.

Struggling to pay the bills, single mom Naima (Jennifer Hudson) sends her teenage son Langston (Jacob Latimore) to live with his estranged grandparents, Reverend Cornell and Aretha Cobbs (Forest Whitaker and Angela Bassett) in New York City. At first Langston resents their strict household, but with the help of new friends — and a little divine intervention — he embarks on an inspirational journey of self-discovery that brings the whole family together.

Touching story of four resilient African-American women who remain close friends through a litany of husbands, lovers and hairstyles. Based on a novel by Terry McMillan.

On New Year’s Eve 1999, an ex cop finds his life and the lives of the people around him are in serious danger when he comes across a computer diskette that implicates the killers of a popular rap artist.

Outstanding chronicle of one of America’s most controversial black leaders, assassinated in 1965. Washington’s portrayal is incredible!

AKEELAH AND THE BEE is the inspirational story of Akeelah Anderson (Keke Palmer), an eleven-year-old girl from South Los Angeles with a gift for words. Despite the objections of her mother Tanya (Angela Bassett), Akeelah enters various spelling contests, for which she is tutored by the forthright Dr. Larabee (Laurence Fishburne), her principal Mr. Welch (Curtis Armstrong), and the proud residents of her neighborhood. Akeelah’s aptitude earns her an opportunity to compete for a spot in the Scripps National Spelling Bee and, in turn, unites her neighborhood as everyone witnesses the courage and inspiration of one amazing little girl.