Make the next family movie night an educational night. It’s the perfect teachable moment and a great way to engage the kids with important topics. Here are just a few films that serve as conversation starters for the kids to discuss African American history. This list includes films for most grade levels. If you find a film you like, check with Barnes & Nobles, Amazon or your local library.
Remember, before showing any film to your children, be sure to review the film on your own and discern if the film and it’s content will be suitable for your family to watch.
From Debbie Allen’s Polly to Kenny Leon’s The Watsons go to Birmingham, here are a few recommended kid-friendly films about African American history.
1. Disney’s Ruby Bridges directed by Euzhan Palcy (1998)
2. Selma Lord Selma directed by Charles Burnett (1999)
3. The Watsons Go to Birmingham directed by Kenny Leon (2013)
4. Our Friend, Martin directed by Robert Brousseau and Vincenzo Trippetti featuring the voices of Angela Bassett, Whoopi Goldberg and more. (1999)
5. Polly directed by Debbie Allen (1989)
6. Heroes of Freedom: Stories of Harriet Tubman and Rosa Parks (DVD Release 2008)
7. Scholastic’s March On!…and More Stories About African American History featuring narration by Lynn Whitfield and others (DVD released in 2010)
8. Eyes on the Prize: America’s Civil Rights Years 1954-1965 (1987)
