by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman
February 4, 2024
Delta Airlines has partnered with the African American Film Critics Association to curate a collection of in-flight films for Black History month.
Delta Airlines is doing its part to amplify Black art during Black History Month through its in-flight film options. The airliner has partnered with the African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) to showcase a curation collection of movies that represent the community.
In the inaugural year of this collaboration, the AAFCA will work with Delta to bring Black films to the skies all month long for millions of flyers, as reported by Deadline on Feb. 2. The selections were curated by the association members, in addition to Delta’s own In-Flight Entertainment team and its Black Community Business Resource Group, known as Bold, to ensure its movies celebrate and champion Black cinema. Through this initiative, both companies hope to spark interest and highlight the achievements of Black actors, directors, and the countless others involved in the process of filmmaking.
“In-flight movies offer a great way to discover titles that were previously unknown to me,” shared AAFCA president Gil Robertson in a statement. “Over the years, I have been introduced to phenomenal stories that broadened my point of view about different people and cultures from around the world. It is my hope that Delta passengers will enjoy a similar experience from our collection which provides a showcase for the richness of Black-themed stories.”
Movies that have been selected in this first-ever collection include a mixture of communal classics and Oscar-winning features, all ranging in genre but part of the expansive list of Black cinematic history. From “Dreamgirls” to “The Best Man,” and “Friday” to “Crooklyn,” these films are not only significant to Black households, but are timeless, universal stories that can connect to all, something Delta is proud to promote.
“Delta seeks to be a champion of diversity through meaningful inflight entertainment content and elevate the onboard offering with thoughtful, value-driven curation,” expressed Catherine McDaniel, lead content curator of movies for Delta Studio. “Delta is thrilled to partner with AAFCA for this special collection tohelp us highlight underrepresented voices during Black History Month, and all year round.
Additional films listed were “If Beale Street Could Talk,” “Shaft,” “Dear White People,” and “Sarafina,” with many others in store. The movies are expected to be on one’s next flight with Delta starting in early February and throughout the rest of the month.
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