Stanley Nelson
Directing
Biography
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).
Filmography 30
Movies (25)
Critical Condition: Health in Black America2025Directing
We Want the Funk!2025Directing
San Juan Hill: Manhattan’s Lost Neighborhood2024Directing
Sound of the Police2023Directing
Becoming Frederick Douglass2022Directing
Harriet Tubman: Visions of Freedom2021Directing
Attica2021Directing
Tulsa Burning: The 1921 Race Massacre2021Directing
Crack: Cocaine, Corruption & Conspiracy2021Directing
Vick2020Directing
Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool2019Directing
BOSS: The Black Experience in Business2019Directing
The Story of Access2018Directing
Tell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Black Colleges and Universities2017Directing
The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution2015Directing
Freedom Summer2014Directing
Focus Forward: Short Films, Big Ideas2012Directing
Freedom Riders2010Directing
Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple2006Directing
A Place of Our Own2004Self - Narrator (voice)
Beyond Brown: Pursuing the Promise2004Directing
The Murder of Emmett Till2003Directing
Marcus Garvey: Look for Me in the Whirlwind2001Directing
The Black Press: Soldiers Without Swords1999Directing
Two Dollars and A Dream: The Story of Madame C.J. Walker1987Directing
Shows (5)
Hollywood Black2024Self
Black Panthers2020Directing
30 for 302009Directing
We Shall Remain2009Directing
The Daily Show1996Self