Stanley Nelson

Stanley Nelson

Directing

Stanley Earl Nelson Jr. (born June 7, 1951) is an American documentary filmmaker and a MacArthur Fellow known as a director, writer and producer of documentaries examining African-American history and experiences. He is a recipient of the 2013 National Humanities Medal from President Obama. He has won three Primetime Emmy Awards.

Among his notable films are Freedom Riders (2010), Wounded Knee (2009), Jonestown: The Life & Death of People's Temple (2006), Sweet Honey in the Rock: Raise Your Voice (2005), A Place of Our Own (2004), The Murder of Emmett Till (2003), and The Black Press:…

Filmography

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American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez 2026 Lani B. Supreme: Legacy Lani B. Supreme: Legacy 2025 Becoming Thurgood: America's Social Architect Becoming Thurgood: America's Social Architect 2025 True North ★ 6.0 True North 2025 Sun Ra: Do the Impossible ★ 6.5 Sun Ra: Do the Impossible 2025 The Inquisitor The Inquisitor 2025 Free for All: The Public Library Free for All: The Public Library 2025 Critical Condition: Health in Black America Critical Condition: Health in Black America 2025 We Want the Funk! ★ 6.3 We Want the Funk! 2025 San Juan Hill: Manhattan’s Lost Neighborhood San Juan Hill: Manhattan’s Lost Neighborhood 2024 Sister Úna Lived a Good Death Sister Úna Lived a Good Death 2024 Disco's Revenge ★ 6.0 Disco's Revenge 2024 Bulls and Saints Bulls and Saints 2023 Sound of the Police ★ 5.5 Sound of the Police 2023 Birthing a Nation: The Resistance of Mary Gaffney ★ 6.5 Birthing a Nation: The Resistance of Mary Gaffney 2023 Jonathan Thunder: Good Mythology Jonathan Thunder: Good Mythology 2023 Sydney G. James: How We See Us Sydney G. James: How We See Us 2023 Becoming Frederick Douglass ★ 6.5 Becoming Frederick Douglass 2022 After Jackie ★ 8.5 After Jackie 2022 Hazing Hazing 2022 Harriet Tubman: Visions of Freedom ★ 8.5 Harriet Tubman: Visions of Freedom 2021 Lynching Postcards: Token of a Great Day ★ 8.0 Lynching Postcards: Token of a Great Day 2021 Attica ★ 6.9 Attica 2021 Tulsa Burning: The 1921 Race Massacre ★ 8.0 Tulsa Burning: The 1921 Race Massacre 2021 Crack: Cocaine, Corruption & Conspiracy ★ 6.9 Crack: Cocaine, Corruption & Conspiracy 2021 Black Panthers ★ 8.0 Black Panthers 2020 Vick ★ 6.8 Vick 2020 Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool ★ 7.1 Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool 2019 BOSS: The Black Experience in Business ★ 6.0 BOSS: The Black Experience in Business 2019 The Story of Access The Story of Access 2018 Black Memorabilia Black Memorabilia 2018 American Carnage American Carnage 2017 Gavin Grimm vs. ★ 5.0 Gavin Grimm vs. 2017 Picket Line Picket Line 2017 Tell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Black Colleges and Universities ★ 8.1 Tell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Black Colleges and Universities 2017 Mary Lou Williams: The Lady Who Swings the Band ★ 8.0 Mary Lou Williams: The Lady Who Swings the Band 2015 The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution ★ 7.0 The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution 2015 Freedom Summer ★ 7.2 Freedom Summer 2014 Focus Forward: Short Films, Big Ideas Focus Forward: Short Films, Big Ideas 2012 Jesse Owens ★ 8.0 Jesse Owens 2012 Freedom Riders ★ 7.5 Freedom Riders 2010 30 for 30 ★ 7.5 30 for 30 2009 We Shall Remain ★ 6.0 We Shall Remain 2009 Faubourg Tremé: The Untold Story of Black New Orleans Faubourg Tremé: The Untold Story of Black New Orleans 2008 Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple ★ 7.1 Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple 2006 A Place of Our Own ★ 9.0 A Place of Our Own 2004 Beyond Brown: Pursuing the Promise Beyond Brown: Pursuing the Promise 2004 The Murder of Emmett Till ★ 7.0 The Murder of Emmett Till 2003 Marcus Garvey: Look for Me in the Whirlwind ★ 8.0 Marcus Garvey: Look for Me in the Whirlwind 2001 The Black Press: Soldiers Without Swords ★ 6.7 The Black Press: Soldiers Without Swords 1999 American Experience ★ 6.5 American Experience 1988 Two Dollars and A Dream: The Story of Madame C.J. Walker Two Dollars and A Dream: The Story of Madame C.J. Walker 1987 Frederick Douglass: An American Life Frederick Douglass: An American Life 1985 Puerto Rico: Our Right to Decide Puerto Rico: Our Right to Decide 1981 Just Doin’ It (A Tale of Two Barbershops) Just Doin’ It (A Tale of Two Barbershops) 1976