Martin Luther King Jr’s sacrifice to change racism in America using NonViolent methods have always inspired me.

More so now as a parent because there’s a level of sympathy for his “I have a Dream” speech I didn’t have until I became a parent. I think, he was so smart to focus on something so many folks during that time had…children…everyone who had the power to vote and make a change were “families.”

One way we have helped our children understand an event is with personal testimonies, news stories, documentaries, journals, songs, pictures, books and art.

We are an activist family and I have picketed, signed, and held the line with others over both human and animal rights as well as environmental issues.  But, it’s not safe to do those things with your children so one way we have helped our children understand an event is with personal testimonies, news stories, documentaries, journals, songs, pictures, books and art. There’s also a quiz, created by Harvard, which helps you see if you have racist tendencies.

The best place to find information over Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is at the King Center in Atlanta, Georgia. We will make a field trip once we’re in Tennessee. I am sure It like the National Underground Freedom Center here in Cincinnati, Ohio is something all should visit.

Songs honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr…

• In The Name Of Love by U2
• MLK by U2 (This is a wonderful lullaby for the kids)
• We Shall Overcome by Bruce Springsteen

Documentaries, News, Film and Movies*

• I Have a Dream by Martin Luther King Jr.

• I Have Been To the MountainTop

• Various sermons Dr. King gave.
• Dr. King’s Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech. (I find this so amazing how America saw this MAN as less than and yet four years before his murder the world saw how valuable and important he was to furthering peace and equality for all.)

Not ONLY about Dr. King but information I find important to help my kids gain a deeper understanding.

• Gandhi
• Great Black Heroes
• Freedom Riders
• To Kill A Mockingbird by Gregory Peck
• Rosa Parks
• Malcom X (the man and the movie)
• John F. Kennedy
• Denise McNair, Cynthia Wesley, Carole Robertson, and Addie Mae Collins
• James Zwerg
• Nonviolent Communication
• The Help*
• The Butler*
• Gone With The Wind*
• African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross (available on Netflix)
• The Loving Story (available on Netflix)
• Bookers Place: A Mississippi Story (available on Netflix)
• Muhammad Ali
• Paul Saltzman/The Last White (available on Netflix)
• American Experience: 1964 (available on Netflix)

Please remember I have teens and a little one.  Some of this information may beyond the understanding or comfort level of your child.  I know it has been hard for my teens to watch and some movies they will not watch for another few years.  Please be aware of the gentleness of your child.  I’ve found it helpful to watch and read things to then explain so my kids can understand.  If you have littler ones be sure to check out the other bloggers at The Multicultural Kids Blog for more information to help you learn about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Please, take a moment to pin this to an appropriate board.  Thanks!  ~Honey