Watch these Black history movies with your kids and learn as a family

These Black history movies for kids were hand-picked to give the 10 and younger set an opportunity to watch and learn about some of the experiences, challenges, and triumphs of the Black community. Watch these movies with your child to tap into important conversations you can have during Black History Month and throughout the rest of the year.

March On! The Day My Brother Martin Changed the World

March On! is a Black history movie for kids
Common Sense Media

This Scholastic Storybook DVD includes narrations of four children's books about the civil rights movement and Black history. It manages to explain how Black people were treated unequally in a way even preschoolers can understand on a basic level.

Recommended for ages 4 and older
Quality: 4 out of 5
Directed by Paul R. Gagne, Melissa R. Ellard
Scholastic, 2010

March On! The Day My Brother Martin Changed the World

Common Sense Media

This is the uplifting true story of Janet Collins, whose dedication and determination led her to become the first African-American ballerina in the country to perform at the Metropolitan Opera House. Narrated by Chris Rock, this inspirational film can teach kids a lot about the lingering effects of slavery and racism in Jim Crow America.

Recommended for ages 5 and older
Quality: 4 out of 5
Directed by Saxton Moore
Sweet Blackberry, 2015

Garrett's Gift

Garrett's Gift is a Black history movie for kids
Common Sense Media

Narrated by Queen Latifah, this short movie about Garrett Morgan is a great primer on the history of a famous Black inventor and on the fascinating places where ideas originate.

Recommended for ages 5 and older
Quality: 4 out of 5
Directed by Karyn Parsons
Sweet Blackberry, 2007

The Journey of Henry Box Brown

Common Sense Media

The Journey of Henry Box Brown is an educational, uplifting short film that tells the true story of a former enslaved person who shipped himself to freedom in a crate in a harrowing 27-hour journey. It’s a perfect introduction to Black history.

Recommended for ages 5 and older
Quality: 4 out of 5
Directed by Karyn Parsons
Sweet Blackberry, 2005

And the Children Shall Lead

Common Sense Media

This powerful drama provides a great way to open discussion with kids about racial issues. Direct and sensitive, it personalizes a portrait of America's arduous struggles to break free of racism.

Recommended for ages 9 and older
Quality: 5 out of 5
Directed by Michael Pressman
HBO, 1988

A Ballerina's Tale

A Ballerina's Tale is a Black history movie for kids
Common Sense Media

A Ballerina's Tale examines the life and career of Misty Copeland, the first African-American principal dancer at New York's American Ballet Theater. Not only is Copeland a significant role model for any young girl who dreams of a career as a dancer, but she's also emerged as an important example for the Black community.

Recommended for ages 9 and older
Quality: 4 out of 5
Directed by Nelson George
Sundance Selects, 2015

Thunder Soul

Black history movies for kids
Common Sense Media

This documentary about one of the country’s top jazz bands in the mid-‘70s is full of inspiring messages and strong role models. The Kashmere Stage Band was an all-Black high school band from Houston that not only revitalized the predominantly Black school but also revolutionized the entire concept of the stage band.

Recommended for ages 9 and older
Quality: 4 out of 5
Directed by Mark Landsman
Roadside Attractions, 2011

Hidden Figures

Common Sense Media

Based on the nonfiction book by Margot Lee Shetterly, Hidden Figures is the true story of three brilliant Black women who worked for NASA in the 1950s and '60s as "human computers.” This is a story that needed to be told—and it's told in a triumphant manner.

Recommended for ages 10 and older
Quality: 4 out of 5
Directed by Theodore Melfi
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, 2016

Remember the Titans

Remember the Titians is a Black history movie for kids
Common Sense Media

Remember the Titans tells the inspirational true story about the struggles and victories of a newly-integrated high school football team in 1971 in Alexandria, Virginia. It’s a deeply moving film about the courage of individuals and the power of sports to transcend perceived and ingrained differences.

