Happy Monday my fellow dorks. Today in the United States we celebrate the legacy of not only an American hero but a hero for humanity, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. There has been a handful of films and documentaries that looks into the life of this extraordinary man. The following are my personal favorites.
King: The Martin Luther King Story (1978)
In the winter of 1978 a three-part miniseries made its television debut, today it simply goes by singular name, King. King stars Paul Winfield as Martin Luther King and Cicely Tyson as his wife Coretta. This film covers the last 14 years Dr. King’s life from his days as a Baptist minister to his march on Washington and his famous “I have a dream” speech to his assassination in 1968.
Martin Luther King, Jr.: Legacy of a Dream (1998)
With a running time of only 30 minutes, Legacy of a Dream which is narrated by the great James Earl Jones, highlights the Reverends fight for racial equality. Because of its short viewing time, I highly recommend this important piece of American history for our schools.
And finally…
KING (History Channel) (2008)
The History Channel took a different look into the man by going beyond his struggles and his dream and instead, look at the legacy that has followed since his death. How has his message been received in the last 40 years? Are we better? Are we worse? Or is it status quo? This documentary narrated and presented by Tom Brokaw is both well done and poignant in its approach.
Once again, on a day like today, we are reminded that superheroes come in all forms. Stand up to what you believe in and make a difference.
