Kicking the week off with Martin Luther King Jr. Day makes this one a great time for families to discuss and remember the celebrated civil rights leader and his legacy fighting for racial justice. There are quite a few streaming specials and films that can help start those conversations and explain the life and accomplishments of MLK for kids, and why we celebrate him.
On Amazon Prime, stream "March On! The Day My Brother Martin Changed the World,” ($1.99 purchase), about King’s famed “I Have A Dream” speech, delivered at the1963 March on Washington, as told from the perspective of his sister, Christine King Farris. Also on Amazon Prime, "Rosa"($1.99 purchase), about Rosa Parks and her influential place in the civil rights movement, thanks to her actions in the Alabama bus boycott.
On HBO Max, watch the hourlong documentary "We Are the Dream: The Kids of the Oakland MLK Oratorical Fest," which features children from pre-K through 12th grade participating in a showcase performing their poems, speeches and public speaking skills, inspired by King's great oration.
Also on HBO Max, check out "The Power of We: A Sesame Street Special," about "the importance of standing up and speaking out when people are treated unfairly." The 22-minute special features everyone's favorite Sesame Street-dwelling Muppet, Elmo.
For older kids, try "The Hate U Give," starring Amandla Stenberg, about a young Black teen who grapples with racial injustice in her community when her friend is murdered by the police. She becomes a central focus of the protest movement in fighting for her friend's legacy, in this film that illustrates how the issues of MLK's day remain as urgent and relevant as ever.