Recommended for ages 10 and older
Quality: 4 out of 5
Directed by Boaz Yakin
Walt Disney Pictures, 2000

Woodlawn

Black history movies for kids
Common Sense Media

Woodlawn is a faith-based drama inspired by true events at a Birmingham, Alabama, high school in 1973. The movie focuses on how a sports chaplain helped convert nearly the entire Woodlawn High School football team to born-again Christianity after it was desegregated, helping the players deal with racial strife on and off the field.

Recommended for ages 10 and older
Quality: 3 out of 5
Directed by Andrew Erwin and Jon Erwin
Pure Flix Entertainment, 2015

 

Common Sense Media
Tinybeans Voices Contributor

Common Sense Media is an independent nonprofit organization offering unbiased ratings and trusted advice to help families make smart media and technology choices. Check out our ratings and recommendations at www.commonsense.org.

Dear Mom Who Is Totally Screwing Up,

Today my six-year-old daughter screamed the whole way home because I would not buy her a pottery wheel. Today I lost my patience. I will lose my patience again tomorrow.

I sometimes clean up her messes, because I can’t deal with the potential meltdown or maintain the calm presence required to walk her through how to clean it on her own.

I let her watch kids’ shows with obnoxious characters who whine a lot and lack depth.

I tune her out after hours of nonstop talking. Lord knows what I have given her permission to do when answering with a vague, “Yeah, sure.”

Yesterday she informed me that she hates quesadillas, one of the five or so foods she has always willingly consumed. Eat chicken nuggets then. Whatever.

I catch myself whining at her in the same voice that enrages me when it comes from her mouth. I am failing by example.

I’ve read the articles; I know the current “rules” of being a great mother. I think most of those carefully curated “shoulds” were written by liars and people who have never been around children. At best, they are hopeful ideals.

I gave in to the tantrum because my brain was so loud, and it was the only way to filter out some of the noise.

I am not teaching her enough about empathy and equity and racism and compassion and feminism and and and…

I said it was time to go! Get your shoes on right now!

Kids need rules and structure and patience. Those things do not play well together. Probably because their mothers failed them.

I played on my phone. I played on my phone because I needed to escape, and if you just leave your kid at the park, people call CPS.

In a minute, I’m busy right now.

I’m busy not volunteering at school. Not reading enough books to her. Not not not.

Inside my head, there is a version of me sitting with my head between my knees and my hands over my ears. Inside my head, there’s a version of my kids tapping me on the shoulder, repeating, “Mommy, watch this. Mom. Mommy. Mom.” Because of course.

But I do know this. At the end of the day, she asks to cuddle. She shares her dinnertime candy with me because she “likes to do nice things for people.” She talks about the fun things I actually mustered up the energy to do, not as a way of saying how much better I could be, but as a way of saying how much “enough” I am. She sometimes mimics my worst but also mimics my best.

So maybe there is hope. Maybe it’s not so bad. Maybe there is always tomorrow.

Dear Mom Who Is Totally Screwing Up, I wish this could be one of those uplifting messages about how you’re really not. But maybe you are. How the hell would I know? All I have to offer you is solidarity and a glass of wine.

Maybe maybe will have to be enough.

Originally published Sept. 2016.

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Rhiannon Giles is an overwhelmed mother who only occasionally considers giving her children to the circus. She has a sarcasm problem and writes regularly at rhiyaya.com. To keep up with new posts and see some of her favorites, join her on Facebook and Twitter.

If there’s one thing we know about parenting, it’s that whether you’re up to your ears in potty training or if you’re trying to navigate the newly-developed attitudes of a tween, there’s hardly a dull moment. We also know that some days can leave you feeling like a super-parent while others can make you seriously doubt your decision to raise another human being. That’s why it’s important to know that you’re not alone. We gathered our favorite quotes for parents to help you keep your soul tank full. Keep reading to see them all, and don’t forget, it takes a village!

clean jokes for kids and funny dad jokes
iStock

“I came to parenting the way most of us do—knowing nothing and trying to learn everything.” — Mayim Bialik

“Encourage and support your kids because children are apt to live up to what you believe of them.” — Lady Bird Johnson

“Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother.” —Oprah Winfrey

“Trust yourself. You know more than you think you do.” ―Benjamin Spock

“It is time for parents to teach young people that in diversity there is beauty and there is strength.” —Maya Angelou

iStock

 “We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future,” —Franklin D. Roosevelt

“Children are educated by what the grown-up is and not by his talk.” —Carl Jung

"A mother's arms are more comforting than anyone else's."—Princess Diana 

"You don't take a class; you're thrown into motherhood and learn from experience.”—Jennie Finch 

“It is easier to build strong children than to “repair broken men.” —Frederick Douglass

iStock

There is no such thing as a perfect parent. So just be a real one.” —Sue Atkins

“My parents are my backbone. Still are. They’re the only group that will support you if you score zero or you score 40.” —Kobe Bryant

“Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person’s character lies in their own hands.” —Anne Frank

“Being a father is the single greatest feeling on Earth. Not including those wonderful years I spent without a child, of course.” —Ryan Reynolds

“There is no school equal to a decent home and no teacher equal to a virtuous parent.” —Mahatma Gandhi

iStock

“The best way to keep children at home is to make the home atmosphere pleasant, and let the air out of the tires.” ―Dorothy Parker

“Before I got married I had six theories about raising children; now, I have six children and no theories.” ―John Wilmot

 Perfection doesn't exist, and I've found what makes children happy doesn't always prepare them to be courageous, engaged adults.”―Brené Brown

“Mother is a verb. It's something you do. Not just who you are.” ―Cheryl Lacey Donovan

"Childhood is fleeting, so let kids be kids and cherish the time you have together." —Abraham Lincoln

dad jokes for kids
iStock

"There are two gifts we should give our children.  One is roots.  The other is wings."  —Unknown

"Motherhood has taught me the meaning of living in the moment and being at peace. Children don’t think about yesterday and they don’t think about tomorrow. They just exist in the moment." —Jesalyn Gilsig

"You will never look back on life and think, 'I spent too much time with my kids.'"  —Unknown

"If you want your children to turn out well, spend twice as much time with them, and half as much money." —Abigail Van Buren

"Do what you feel in your heart to be right. You’ll be criticized either way." —Eleanor Roosevelt

—Gabby Cullen

Feature image: Emma Bauso via Pexels

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Play with Pride this summer! UNO has partnered with the It Gets Better Project to release a brand new card deck celebrating inclusivity and the LGBTQ+ community.

The rainbow-hued pack is available to purchase exclusively at Target.com and Target retailers nationwide for $5.99. Mattel has also donated $50,000 to the It Gets Better Project and will be a part of the organization’s digital pride fest in June. The unique festival will bring trailblazers in the LGTBQ+ community together with the general public for conversations and UNO gameplay.

The It Gets Better Project is a nonprofit dedicated to uplifting, empowering and connecting to the LGBTQ+ community globally. It uses a multimedia platform to reach millions of young people each year through storytelling and building community.

UNO Play With Pride is part of the company’s 50th anniversary celebration. It’s the world’s best-selling card game and its simple gameplay transcends language and culture. This new deck takes the company’s mission of bringing people together to the next level!

You can buy it starting today and it’s available through Pride Month and beyond at Target.

—Sarah Shebek

Images courtesy of Mattel 

 

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With a new book about immigrant women out late last year and the January launch of Rebel Girls Lead: 25 Tales of Powerful Women readers everywhere are 100% here for learning about amazing women both in history and modern times. In fact, we can’t get enough. Lucky for us, they’re not slowing down anytime soon. Read on for three exciting new announcements, just in time for Black History Month.

Another Incredible New Book

Just announced for a Fall 2021 release, Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Real-Life Tales of Black Girl Magic will soon be gracing all of our shelves. Complete with a forward by CaShawn Thompson, who is credited as the first person to introduce the concept of “Black Girls Are Magic” via Twitter in 2013. The book will highlight Black women from around the world, representing a diverse array of profession, time period, background, and complexion.

