Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a time to reflect on the people who have shaped history. This top 10 list highlights movies about individuals who left their mark on the world. From the powerful story told in SARAH’S OIL to the historical events seen in SELMA, these movies are inspired by the values and example Dr. King left behind.
Top 10 Movies to Watch for MLK Day
SELMA
SELMA is a powerful movie about the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s 1965 march on Montgomery, Alabama for voting rights for African Americans. The 1964 Civil Rights Act outlawed segregation in the United States. When a woman tries to register to vote…
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HARRIET
HARRIET is the powerful and entertaining true story about a slave in the south before Civil War named “Minty” became Harriet Tubman, the woman who saved hundreds of slaves and brought them to freedom. Harriet is married to a free man, and…
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SARAH’S OIL
SARAH’S OIL is a heart-rending, terrific western set in the early 1900s. Sarah is a young, smart black girl whose family had been slaves to the Creek Indian Nation. So, when the tribe moves to Oklahoma, the government gives Sarah 190 acres.…
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THE LIGHT OF FREEDOM
The historical, family movie THE LIGHT OF FREEDOM takes place at the start of the Civil War in 1861. Anna Handby and her family are trying to save slaves from a bounty hunter. The family is also going to extraordinary lengths to…
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HIDDEN FIGURES
HIDDEN FIGURES is an engaging, uplifting salute to three African-American women who contribute to the NASA program during the 1960s Space Race with Russia. The story centers on Katherine Johnson. A brilliant mathematician, Katherine proves herself a critical addition to the Space…
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GIFTED HANDS: THE BEN CARSON STORY
GIFTED HANDS: THE BEN CARSON STORY is one of the best made-for-television movies ever produced. It is the true story of a black child raised by a single mother who encouraged him to use his God-given gifts. He rises from being a…
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42
42 tells what happens when the Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team signed the first black player in the Major Leagues, Jackie Robinson, in 1947. Led by his Christian faith and the prospect of more money, Dodgers General Manager Branch Rickey has long wanted…
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BLOOD DONE SIGN MY NAME
BLOOD DONE SIGN MY NAME is based on the true story of Ben Chavis and Vernon Tyson who tried to change a small town’s thoughts about civil rights in 1970. Tyson, a Methodist pastor, tries to help his new congregation see that…
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GLORY
With a really good 1860's look, GLORY is a biblical moral lesson about overcoming racism through reconciliation, not rebellion or revenge, set in the context of history that we all need to see. GLORY is a great film for mature, discerning Christians.
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AMISTAD
AMISTAD is a moving and uplifting but at times violent story of heroes battling overwhelming odds to win their freedom. It tells the true, suspenseful story of a group of Africans who in 1839 revolt against the masters of a Spanish slave…
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