Almos' A Man (1976)

Starring:

• LeVar Burton 
• Madge Sinclair
• Robert DoQui

Storyline
Although Dave (LeVar Burton, Roots, Dummy) and his family are poor sharecroppers in the Deep South in the 1930's, this 15 year-olds problem is shared by teenagers today: he stands with one foot in adulthood and the other in childhood. “Almos' A Man”, yet still treated like a child, he struggles for an identity. There's one thing, one symbol of manhood, Dave thinks, that could guarantee him instant respect: a gun.

Dave finds a way to buy a pistol and at last, is ready to pull the trigger for the first time, never again will they call him a boy…But, he trembles, the gun overpowers the boy's body and he loses control - his young life forever changed.  Also starring Madge Sinclair (Cornbread, Earl & Me) and Robert DoQui (Coffy).

Marching On! [a.k.a. Where's My Man To-Nite?"] (1943)

Starring:

• Emmet Jackson
• Hugo Martin 
• George T. Sutton
• L.K. Smith
• Georgia Kelly 

Storyline
Young Rodney Tucker Jr. is leading an aimless life. His out-spoken grandfather Samuel Tucker, a decorated army veteran, thinks the military would do the boy good, but Rodney wants nothing to do with wearing a uniform. Uncle Sam has his own ideas, and a surprising piece of mail arrives, "inviting" Rodney to visit his local draft board. Boot camp rubs Rodney the wrong way and he soon goes AWOL. But if Grandpa Tucker has anything to say about it, Rodney will make something out of himself yet.

Challenger (1990, TV Movie)

Starring:

• Karen Allen
• Joe Morton
• Angela Bassett
• Barry Bostwick
• Julie Fulton
• Richard Jenkins
• Brian Kerwin
• Keone Young
• Raye Birk
• James Monroe Black

Storyline

As the world excitedly awaited what should have been a routine liftoff for the space shuttle Challenger, equipment complications turned the mission into a ticking time-bomb. Adding to the drama of the mission was the presence of Christa McAuliffe (Karen Allen), a school teacher chosen from hundreds of candidates to be the first civilian in space. Based on the true story of the tragic space shuttle disaster, this compelling account offers a poignant look into the lives of the seven crew members during the months leading up to the launch. Joe Morton (Brother From Another Planet) stars as Dr. Ronald E. McNair. He was the second African-American in outer space.

Note: This post is a little personal as Ronald McNair attended my alma mater, North Carolina A&T State University. Aggie Pride!!