Ok, I have to admit that I love movies. I come from a long line of movie buffs, and I love them! I like comedies, dramas, musicals, action films, foreign films…not so much horror…and I especially love old movies. One of my all-time favorites is “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner”, starring Katharine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy and Sydney Poitier. If you do not know the film, it was made in 1967, and is about a white couple (Hepburn and Tracy) and how they handle it when their daughter comes home with a black fiancé (Poitier). The parents believe themselves to be open-minded and certainly not racist, and are forced to truly think about what they believe.

It is a drama and a comedy, and it has been one of my favorites long before I was the mom of a transracial family. Sydney Poitier is an inspiring actor, as are Hepburn and Tracy. The movie is funny and enjoyable and yet has a powerful message, that is as relevant to life today as it was in the sixties (and it won two Oscars). If you have not seen it, treat yourself and rent it. I promise you will not regret it.

A newer version (remake) of the classic is the 2005 film “Guess Who” starring Bernie Mac and Ashton Kutcher. In this movie the racial roles are flip-flopped from the original, and the story revolves around an African-American family and their reactions when their daughter brings home a white boyfriend. Bernie Mac is the overprotective father, and he is hilarious. The movie is a lot more comedy than it is drama, and stays on the lighter side of racial issues for the most part, but still has the same message as the original. While not a classic, it is definitely enjoyable, and good for some laughs.

And of course there is “Remember the Titans”, which came out in 2000 starring Denzel Washington. The movie is based on a true story from 1971 Virginia, when an African American football coach is hired in a small town that while is technically integrated, is still suffering from much bigotry and racism. The movie focuses on how the team comes together to be a team and to become friends, how the coach and his family deal with racism in the town and the success that follows when racial issues are overcome. This is a fantastic family film...it is truly inspirational and all of my kids love it.

Movies are a great way to get people thinking and to get people talking about race and other issues.

So here are three of my “pics”. Anybody else have a favorite movie that tackles the race issue? I know that there are tons. Go ahead and share your favorite(s) with us.