Social Justice

10 Social Justice Documentaries on Netflix to Add to Your Queue

10 Social Justice Documentaries on Netflix to Add to Your Queue  |  Fairly Southern

Sometimes the hardest things to watch are the most important things to watch.

Social justice can be a topic that makes people uncomfortable, because it often involves acknowledging that certain groups of people don’t have the same privileges as everyone else. But we shouldn’t shy away!

What does “social justice” even mean? The term refers to a situation in which a society is just in terms of fair distribution of wealth, opportunities, and privileges.

Obviously, no society gets it right all the time when it comes to just distribution of wealth, opportunities, and privileges. It is so important that we strive to do better and make life fair for all people. To me, that’s a key part of what it means to be “Fairly Southern.”

Netflix offers a great selection of social justice documentaries that can teach us more about the injustices present in the world today and how we can push for change and equality. Here are my top 10 recommendations! I haven’t watched all of these myself, but the ones that I haven’t watched are in my queue!

13TH

13th - 10 Social Justice Documentaries on Netflix to Add to Your Queue  |  Fairly Southern

This documentary explores the history of racial inequality in the United States, focusing especially on the phenomenon of prisons being disproportionality filled with African American individuals.

All in My Family

All in My Family - 10 Social Justice Documentaries on Netflix to Add to Your Queue  |  Fairly Southern

In this documentary, a gay Chinese-American filmmaker starts a family of his own and documents his family’s process of acceptance.

Audrie & Daisy

Audrie & Daisy - 10 Social Justice Documentaries on Netflix to Add to Your Queue  |  Fairly Southern

This documentary tells the stories of two teenage girls from different U.S. towns who are sexually assaulted by boys they know, humiliated online, and harassed by their communities.

City of Joy

City of Joy - 10 Social Justice Documentaries on Netflix to Add to Your Queue  |  Fairly Southern

Women who have been sexually assaulted in war-torn Congo experience healing and empowerment at City of Joy.

Fire at Sea

Fire at Sea - 10 Social Justice Documentaries on Netflix to Add to Your Queue  |  Fairly Southern

This documentary takes place on Lampedusa, a remote Mediterranean island that has become a major entry point for refugees coming to Europe. The film juxtaposes the simple life of the native islanders with the lives of thousands of adults and children who risk their lives to leave war-torn countries in Africa.

[Also available on Amazon Prime Video.]

He Named Me Malala

He Named Me Malala - 10 Social Justice Documentaries on Netflix to Add to Your Queue  |  Fairly Southern

This documentary tells the story of a teenage girl in Pakistan who was shot by the Taliban because of her advocacy of women’s education.

[Also available on Amazon Prime Video.]

LA 92

LA 92 - 10 Social Justice Documentaries on Netflix to Add to Your Queue  |  Fairly Southern

This documentary covers protests and a time of intense racial tensions in Los Angeles in 1992 following the brutal beating of black motorist Rodney King by four police officers.

[Also available on Amazon Prime Video.]

Long Shot

Long Shot - 10 Social Justice Documentaries on Netflix to Add to Your Queue  |  Fairly Southern

This documentary chronicles the story of an innocent man who is arrested for a murder he did not commit. He builds a case to confirm his alibi using raw footage from a popular TV show.

Miss Representation

Miss Representation -  10 Social Justice Documentaries on Netflix to Add to Your Queue  |  Fairly Southern

In this documentary, famous females Katie Couric, Condoleeza Rice, Gloria Steinem, and others discuss sexism within American media and positions of power.

[Also available on Amazon Prime Video.]

One of Us

One of Us - 10 Social Justice Documentaries on Netflix to Add to Your Queue  |  Fairly Southern

This documentary chronicles the lives of three Hasidic Jews from Brooklyn who face danger and ostracism when leave their religious community in the wake of trauma and abuse.

If you have suggestions for other great social justice documentaries, please comment below!

Here’s to a more just world.

xoxo Laura

P.S. – This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission (at no cost to you) if you purchase a product using a link from this post. Read more here about my disclaimers/disclosures.

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