As a white cisgender man, I possesses the privilege of being able to see myself reflected in historical media, indeed all media, consistently. This is a privilege many do not possess so I would like to spot like some dream films/shows that could offer a more diverse view of the historical world.
1. Baron Von Steuben was instrumental to turning the tide of the American Revolution. His training of the Continental Army is widely credited with turning them from a motley crew into a seasoned fighting force capable of combatting the British on an even playing field. Steuben was also most likely gay and it is highly likely he engaged in a romantic relationship with fellow officer, Benjamin Walker. Even today, a common myth about Gay men is that they are not strong and indeed to be called "gay" is still an epithet amongst many straight people. Therefore, how better to challenge that preposterous notion than to make a film about the man responsible for molding the first American Army and show he was gay.
2. Most people know about Dred Scott, yet we have no film about the case. Furthermore, Dred Scott was not the only person being fought over as there was also his wife, Harriet Scott, whose name might have been left off the decision, but was one of the plaintiffs as well. Indeed, it was after giving birth to her second daughter that she and her husband decided it was time to take action. This story is a downer but it is still an incredibly important story to tell and we should also see that Dred Scott was not alone in fighting for his freedom.
3. Inexplicably we still have no biopic of Frederick Douglass. A man whose life was marked by incident and whose oratory was renowned for its electricity. There's not much to say here. We all know who he is and it is far past time we had a deep dive miniseries or film that showed his life.
4. Ching Shih was one of the most notorious pirates of all time. She commanded over 1800 ships and over 80,000 people. The men under her command were expected to follow the codes she laid out including a rule against raping prisoners. Any man found to do this would be promptly beheaded. She also went out own terms as she accepted amnesty from the emperor in exchange for
retiring. All of this is incredibly rich stuff and would make for a truly exciting pirate film.
5. Clara Barton was a renowned nurse during the Civil war, but afterwards she spent five years after the war tracking down soldiers who had been placed in unmarked graves. Barton and her assistants personally were able to find 21,000 graves which gave families much needed closure. She went on to assist in the Franco Prussian war and of course found the red cross. Yet, the last film about her was from 1939! That needs to change.
6. Ida B Wells was one of the most important journalists of the 19th Century. In her newspaper, the Memphis Free Speech and two published reports, Southern Horrors and A Red Record, Wells not only revealed the horrible lynchings that were rampant in the Jim Crow era south, but also tore part the typical excuses for said mob violence. Death threats forced her to flee the South but she did not stop her journalistic efforts and also went on to help found the National Association of Colored Women (NACW) in 1896. Clearly, her story is one that needs to be told and serve as an important affirmation of the value of journalists and of the value of women and minorities sharing their stories.
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