Summer of Soul (2021)

Nominated for Best Documentary Feature    This is a concert doc of footage from the Harlem Cultural Festival of 1969, interspersed with interviews from attendees and performers.  While televised, it never aired and was left unseen in a basement for fifty years, overshadowed by Woodstock.

1969 was a year of incredible tension in the United States and the Harlem Cultural Festival was intended to provide somewhat of a cooling effect.  Six weekends of performances covering the entire summer were held in Morris Park, the center of Harlem, that featured themes every week of contributions by the Black and Latin community to music.  Gospel, soul, funk, psychedelics, jazz, Motown, the Blues, Latin, Caribbean, African: artists of all types gathered on stage to perform.  

If you're tired of seeing stories that only highlight the struggle of African Americans, this is a great film showcasing Black excellence and joy.  These are never-released performances thankfully saved for posterity finally getting the views they deserved.  It's currently streaming on Hulu and Disney+.