The Preacher’s Wife
Whitney Houston, Denzel Washington and Courtney B. Vance play memorable roles in an updated version of The Bishop’s Wife. Dudley (Washington) is an angel who has come to save a struggling church and the marriage of its minister (Vance) and his wife (Houston).
A Diva’s Christmas
In this sassy version of A Christmas Carol, Vanessa Williams plays Ebony Scrooge, a wicked singer who gets a rude awakening just before her performance at a Christmas charity.
This Christmas
Loretta Devine plays the matriarch of a Los Angeles family coming together for their Christmas celebration. The movie is great for anyone looking for tons of family drama and eye candy (Idris Elba, Sharon Leal, Columbus Short, Lauren London etc)!
Dream of Christmas
In this 1973 classic, Beah Richards and Hari Rhodes leads an all-black cast in the story about a Los Angeles church on the verge of being demolished, but like any other Christmas movie, miracles do come true for the congregants.
Holiday Heart
Okay, so this is not a Christmas movie, but its themes exhibit traits that can help anyone understand the true meaning of the holiday season. Ving Rhames plays “Holiday Heart,” a lonely drag queen that saves a woman (Alfre Woodard) and her daughter from her drug-dealing boyfriend.
Jingle All The Way
Sinbad and Arnold Schwarzenegger play frantic fathers on a mission to get the most popular toy for their kids this Christmas. What better way to get into the Christmas spirit than a film showing how consumerism rules the season.
The Kid Who Loved Christmas
In his last movie appearance, Sammy Davis Jr stars with Cicely Tyson and Michael Warren in this tale about a man and his newly-adopted son, struggling to be a family during the holiday season.
The Perfect Holiday
In this romantic romp, Morris Chestnut plays a shopping mall Santa Claus who falls in love with a single mom (Gabrielle Union) who only asks to have a nice man delivered to her for Christmas. Charlie Murphy also plays Union’s hilarious rapper ex-husband.
Santa and Pete
James Earl Jones narrates the story of how Santa Claus and his assistant Pete came to devote their lives to spreading the spirit of giving and fellowship.
Last Holiday
Queen Latifah plays Georgia Byrd, a woman who has led a modest life until she is told that she has a few weeks to live. Knowing that this might be her last Christmas, Georgia empties her savings account, goes on the vacation of a lifetime and falls hard for her former co-worker (LL Cool J).
The holiday season is in full swing, and television and movie theaters are currently filling up with jolly films to get us into the spirit.
However, it’s very rare to see holiday-themed movies starring black actors.
Here are a choice few holiday films with black characters in leading roles that spread Christmas cheer.