Black History Month Podcasts

While the the book won’t be out until later this year, there’s plenty to get hyped about right now. This month, Rebel Girls will release a four-part podcast series on inspirational Black women throughout history. Watch for:

Live Now! Harriet Tubman (Tarana Burke) & Madam CJ Walker

2/2 – Sojourner Truth

2/9 – Miriam Mekeba

2/16 – Ruby Bridges

 

Exciting New Hires to Take Rebel Girls to the Next Level

What’s more, following their announcement of their collaboration with Kids+Family and Imagine Documentaries to create original and historical content, feature films, and short and long-form scripted and unscripted television, they’ve made headlines again with two new dynamic additions to their creative leadership team!

Soo Koo, former Chief Creative Officer of Warner Bros. Consumer Products and Disney, will join the brand as Chief Creative/Marketing Officer: “I am inspired by Rebel Girls’ commitment to developing educational and entertaining content to young girls on a global scale,” said Koo. “I plan to use my experience driving creative and impactful marketing strategies to further elevate the stories of world-changing women and girls, while expanding the Rebel Girls footprint to meet our goal of instilling confidence in the lives of 50 million girls by 2025.”

And Lilly Workneh, formerly Editor-in-Chief of Blavity News, will serve as Head of Digital Content. She’ll be the lead in collaborating with Thompson to bring Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Real-Life Tales of Black Girl Magic to life.

“My passion for storytelling and uplifting others has fueled my professional career and I’m humbled by the opportunity to dive into the world of children’s publishing and content development with Rebel Girls,” said Workneh. “Stories have the power to take our imaginations to new heights and I’m looking forward to sharing the tales of inspirational women with the younger generation to show them how they can build a better, brighter future.”

We can’t wait to see what that future holds!

Visit rebelgirls.com to learn more,

—Amber Guetebier

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Need some uplifting tunes? You’ll want to strap on the earphones and get a listen to Laurie Berkner’s newest album, Let’s Go!

The legendary children’s musician is releasing her 14th album on Mar. 5, 2021 and is packed with a slew of original, interactive songs. Her signature style shines through, with songs wrapped in wisdom and warmth.

photo: Courtesy of Laurie Berkner

Berkner shares her experience about writing the album. “A pandemic is a strange and challenging time to make and release a new album. What’s really important? What’s going to change completely by tomorrow? I didn’t expect a song about handwashing to end up on this album, or a song about wearing a mask, and I waited to release the title track until after we were no longer under strict stay-at-home orders because … well, where were we going to GO? ”

Some of the title tracks include When It’s Cold, I’m On Vacation, Listen To The Sounds and Beautiful Light. “I love imagining young kids singing these words about themselves – and truly believing them,” says Berkner.

You can download the newest album on Mar. 5.

––Karly Wood

 

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Have you ever wondered how your favorite athletes and entertainers started out? Disney+ announced today that all 10 episodes of the original docu-series Becoming will premiere exclusively on the service on Fri., Sept. 18. The insightful and uplifting series tells the origin stories of 10 talented athletes, entertainers, and musicians including Adam Devine, Anthony Davis, Ashley Tisdale, Caleb McLaughlin, Candace Parker, Colbie Caillat, Julianne Hough, Nick Cannon, Nick Kroll, and Rob Gronkowski.

In this documentary-style series, shot in vérité, each episode centers around a visit to the celebrity’s hometown, touring important locations central to their upbringing.  A supporting cast of family members, coaches, teachers, mentors and friends are interviewed, sharing rarely heard anecdotes and insights into the star’s “becoming” story. 

The series is produced by ESPN Films, The SpringHill Company, Wheelhouse Entertainment’s Spoke Studios, and ITV America. LeBron James, Maverick Carter, Jamal Henderson and Philip Byron executive produce from The SpringHill Company; Brent Montgomery and Joe Weinstock executive produce for Spoke Studios; and Jordana Hochman and Rebecca Bruno executive produce for ITV America.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Disney+ 

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What do you do when things can’t be equal? This is a question many dual-income households are currently grappling with.

