The Criterion Channel is streaming more than a dozen movies focused on the lives of Black Americans for free

• The Criterion Collection has made more than a dozen movies focused on the lives of Black Americans available for free on its streaming service, The Criterion Channel.
• The selected movies span decades, and the collection includes films like Oscar Micheaux's "Body and Soul," Maya Angelou's "Down in the Delta," and Khalik Allah's 2018 documentary "Black Mother."
• Criterion expressed support for the Black Lives Matter movement and the ongoing protests against racism and police brutality in America.
• Criterion has also committed to ongoing donations to support that cause, starting with a $25,000 contribution.

A collection of classic films focused on the experiences of Black Americans has been made available to stream for free by The Criterion Collection.

Criterion said it wanted to highlight the work of African American filmmakers as the United States grapples with the civil unrest caused by the deaths of George Lloyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and Tony McDade. In a statement released on Twitter, Criterion said it supports the Black Lives Matter movement and the ongoing protests against racism and police brutality that have spread across America.

"The anguish and fury unleashed all across the country are rooted in centuries of dehumanization and death. This pattern must stop," Criterion's statement reads. "We support the protesters who have taken to the streets to demand justice, and we share their hopes. We are committed to fighting systemic racism."

Criterion's selection of free Black films spans decades, beginning with the work of Oscar Micheaux, a prominent Black filmmaker who directed more than 40 films between 1919 and 1948. You can also stream "Down in the Delta," the only film directed by poet Maya Angelou, and "Black Mother," a 2018 documentary from contemporary filmmaker Khalik Allah.

Other selections include works from Julie Dash, William Greaves, Kathleen Collins, Cheryl Dunye, Charles Burnett, and Leilah Weinraub. Documentaries from white filmmakers Les Blank and Shirley Clarke are also included due to their focus on the Black people.

Along with making these films available for free, Criterion Collection says it will make a $25,000 donation to organizations combating racism in America, and has committed to donating $5,000 per month moving forward. Criterion employees will determine where the donations are applied, identifying bail funds, community organizations, legal defense funds, and other advocacy groups as potential recipients.

In a statement released on Twitter, Criterion said the company held a meeting to discuss ways to improve diversity and racial equity internally as well.

How to watch these free movies on The Criterion Channel

You can find the full selection of free films at CriterionChannel.com, or by downloading the Criterion Channel app on your phone, Smart TV, or streaming device of choice.

Though the Black American films aren't grouped into a specific collection just yet, you can find most of them at the top of the Now Playing section. You don't need an account to watch the free selection of movies, but you'll need a paid subscription to stream films with a lock icon in the lower right corner of the thumbnail.

Criterion's copyright protection service may make it difficult to watch the films in Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox, so try a different internet browser, like Microsoft Edge, or the Criterion Channel app if you can't get a movie to play on your usual computer.

The Criterion Collection distributes thousands of classic and contemporary films of cultural significance, including high quality restorations. A Criterion Channel streaming subscription normally costs $10.99 per month or $99.99 per year.