Top 5 MLK shows for kids to let them speak freely!

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is only celebrated once a year, despite being one of the most influential figures in American history. Worse, much of the racial injustice he worked to abolish still plagues many Black Americans, meaning Black Americans’ civil rights struggle continues.

King’s suffering and compassion should be revisited, especially with younger generations. Thus, you can teach your kids about King’s legacy. There are several kid-friendly films about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights movement.

No of your race, discussing race with your kids can be challenging. Kids are naturally loving and inclusive, so segregation and prejudice, especially racial discrimination, can be challenging to understand. As difficult as it is, raising your children to fight for human equality and dignity will make them better individuals and help improve the world.

Storytelling starts conversations. Movies can give your youngster an emotional perspective on people’s challenges, enriching your family’s discussion. Here are some powerful, kid-friendly documentaries on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights movement he started.

Our Friend, Martin

It’s possible that Our Friend, Martin is one of the best movies that are appropriate for children that’s about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In the animated film released in 1998, the main character, a little boy named Miles, finds himself in a situation in which he must travel back in time to discover the meaning of Dr. King’s fight for civil rights.

Children can make a meaningful connection to the past by looking at it from the perspective of the current day. A star-studded voice cast, which includes Whoopi Goldberg, John Travolta, Angela Bassett, and James Earl Jones, is also featured in the movie.

Ruby Bridges

Ruby Bridges, a young Black girl who became a symbol in the civil rights movement when she was just 6 years old, is the best person to teach your children that they, too, can make a difference. If you want to teach your children that they can make a difference, there is no better example than Ruby Bridges.

Watching the Disney film Ruby Bridges as a family is a great way to kick up a talk about the topic. The film is based on the accurate tale of Ruby, who, at the age of six, courageously assisted in the integration of public schools in New Orleans in the year 1960.

Ruby attended school every day even though she was subjected to verbal and physical abuse, overt racism, and even threats of physical harm from white parents and kids. Her life serves as a lesson not just in the value of exhibiting bravery and fortitude but also in the significance of standing up for what one regards as being morally correct.

Selma, Lord, Selma

Sheyann Webb, played by Jurnee Smollett, is a young schoolgirl who, at the age of 11, is encouraged by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to take part in the civil rights movement that is taking place in Selma, Alabama, in the middle of the 1960s. The film Selma, Lord, Selma, produced by Disney, is an excellent family-friendly movie.

The film shows Sheyann’s viewpoint as a young Black girl, as well as her desire to assist in putting an end to the prejudice and humiliation that she and other Black people are subjected to. Throughout the movie, Sheyann takes part in various historically significant events, such as marches for the right to vote and the infamous Bloody Sunday march that took place in 1965.

March On! The Day My Brother Martin Changed the World

Continue Your March! The Day My Brother Martin Changed the World is the title of a book written by Christine King Farris, who is also known as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s sister. This Scholastic Storybook DVD is based on a book of the same name. The movie, like the novel, is Farris’ way of paying respect to his wonderful brother.

As told by his sister, it provides viewers with an intimate insight into who Dr. King was and the core ideals and convictions he upheld throughout his life. Through narrations, historical images, film footage, and artwork from Farris’ book, it also describes the day that Dr. King delivered his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech.

Hidden Figures

Hidden Figure is a film inspired by the lives of three African American women mathematicians: Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson, and Dorothy Vaughan. The film tells the true story of how these three women assisted NASA in accomplishing one of the most significant space accomplishments in the history of the world. The events of the movie take place in Virginia in 1961.

They provide viewers with an understanding of some of the challenges Black women encountered throughout the 1960s and how they worked to fight against the segregation, racism, and discrimination they encountered.

But given the brilliance of Johnson, Jackson, and Vaughan — three women whose work played an integral part in early American spaceflight — the film also offers a great representation of intelligent and powerful female role models for younger viewers. This is particularly beneficial because of the fact that Johnson, Jackson, and Vaughan were all American.