Given writer-director Ava DuVernay's acclaimed, influential body of work, it can be easy to forget that she only made her directorial debut in 2008 with the documentary "This Is the Life."
Since then, she has broken down many industry barriers that have faced Black directors and female directors of color in Hollywood for years — from becoming the first woman of color to direct a film nominated for best picture at the Oscars ("Selma") to being the first Black woman to head a live-action feature film with a budget over $100 million ("A Wrinkle In Time").
Throughout the director's career, her projects have especially highlighted the interior lives and complexities of Black Americans, as well as the systemic American racism that permeates our culture and is still being reckoned with today.
In order to become more familiar with one of the most important contemporary voices in Hollywood, here are the six essential Ava DuVernay movies and TV shows that everyone should watch.
Note: Numerous titles drop off streaming services monthly, so the availability of titles below may change.
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