Stanley Nelson
Known for: Directing
Born: July 7, 1955
Place of birth: New York City, New York, USA
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: Soldiers without Swords (1998).
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Filmography
53 movies · 6 TV shows, newest first
NR
The Color of Cola
2026
NR
American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez
2026NR
Lani B. Supreme: Legacy
2025NR
Cindy Tran: From Here to Here
2025
NR
Becoming Thurgood: America's Social Architect
2025
6.5
True North: Canadian Myths and Black Power
2025
6.3
Sun Ra: Do the Impossible
2025
NR
The Inquisitor
2025
NR
Free for All: The Public Library
2025
1.0
Critical Condition: Health in Black America
2025
6.3
We Want the Funk!
2025
1.0
San Juan Hill: Manhattan’s Lost Neighborhood
2024
NR
Sister Úna Lived a Good Death
2024
3.0
Hollywood Black
2024
7.0
Disco's Revenge
2024
NR
Bulls and Saints
2023
4.0
Sound of the Police
2023
6.5
Birthing a Nation: The Resistance of Mary Gaffney
2023
NR
Jonathan Thunder: Good Mythology
2023
NR
Sydney G. James: How We See Us
2023
4.7
Becoming Frederick Douglass
2022
8.5
After Jackie
2022
NR
Hazing
2022
6.0
Harriet Tubman: Visions of Freedom
2021
8.0
Lynching Postcards: Token of a Great Day
2021
6.8
Attica
2021
6.6
Tulsa Burning: The 1921 Race Massacre
2021
6.8
Crack: Cocaine, Corruption & Conspiracy
2021
4.5
Black Panthers
2020
5.6
Vick
2020
7.1
Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool
2019
3.5
BOSS: The Black Experience in Business
2019
NR
The Story of Access
2018
NR
Black Memorabilia
2018
NR
American Carnage
2017
5.0
Gavin Grimm vs.
2017
NR
Picket Line
2017
8.1
Tell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Black Colleges and Universities
2017
8.0
Mary Lou Williams: The Lady Who Swings the Band
2015
7.0
The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution
2015
7.2
Freedom Summer
2014
NR
Focus Forward: Short Films, Big Ideas
2012
8.0
Jesse Owens
2012
7.5
Freedom Riders
2010
7.5
30 for 30
2009
6.0
We Shall Remain
2009
NR
Faubourg Tremé: The Untold Story of Black New Orleans
2008
7.0
Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple
2006
9.0
A Place of Our Own
2004
NR
Beyond Brown: Pursuing the Promise
2004
7.0
The Murder of Emmett Till
2003
9.0
Marcus Garvey: Look for Me in the Whirlwind
2001
6.7
The Black Press: Soldiers Without Swords
1999
6.4
The Daily Show
1996
6.5
American Experience
1988
NR
Two Dollars and A Dream: The Story of Madame C.J. Walker
1987
NR
Frederick Douglass: An American Life
1985NR
Puerto Rico: Our Right to Decide
1981
NR
Just Doin’ It (A Tale of Two Barbershops)
1976