10 Black Women’s Book-to-Film Adaptations*

Maya Angelou, Alice Walker and Gloria Naylor were early trailblazers for cinematic adaptations of Negress stories. Adaptations of their autobiography, novel and stories catapulted their work and names to national prominence their Harlem Renaissance and Black Power Movement predecessors were unable to enjoy in their lifetimes. Since then, we have seen a steady stream of Black female novelists, screenwriters and writer/directors who give women of my generation and younger so much more than our elders had to look forward to on-screen.

These titles are among my favorite books, and some are also among my favorite films. It is my hope you discover some books and films to enjoy for excellent storytelling, deep characters and legendary writers.

Women of Brewster Place — Read WOMEN OF BREWSTER PLACE

The Color Purple — Read THE COLOR PURPLE or Watch THE COLOR PURPLE

Their Eyes Were Watching God — Read THEIR EYES or Watch THEIR EYES

Waiting to Exhale — Read WAITING TO EXHALE or Watch WAITING TO EXHALE

Addicted — Read ADDICTED or Watch ADDICTED

Miracle's Boys — Read MIRACLE’S BOYS or Watch MIRACLE’s BOYS

Orange Mint and Honey — Read ORANGE MINT and HONEY

Sins of the Mother — Watch SINS OF THE MOTHER, adaptation of Orange Mint and Honey

Precious — Watch PRECIOUS, adaptation of PUSH

For Colored Girls — Read FOR COLORED GIRLS

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou (book 1969/tv miniseres 1979)

The Color Purple by Alice Walker (book 1982/film 1985)

The Women of Brewster Place by Gloria Naylor (book 1982/film 1989)

Waiting to Exhale by Terry McMillan (book 1992/film 1995)

Beloved by Toni Morrison (book 1987/film 1998)

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston (book 1937/tv miniseries 2005)

PUSH by Sapphire (book 1996/film titled Precious, 2009)

Orange Mint and Honey by Carleen Brice (book 2008/film title Sins of the Mother, 2010 )

for colored girls by Ntosake Shange (book 1975/film 2010)

Miracle’s Boys by Jacqueline Woodson (book 2001/tv miniseries 2012)

Addicted by Zane (book 1999/film 2014)

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3 thoughts on “10 Black Women’s Book-to-Film Adaptations*”

Thanks for posting these. I haven’t read the Carleen Brice book (or seen the movie), or Miracle’s Boys so will check them out.

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Kalisha says:

November 15, 2014 at 7:28 pm

Thanks for reading! Yes, Carleen’s book and movie as well as Miracle’s Boys are lesser known because they appeared on television. Not the big screen. I have also revised the post to correct a major, major boo boo: the omission of Gloria Naylor’s The Women of Brewster Place, also a television miniseries but a very successful and oft-repeated one. Blessings, Kalisha

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1. Candace Habte says:
  
  November 19, 2014 at 3:37 pm
  
  Ah I LOVE The Women of Brewster Place! Great addition…the book and t.v. series are classics.
  
  I also really liked Linden Hills by Gloria Naylor. Would love to see that adapted for film, but I wonder if some of the subtleties (and weird stuff like the necrophilia) would get left out?
  
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