There is a place where it’s always snowing, where it’s always Christmas, a place where you can escape from your mundane life, that place happens to be the Hallmark Channel. Hallmark Channel runs their Christmas movies from October to January, they always seem to have the perfectly curated idea of how Christmas should be. They don’t always have the greatest plots or twists, they are actually quite terrible but have a way of making you feel warm and happy inside. I bet if you ask your mom or your grandmother, they will argue about what great movies Hallmark Channel makes.
Growing up my mom loved watching Hallmark movies, it was something she did every single year when the holiday season arrived. I would always see these beautiful, blue eyed, blonde hair, fair skin actors playing these roles, it seemed like something that was created just for them, it was almost very strange to see a black actor or even character appear in the movies. When you grow up watching only that you subconsciously grow to think, these roles are only for “white actors”. Hallmark has received plenty of criticism in regards to the lack of black leads in their movies so they have made some changes over the years but have a long way to go.
I’ve rounded up some of my favourite Hallmark Channel movies, with black leads below, there aren’t plenty of options out there but there is a few to keep you occupied for the month of December. If you are like me a 27 year old black woman, whom loves to watch these movies you can now happily indulge and enjoy yourself maybe even allow your mind to wonder a little bit because you can finally get to see yourself on the screen.
1. CHRISTMAS EVERLASTING
SYNOPSIS
Lucy gets the best Christmas news ever when she learns she’s made partner at her law firm. However, when her sister with special needs, Alice, passes away, Lucy must return home to learn the terms of her sister’s eccentric will. Starring Tatyana Ali, Dondré T. Whitfield Dennis Haysbert and Patti Belle.
2. A MAJESTIC CHRISTMAS
Christmas in the charming town of Briar Falls will be bittersweet this year when architect Nell goes back to her hometown having been given the job of turning the historic Majestic Playhouse into a modern multiplex, much to the town’s objections. This job is Nell’s first promotion, and one she wishes she hadn’t been chosen for, especially when she meets the new owner of the theater, Connor, whose vision and ideas clash with Nell’s. Since Connor hasn’t had much experience celebrating Christmas, Nell hopes that if she can give him a crash course in Christmas during the town’s Twelve Day Festival, that he might just change his mind about modernizing the Majestic. Starring Jerrika Hinton and Christian Vincent.
3. MEMORIES OF CHRISTMAS
SYNOPSIS
Noelle, a star San Francisco financial dealmaker, returns to her quaint Michigan town to pack up and sell her inherited childhood home and attend the annual Christmas Charity Gala established by her late Christmas-obsessed mother. As the town braces for the sale of the beloved lodge where the Gala is held, Noelle makes the deal of a lifetime, all while experiencing renewed joy in the holidays and discovering unexpected love. Starring Christina Milian and Mark Taylor.
4. A GINGERBREAD ROMANCE
SYNOPSIS
With Christmas just weeks away, the architecture firm Taylor works for enters her in a contest in which the teams will design and build life sized gingerbread houses. After the contest, Taylor will likely be getting a promotion to a position in another city. The firm teams her up with Annabelle, a renowned French pastry chef with whom Taylor instantly locks horns. When Annabelle backs out, Taylor stumbles into a local bakery and meets Adam, a baker and single dad. In an act of desperation, Taylor convinces Adam to partner with her for the contest, arguing that winning would give the bakery and his designs much needed exposure. For years Taylor has been resistant to call anywhere “home” for fear it will only be temporary. But the time she spends with Adam and his daughter Brook in their cozy home, decorating for Christmas, and exploring Philadelphia at Christmas, fills her with a longing for a place to call home. Starring Tia Mowry-Hardrict and Duane Henry.
5. CHRISTMAS IN EVERGREEN: BELLS ARE RINGING
SYNOPSIS
As Michelle’s wedding approaches, Hannah steps up to help finish the launch of the new Evergreen museum while questioning her relationship and future with Elliot. Starring Holly Robinson Peete, Colin Lawrence, Rukiya Bernard, Antonio Cayonne, Ashley Williams and Barbara Niven.
6. JINGLE BELL BRIDE
SYNOPSIS
Wedding planner Jessica Perez travels to a remote town in Alaska to find a rare flower for a celebrity client and is charmed by the small town during Christmas, as well as the handsome local helping her. Starring Julie Gonzalo and Ronnie Rowe Jr.
7. A CHRISTMAS DUET
SYNOPSIS
Well-loved music duo Averie and Jesse, famous for their duet “Wouldn’t Be Christmas,” haven’t played together since they went their separate ways years ago. Averie gave up music and opened a beautiful lodge in a snowy Vermont town – while Jesse still tours, struggling to find the same kind of success they had as a duo. When fate brings them together over the holidays at Averie’s lodge just in time for the annual Yuletide Festival, can the magic of Christmas help reunite them once again? Starring Chaley Rose, Rome Flynn and Teryl Rothery.
8. A CHRISTMAS TREE GROWS IN COLORADO
SYNOPSIS
Erin is planning the town’s Christmas celebration and must win over firefighter Kevin in order to obtain the beautiful spruce tree from his property for the celebration. Starring Rochelle Aytes and Mark Taylor.
9. CHRISTMAS COMES TWICE
SYNOPSIS
Cheryl Jenkins (Mowry-Housley) is an astrophysicist who works for the National Science Foundation reviewing grant applications for projects, although she’d prefer to be working on a project of her own. Cheryl heads home to spend the holidays with her family and first on the agenda is a visit to the annual Christmas carnival with her sister Trish (Zarrin Darnell-Martin, “Burden of Truth”). While there, Cheryl sees a carousel in the distance and ventures over to take a ride. But when the revolutions wind down and she returns to the carnival to find her sister, Cheryl discovers that — somehow — it’s five years earlier. Dissatisfied with where she is in life, Cheryl sees this as a chance to change her path by making different choices. As Cheryl navigates her way through her visit back in time, she’s able to connect with her beloved science teacher Ms. Nelson (Ralph), who was an inspiration to her both in and out of the classroom and had passed away several years previously. The time Cheryl spends with Ms. Nelson as well as with her “frenemy” George (Xavier) helps her find a new appreciation for what she’s doing in life and starts to see George in a new light. But when the carousel returns Cheryl to present-day Christmas with lessons learned, will the love she found be waiting for her? Stars Tamera Mowry-Housley, Michael Xavier and Sheryl Lee Ralph.
10. THE CHRISTMAS DOCTOR
SYNOPSIS
Zoey is a traveling doctor who prefers short assignments to staying put, so when she is assigned to a small town clinic for the holidays, she is surprised when she starts to feel at home. Starring Holly Robinson Peete and Adrian Holmes.
Do you know of any good recommendations below? Let me know, I would love to add it to my list!
* If you enjoyed this post be sure to pin it*
