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).
Directed 30
2020s
- 2026
The Color of Cola
Director
- 2025
Critical Condition: Health in Black America
Director
We Want the Funk!
Director
- 2024
San Juan Hill: Manhattan’s Lost Neighborhood
Director
- 2023
- 2022
Becoming Frederick Douglass
Director
- 2021
Harriet Tubman: Visions of Freedom
Director
Attica
Director
Tulsa Burning: The 1921 Race Massacre
Director
- 2020
Black Panthers
Director
Vick
Director
2010s
- 2019
Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool
Director
BOSS: The Black Experience in Business
Director
- 2018
The Story of Access
Director
Black Memorabilia
Script Supervisor
- 2017
Tell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Black Colleges and Universities
Director
- 2015
The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution
Director
- 2014
Freedom Summer
Director
- 2012
Focus Forward: Short Films, Big Ideas
Director
- 2010
Freedom Riders
Director
2000s
- 2009
We Shall Remain
Director
- 2006
Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple
Director
- 2004
A Place of Our Own
Director
Beyond Brown: Pursuing the Promise
Director
- 2003
The Murder of Emmett Till
Director
- 2001
Marcus Garvey: Look for Me in the Whirlwind
Director
1990s
- 1999
The Black Press: Soldiers Without Swords
Director
1980s
- 1987
Two Dollars and A Dream: The Story of Madame C.J. Walker
Director
Produced 34
2020s
- 2026
The Color of Cola
Executive Producer
American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez
Executive Producer
- 2025
Becoming Thurgood: America's Social Architect
Executive Producer
True North: Canadian Myths and Black Power
Executive Producer
Sun Ra: Do the Impossible
Executive Producer
The Inquisitor
Executive Producer
Free for All: The Public Library
Executive Producer
- 2024
Sister Úna Lived a Good Death
Executive Producer
Disco's Revenge
Executive Producer
- 2023
Bulls and Saints
Executive Producer
Birthing a Nation: The Resistance of Mary Gaffney
Executive Producer
Jonathan Thunder: Good Mythology
Executive Producer
Sydney G. James: How We See Us
Executive Producer
- 2022
Becoming Frederick Douglass
Producer, Executive Producer
After Jackie
Producer
Hazing
Executive Producer
- 2021
Attica
Producer
2010s
- 2019
Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool
Producer
BOSS: The Black Experience in Business
Producer
- 2017
American Carnage
Executive Producer
Gavin Grimm vs.
Executive Producer
Picket Line
Executive Producer
Tell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Black Colleges and Universities
Producer
- 2015
Mary Lou Williams: The Lady Who Swings the Band
Executive Producer
The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution
Producer
- 2012
Jesse Owens
Producer
- 2010
Freedom Riders
Producer
2000s
- 2008
Faubourg Tremé: The Untold Story of Black New Orleans
Executive Producer
- 2004
A Place of Our Own
Producer
1990s
- 1999
The Black Press: Soldiers Without Swords
Producer
1980s
- 1988
- 1987
Two Dollars and A Dream: The Story of Madame C.J. Walker
Producer, Researcher
Wrote 10
2020s
- 2025
We Want the Funk!
Author
- 2021
Attica
Writer
2010s
- 2017
Tell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Black Colleges and Universities
Screenplay
- 2015
The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution
Writer
- 2014
Freedom Summer
Writer
- 2012
Jesse Owens
Writer
- 2010
Freedom Riders
Writer
2000s
- 2004
A Place of Our Own
Writer
1990s
- 1999
The Black Press: Soldiers Without Swords
Writer
1980s
- 1988
Sound 2
1980s
- 1985
Frederick Douglass: An American Life
Sound Recordist
1970s
- 1976
Just Doin’ It (A Tale of Two Barbershops)
Sound
Edited 2
1980s
- 1987
Two Dollars and A Dream: The Story of Madame C.J. Walker
Editor
1970s
- 1976
Just Doin’ It (A Tale of Two Barbershops)
Assistant Editor
Appearances3
2020s
- 2024
2000s
- 2004
A Place of Our Own
Self - Narrator (voice)
1990s
- 1996
