Five movies every Black entrepreneur should watch

In life, we all need inspiration somewhere to make boss moves and such inspiration could come from successful entrepreneurs, teachers, mentors and even movies. Movies are usually thought of as offering only entertainment but there are some great movies that inspire people to break the glass ceiling.

Below are five movies to watch if you want to learn about the plight of entrepreneurs, and also be inspired from the comfort of your couch.

She Did That

‘She Did That’ features black women entrepreneurs telling their entrepreneurial journey and success stories. The movie offers an intimate peek inside the truths, trials, and triumphs of beloved entrepreneurs who continuously raise the glass ceiling for future generations. The movie is up close and personal and if you are looking for an inspirational movie to fuel your entrepreneurial journey, this movie is a perfect start.

The Banker

The Banker is Apple’s first original movie. It is a movie about finance: how it operates, and how to succeed. The film is based on the story of two black entrepreneurs who took on unjust white business practices in 1960s America. The Banker tells the story of Bernard Garrett (Anthony Mackie) and Joe Morris (Samuel L. Jackson) who made themselves a part of the real estate business in Los Angeles with the goal of getting rich.

Struggling to break the colour line, the duo used a white frontman, Matt Steiner (Nicholas Hoult), to help secure them deals they would otherwise be denied access to, a nifty con scheme that led them all into a surprising, high-stakes game.

Lionheart

Lionheart tells the story of a young lady who steps ups to run his father’s transport company after he fell ill. After taking charge of his father’s company, the lead character, Adaeze, discovers that the family business is in dire financial straits.

The movie captures the challenges of a female in a male-dominated industry and he navigates all the impediments placed on her way to keep the company afloat.

Barbershop

The movie takes place during one long day in a barbershop on Chicago’s South Side. The shop is owned by Calvin Palmer (Ice Cube) who inherited it from his late father, who managed it for 40 years. But the business does it fit his hunger for bigger things like a recording studio.

Palmer ends up selling the shop for $20,000 to Lester the Loan Shark (Keith David), who vowed to keep the shop’s original name although in private, he has in his mind turned the place into a strip club.

The community members, upon hearing the news, were devastated because the shop was more than a business centre to them; it is a community, forum, friendship, camaraderie, and continuity. Realizing his mistake, Palmer tries to buy back the business only to be rebuffed by Lester, who demands double his money back.

Self Made

The movie, Self Made, was inspired by the life of Madam CJ Walker, who rose from poverty to build a beauty empire. She is also the first female self-made millionaire in the 1990s. 

Born on December 23, 1867, Madam C.J. Walker was also known for her philanthropy and activism. She died of kidney failure at her New York estate at the age of 51.