Alongside “Romantic Movies”, “TV Comedies” and “New Releases”, the Netflix homepage will now feature a new label: “Black Lives Matter”. The streaming giant is introducing a new label and curating films and television shows created by black storytellers and featuring a majority cast that is black. This new move comes amidst the civil unrest and protests over the death of George Floyd in police custody.
“When we say ‘Black Lives Matter,’ we also mean ‘Black storytelling matters,’” Netflix wrote in a statement. “With an understanding that our commitment to true, systemic change will take time – we’re starting by highlighting powerful and complex narratives about the Black experience. When you log onto Netflix today, you will see a carefully curated list of titles that only begin to tell the complex and layered stories about racial injustice and Blackness in America.”
The new label is being launched with 47 titles including Ava DuVernay’s acclaimed Netflix originals “13th” and “When They See Us.” The rest include “Dear White People” and “She’s Gotta Have It” and films like “Moonlight,” Spike Lee’s “School Daze” and “Malcolm X,” Dee Rees’ “Mudbound,” and Liz Garbus’ Nina Simone documentary “What Happened Miss Simone?”
“To be silent is to be complicit. Black lives matter. We have a platform, and we have a duty to our Black members, employees, creators, and talent to speak up,” Netflix also wrote in a statement.