How movies help amplify lesser-known stories of Black service members

In 1892, Civil War veteran John Henry Murphy Sr. used $200 in venture capital from his wife, Martha, to buy a printing press. It was an opportunity that would have been impossible before the war, when he was still enslaved.

The war gave Murphy—and nearly 200,000 other Black men—a pathway to freedom. As a free man, he created The Afro-American newspaper, now a media company known as the AFRO and the third-oldest Black-owned business in the country.

If his story sounds like the thing movies are made of, it’s because it is. While Murphy’s tale has yet to be adapted for the screen, hints of it can be seen in the iconic Civil War movie “Glory.”

Starring Denzel Washington and Morgan Freeman, the 1989 film tells the story of the Civil War’s first regiment of all-Black volunteers—both freemen from the North and men who had escaped enslavement in the South. With the Emancipation Proclamation, those men were officially allowed to fight for a country that had for so long denied them.

But as shown in “Glory,” Black soldiers had to contend with racism, mistreatment and neglect. They were held to different standards than their white counterparts and presumed incapable of combat. They proved otherwise, on screen and in real life.

“These stories of perseverance remind us of the often-overlooked role that Black [service members] have played in securing freedom and justice, not just for themselves but for future generations,” said Frances “Toni” Draper, Murphy’s great-granddaughter and publisher of the AFRO. “By bringing these narratives to light, we honor their unwavering commitment and the powerful impact they’ve had on our history and identity.”

Along with “Glory,” movies that have featured the experiences of Black service members across history include “A Soldier’s Story” (1984), “Platoon” (1986), “The Tuskegee Airmen” (1995), “Buffalo Soldiers” (1997), “Miracle at St. Anna” (2008) “Red Tails” (2012) and “Da 5 Bloods” (2020). In December, Netflix premiered “The Six Triple Eight,” the story of an all-female, predominantly Black unit that served overseas during World War II.

Although fictionalized, experts say these films have the power to recognize those who historically have been erased from history, help correct harmful narratives and resonate with a new generation of Black Americans.

MOVIES AS TEACHERS

Omotayo Banjo, a media studies professor at the University of Cincinnati, examines how race is portrayed in media and how Black communities use media to define their experiences. Historically, Black people have either been left out of the narrative or portrayed in a way that perpetuates negative stereotypes.

In movies centered around Black military experiences, Banjo noted, the Black service member often values and exemplifies honor—a stark contrast to the common portrayals of Black people as violent or criminal.

But when it comes to military history on screen, the mistake is often in leaving out the contributions and perspectives of Black Americans. Even in “Glory,” the story is told largely through the eyes of the white colonel leading the all-Black unit. As characters, the Black soldiers are almost secondary. And as of 2024, “The Six Triple Eight” is the first and only major film featuring Black female service members.

Marcus S. Cox, a historian who specializes in studying the sociological implications of African American military history, is reminded of the public spat between director Spike Lee and actor and director Clint Eastwood. Lee criticized Eastwood for not casting Black service members in either of his World War II epics, “Flags of Our Fathers” and “Letters From Iwo Jima.”

That lack of representation seems particularly pervasive when portraying World War II stories, the faces of which are most often white men. And as much as Cox is a fan of history books and documentaries, he knows that film and TV are primary vehicles for educating the masses about American history.

“We can’t blame media for everything,” Banjo noted, “but surely, in the absence of having your own personal experience, media is our reference.”

For example, someone who has never been to Paris might imagine it as a romantic, idyllic city, when in reality, Banjo said, “it’s as urban as New York,” smells and all.

Similarly, not including stories of Black service members’ contributions perpetuates an idea that military service and the values that come with it—honor, patriotism, bravery—are reserved for white people.

“We are relying on mediated messages to tell us what something is,” Banjo said. “And if they’re not portrayed fairly, justly or accurately, or broadly enough to honor the humanity of people, then all we’re left with are limited stereotypes that can be harmful.”

‘THIS IS OUR HOME’

Beyond recognizing real-life contributions and accurately representing history, movies can help us understand and appreciate others’ personal experiences. While no community is represented by a single experience, military service has historically meant something different for Black men and women.

“African Americans have always fought for the right to fight because it had broader implications in American society,” Cox said.

At one point, service was a means to obtain citizenship and all of its benefits, but more broadly, it allowed Black men and women to illustrate their capabilities and dedication to the nation in hopes of unlocking opportunities in society and gaining respect from their fellow Americans. This was particularly true in the World War II era.

“One of the fears was, if [Black Americans] do not fight and sort of pull our weight, after the war is over, politically, we’re not going to have opportunities, because people are going to use this against us,” Cox said.

For Army veteran Torrin Fields, an assistant video editor for Paramount+ with Showtime, his service similarly represented something deeper. Fields was a military police officer from 2001 to 2005, completing two tours in Iraq.

“It gave me my right of passage,” he said. “I don’t believe freedom is just given; it’s earned. And I believe I earned that freedom by serving this country.”

Fields also wanted to show other Black Americans that they could serve. He noted that in the Black community, and even within his own family, some struggle with the idea of serving a country that systemically oppressed people who looked like them.

“It was very important to show other Black men and Black women that, hey, this is our home,” he said. “Our ancestors built this, we built this, so I’m going to protect it.”

But Fields says experiences like his are rarely seen on screen. As a Black veteran working behind the scenes, he hopes to help usher in more diverse storytelling.

“Anytime we can help people have a clear, full understanding of the African American experience as it relates to the military, that’s always a plus,” said actor, Army veteran and DAV member Chad Coleman, known for his roles in shows like “The Walking Dead” and “The Wire.” “And then of course, there’s a pride … to show that, in spite of all the setbacks, we love this country.”

STEWARDS OF HISTORY

While Murphy, the Civil War veteran who founded The Afro-American newspaper, hasn’t been portrayed on screen, he laid a foundation that helped ensure stories of Black service members would be.

The newspaper reported on stories of Black Americans that very few, if any, other publications were telling. It sent the largest contingency of Black war correspondents to the front lines of World War II. It documented the real-life Six Triple Eight, becoming the go-to source about the women who served in the unit.

“The Black press in general, the AFRO in particular, we are stewards of that history,” Draper said. “We’re really proud to be a part of that history and to have the story that nobody else was covering.”

Her hope, shared by Cox, is that movies like “The Six Triple Eight” whet audiences’ appetite and push them to learn more.

“If you really want to know what happened,” Cox said, “read the book.”