MLK-inspired picks keep the conversation going
To continue the celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which was Monday, Jan. 18, and looking ahead to Black History Month, it’s always worth learning more about the venerated civil rights leader, and his message of racial and class equality and nonviolent protest that remains as relevant and urgent today as it was in the 1960s. Here are a selection of streaming films to educate, illuminate and spark conversation about MLK, his legacy, the history of the fight for racial justice in the United States and those who continue his work to this day.
“MLK/FBI”: Sam Pollard’s documentary “MLK/FBI” — released just last Friday, showing in local theaters and available for rent on VOD and digital platforms — is an exhaustive exploration of the extensive surveillance J. Edgar Hoover’s FBI conducted of King’s private life, hoping to undermine his character and leadership. It’s a damning indictment of the FBI’s actions, in advance of the 2027 release of tapes they recorded of King. But the reverend’s words feel as modern and important as ever, tools to continue the fight for equality among all U.S. citizens. Aside from seeing it in a theater, you can rent it for $6.99 on iTunes, Amazon, YouTube, Vudu.
“4 Little Girls”: Pollard collaborated with Spike Lee on the 1997 documentary “4 Little
Girls,” about the racially motivated bombing of a church in Birmingham, Alabama in 1963, killing four Black girls inside. This heartbreaking film tells the stories of who the girls were through their family and friends, and it creates an intimate portrait of the lives lost in this hate crime. Stream it on HBO Max or rent it for $2.99 on Amazon, YouTube, Vudu, iTunes.
“Selma”: Ava DuVernay’s stunning “Selma” is a portrait of King (played by David Oyelowo) through one of his most important acts of nonviolent protest, a 50-mile march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, in a demonstration of Black folks’ determination to exercise their right
to vote. The film references the Birmingham bombing as one of the tragedies King must grapple with while pursuing his work. DuVernay’s star-studded film written by Paul Webb was nominated for a Best Picture Oscar and won the Oscar for Best Original Song, and it’s a modern depiction of King that grapples with all of the complexities of his life and activism. Rent it for $2.99 on Amazon, iTunes, YouTube, Vudu.
“John Lewis: Good Trouble”: One of MLK’s cohorts during the Selma march was a young student leader and activist, the late, great Rep. John Lewis, who passed away in 2020. Dawn Porter’s 2020 documentary, “John Lewis: Good Trouble,” is a warm biographical film about the inspiring civil rights leader and longtime force for good in Washington, D.C., representing Georgia. Although the loss of Lewis last year was palpable, he carried on the work of his mentor in his passionate work for voting rights and equality in his storied career. Watch it on HBO Max or rent it for $1.99-$4.99 on Amazon, Vudu, YouTube, iTunes.
“All In: The Fight for Democracy”: Another activist carrying MLK’s torch for voting rights is the awe-inspiring Stacey Abrams, whose herculean efforts to turn Georgia blue and alleviate voter suppression in the state paid off in spades this year. Watch her carry on the work of Lewis and MLK in the documentary “All In: The Fight for Democracy.” Watch it on Amazon Prime.