These 5 powerful films and TV shows, from Black-ish to Miss Juneteenth, highlight the rich history, struggle and celebration behind the holiday.
As Juneteenth continues to gain national attention each year on June 19, a growing number of TV shows and films are helping illuminate its profound history. The holiday, commemorating the 1865 moment when Union soldiers finally informed enslaved Black people in Texas that they were free — two years after the Emancipation Proclamation — was only made a federal holiday in 2021. But long before that, pop culture was already playing a key role in educating audiences about its importance.
To better understand the meaning and legacy of Juneteenth, The Hollywood Reporter has curated a powerful list of five must-watch movies and TV episodes that celebrate, question, and reflect on the holiday in unique ways.
Miss Juneteenth
Channing Godfrey Peoples’ 2020 film Miss Juneteenth tells the story of Turquoise Jones, a former pageant queen and single mother in Fort Worth, Texas. Determined to provide her daughter, Kai, with better opportunities, Turquoise encourages her to enter the Miss Juneteenth pageant — a competition she once won, which offers a scholarship to a historically Black college. Though Kai lacks interest, she goes along with her mother’s wishes, setting up a heartfelt narrative about generational dreams, dignity, and struggle.
THR critic David Rooney praised the film for its layered storytelling, writing that it “acknowledges generations of African American women who have strived for dignity and personhood in environments that often hold them back.”
Black-ish – “Juneteenth”
The Black-ish Season 4 premiere, which aired in October 2017, tackled Juneteenth through humor, music, and a pointed critique of historical erasure. When Dre (Anthony Anderson) attends his children’s school play about Columbus Day, he’s appalled by its whitewashed depiction. This prompts him to create a musical number with Aloe Blacc, centering the forgotten history of Juneteenth.
Behind the scenes, creator Kenya Barris revealed the network had initial concerns the episode might make white audiences uncomfortable — an irony not lost on him. “We ultimately showed it and it was a well-received episode,” Barris said. The episode was so influential it even led to the development of a stage musical, with Barris writing alongside Peter Saji and Pharrell Williams handling music and production — though the project hasn’t come to fruition yet.
Rooney described the episode as “subversively funny” and “sharply double-edged,” connecting modern Black middle-class life to the nation’s painful past. Notably, after the episode aired, Juneteenth was added to Apple’s iCal, even before becoming a federal holiday.
Atlanta – “Juneteenth”
In Atlanta’s ninth episode of Season 1, Earn (Donald Glover) and Van (Zazie Beetz) attend a Juneteenth celebration thrown by a well-meaning but tone-deaf interracial couple. The party, hosted by Craig (Rick Holmes), includes drinks with names like “Underground Rumroad” and “Plantation Master Poison,” underscoring his performative allyship.
THR critic Dan Fienberg called this episode a “worthwhile starting point” for anyone seeking to understand Juneteenth through a more satirical, socially observant lens.
#blackAF – “still… because of slavery”
Kenya Barris makes another appearance on this list with his Netflix series #blackAF, which sees him playing a fictional version of himself. In the third episode, the family prepares for a Juneteenth party. While lighter in tone, the episode still probes cultural identity and systemic issues.
Fienberg noted that the episode feels like an extension of Black-ish in its tackling of Black success, the sexualization of young Black women, and the significance of Juneteenth — making it both a spiritual and thematic companion.
High on the Hog
A departure from scripted TV, the Netflix docuseries High on the Hog offers a deeply emotional and educational look at African American cuisine. Hosted by Stephen Satterfield and inspired by Jessica B. Harris’ book, the series traces the culinary traditions born out of survival and resistance.
In one moving scene, Satterfield and Harris visit a mass grave in Ouidah, the site of a former slave port, to honor those who died before reaching the Americas. Harris explains the grim conditions and forced feeding practices, underscoring how even food was used as a tool of control.
“Resistance was every step of the journey,” Harris says in the episode — a line that encapsulates the essence of Juneteenth’s legacy.
Whether through fictional narratives, musical satire, or historical documentaries, these five titles offer powerful insights into the legacy, complexity, and enduring relevance of Juneteenth.
