19 Biopics About Black American Icons That Deserve An Oscar Or Emmy

Many Black actors have been snubbed by the Academy Awards and Emmys when they are portraying Black American icons in biopics.

There are countless biopics out there that amazingly depict the lives of notable people in history.

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Certain actors have earned Oscars for immaculately impersonating real-life influential figures in movies — like Jamie Foxx did for his role as Ray Charles in Ray. 

While many biopics are worthy of the awards and accolades that they receive, great biographical movies about African American legends often go unrecognized by the Academy Awards and Emmys. In celebration of Black History Month I am listing the 19 biopics about Black American icons that should've gotten an Oscar or Emmy.

1. Angela Bassett as Tina Turner in What's Love Got To Do With It

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Ms. Bassett should’ve taken home an Oscar for her flawless depiction of the Queen of Rock N’ Roll Tina Turner in What's Love Got To Do With It. The remarkable movie star gave us range, BAWDY and overall #BlackExcellence in that role.

2. Denzel Washington as Malcolm X in Malcolm X

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Denzel Washington is an incredible actor, and his embodiment of Civil Rights leader and Muslim minister, Malcolm X, in the 1992 biopic Malcolm X displayed how stellar his skills truly are. This role should’ve been an Oscar win for Denzel. 

3. Chadwick Boseman as James Brown in Get on Up

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Chadwick Boseman had everything about The Godfather of Soul, James Brown, down pat, from his walk to his raspy, higher-pitched voice. Boseman’s performance was most definitely Oscar-worthy.

4. Andra Day as Billie Holiday in The United States vs. Billie Holiday

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Watching Andra Day as the enigmatic legendary jazz singer, Billie Holiday, is like watching a reincarnation of Billie Holiday. There was no way that Andra Day shouldn’t have snatched that Oscar for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role. 

5. Leon as David Ruffin in The Temptations

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Leon was definitely robbed at the 1999 Emmys. His performance in The Temptations, a biopic about the 1970’s Motown R&B supergroup, The Temptations, was so magnetic that you thought you were looking at the actual David Ruffin.

6. Laurence Fishburne as Bumpy Johnson in Hoodlum

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Laurence Fisburne is a brilliant actor, and he has conveyed that in multiple roles—including his role as the iconic gangster, aka the Harlem Godfather, Bumpy Johnson, in the 1997 film Hoodlum. 

While Bumpy Johnson may have been a controversial figure in Black American history, and history in general, Laurence Fishburne did a phenomenal job at illustrating the complexities of the mob leader. 

The way he was able to present Bumpy Johnson as a multifaceted criminal mastermind who was strategic, moralistic and ruthless should’ve been enough to earn him an Oscar. 

7. Viola Davis as Ma Rainey in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

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Viola Davis practically slays all of the characters she plays, and Ma Rainey is no different. Davis’ portrayal of the influential blues singer was so captivating that it’s incomprehensible as to why she didn’t get an Oscar for her role as the Mother of Blues. 

8. Jason Mitchell as Eazy-E in Straight Outta Compton

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Eazy-E from N.W.A. was one of the pioneers of gangster rap and actually lived the life he rapped about. Jason Mitchell did such an excellent job at portraying Eazy-E in Straight Outta Compton that it was like you were watching the real-life Eazy-E. The Academy Awards shouldn't have overlooked Jason Mitchell for Oscar consideration in 2016. 

9. Wylie Draper as teenage and young adult Michael Jackson in The Jacksons: An American Dream

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Although Wylie Draper isn’t a well-known actor, he is remembered for his portrayal of the teen and young adult version of Michael Jackson in the television mini series, The Jacksons: An American Dream. Not only did he nail MJ’s soft voice, but also emulated all of his mannerisms down to the way he breathed.  If Wylie Draper’s role wasn’t Emmy-worthy then I don’t know what is.

10. Queen Latifah as Bessie Smith in Bessie

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Hip-hop legend Queen Latifah as the Empress of Blues, Bessie Smith, in Bessie was beyond awe-inducing. It should’ve been an Emmy win for Queen Latifah, or at least an Emmy nomination.

11. Larenz Tate as Frankie Lymon in Why Do Fools Fall In Love?

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Larenz Tate as the famous rock n’ roll doo-wopper, Frankie Lymon, was dynamic, sad, and multidimensional. Tate’s role was Oscar-deserving for sure!

12. Chadwick Boseman as Thurgood Marshall in Marshall

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Chadwick Boseman is fantastic in each role he plays, and his role as the first Black U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall exemplifies that. It's a shame that Boseman didn’t get an Oscar for Marshall.

13. Woody McClain as Bobby Brown in The New Edition Story

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Woody McClain’s depiction of R&B superstar and New Edition member, Bobby Brown, was so spot on it was as if you were looking at old footage of Bobby Brown. There wasn’t any reason that McClain shouldn’t have snatched an Emmy for The New Edition Story. 

14. Angela Bassett as Rosa Parks in The Rosa Parks Story

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Angela Bassett once again stuns in another biopic, but instead of slaying the portrayal of a rock n’ roll megastar, she slays the portrayal of Civil Rights icon, Rosa Parks. Despite all of the acting talent she displayed in The Rosa Parks Story it still didn’t earn her an Emmy. And it should’ve!

15. Taraji P. Henson as Katherine Johnson in Hidden Figures

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If it wasn’t for the Black woman scientist, Katherine Johnson, the U.S. wouldn’t have ever made it to the moon. Thanks to the incomparable acting skills of Taraji P. Henson, Katherine Johnson’s story was brought to light in a meaningful way. Why Taraji P. Henson didn’t get an Oscar, or at least nominated for her role in Hidden Figures, is baffling.  

16. Beyoncé as Etta James in Cadillac Records

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It’s Beyoncé. Need I say more? It's hilarious that the Academy didn't think  Beyoncé's role as the powerhouse R&B singer Etta James was deserving of an Oscar.

17. David Oyelowo as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma

Paramount Pictures/Pathé/ Harpo Film/ Plan B Entertainment/Cloud Eight Films/Ingenious Media/Redgill Selma Productions / Via gifer.com

David Oyelowo personified Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. effortlessly and still didn't win an Oscar. 

18. Leon as Little Richard in Little Richard

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Leon did an outstanding job of portraying influential singer-songwriter slash Founding Father of Rock Little Richard in the television movie Little Richard. Why Leon didn't win an Emmy? I don't know. 

19. Will Smith as Muhammad Ali in Ali

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Will Smith completely made you believe that he was the heavyweight boxing champion, Muhammad Ali, yet his powerful performance didn’t yield him an Oscar.

Are there any other films and roles I'm missing here? Let me know in the comments below!

Make sure you head here for more of our Black History Month coverage!

Kathy Hoang / BuzzFeed