A man wearing a brown cowboy hat and a multicolored sweater takes a photo with a camera in front of a large evergreen tree. There is a building with a partial sign on the right and a red and white sign that reads 'MOUNTAIN VIEW HOTEL' on the left. A white sign with antler artwork is visible at the bottom left.

African American

Home Movie Archive

About Us

In 2014, film archivist & historian Jasmyn R. Castro launched the Black Home Movie Index to address a critical absence: the systematic exclusion of African American home movies from mainstream archives and historical narratives. Black home movies capture authentic, everyday moments—yet these irreplaceable records were frequently overlooked or inaccessible. The Black Home Movie Index streamlines access to these historical artifacts by providing collection details (scope & content, dates), links to finding aids and streaming video access, and institution contact information.

Beyond the Index, the African American Home Movie Archive (AAHMA) actively collects, digitizes, and preserves home movies—offering a growing online archive of amateur films that capture everyday moments that form a living mosaic of the Black experience. Visit the AAHMA Film & Video Collection and contact us to gain access to our rich collection. 

AAHMA has licensed archival footage to:

PBS logo with black skull and profile silhouettes on a white background.
Amazon and MGM Studios logos in black text on a white background.
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HBO Max logo in black text on white background.
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*All product names, logos, and brands belong to their respective owners. Any mention of companies, products, or services on this site is for identification only and does not imply endorsement.

AAHMA preview reel

*This sample reel is not a source for licensing. Visit the AAHMA Film & Video Collection to search films available for research and licensing requests.