In my own household, which has been built on equality–both my husband and I are senior leaders within our respective companies–this question is hitting me particularly hard. The amount of anxiety, uncertainty, and plans going into the next school year seems to have disproportionately hit moms. Indeed, research shows in dual-income households, women shoulder more of these household burdens. Anecdotal evidence from my mom groups, group chats, and emails that have circulated further this thesis: as working men continue business as usual, women everywhere are trying to figure out what the heck we’re going to do when the school year starts.

In California, Governor Gavin Newsom has just announced a virtual start to the year. And with COVID-19 cases across most of the country increasing, we are all bracing for a year where parents will be called upon to be the primary educator and facilitator of distance learning. And when I say parents, I mean mothers. Working mothers in particular who have already battled the emotional toll of returning to work after maternity leaves, pumping on conference calls, finding ways to FedEx breast milk to babies while on work trips and countless microaggressions that keep us in secondary positions in the workplace will be left disadvantaged yet again.

To be clear, I’m not just talking about professional, white-collar women either. Data shows this is impacting women across the entire spectrum. A recent study shows a disproportionate number of female hourly workers cite childcare as their main barrier to going back to work right now.

But what are the solutions? Flexible work arrangements? We’ve tried that for months. We’re exhausted and burnt out. We’ve blocked our calendars, worked into the night or woken up early, we’ve done it all in the name of ‘making it work.’ The harsh reality is even with the most flexible work schedules, it will not solve the fundamental issue here—we cannot be called upon to give it our all at work all while being childcare providers, nurturers, cooks, and educators to our own children simultaneously. Even as expert jugglers, at some point there are simply too many balls in the air to manage.

I want to tie this all up in a bow, to provide some uplifting message or idea that will solve our 2020-2021 school year problems, but it doesn’t seem possible. The number of women that will either elect or be forced to leave the workforce, or need to ask for part-time time arrangements will set back an entire generation of women who have been trying desperately to break the glass ceiling for decades.

So what can we do? First, I’d like to go back to the initial point that this will disproportionately impact mothers. Male colleagues, do me a favor, don’t just outsource this task to your wife, get involved, and help advocate for your female colleagues. For example, employers could consider offering more job-sharing arrangements for moms, or policymakers could create paid “education leave” similar to maternity leave to let parents take time off away from the office to focus on schooling.

A mom can dream for creative solutions, but given how little our own President seem to care about this issue, I implore colleagues who do not have children to step up, ask your coworkers who are parents how you can help take some of their workload, so they can stay in the workforce.  Otherwise, all of these years of fighting for equality will be wiped away in a matter of months.

Rachel is a mother to two boys, Eli (4) and Logan (2). She has a decade of marketing experience and is a cum laude graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University and has an MBA from Harvard Business School. 

In direct response to the racial injustices impacting our country, KidNation, a new media platform for kids is sharing a timely message and music video entitled, Get Along. This new video teaches children the importance of love and inclusivity to instill acceptance and prevent racism before it even starts. The video debuted on the heels of KidNation’s inaugural Stay Clean sing-along video, which launched in May in response to the pandemic and rallied kids to wash their hands to avoid getting sick.

Chris “Ludacris” Bridges and entertainment attorney/ music executive Sandy Lal co-founded KidNation, which will officially launch later this year, as a vehicle to educate children through smart, yet cool content. Get Along offers another sneak peek from the company before its launch, and it continues to amplify KidNation’s mission to provide wholesome and high-quality entertainment for children everywhere. Over soft strings and guitar, the track locks into an unshakable melody before the uplifting and undeniable hook, urging for us all to simply Get Along.

Get Along

“KidNation was built on the foundation of enrichment through entertainment for the next generation. With everything going on in this world, we felt extremely passionate about releasing “Get Along” early,” said Bridges. “The message is simple, but needed now more than ever. You tell your kids how important it is to lead with love. Somewhere along the way, we sometimes forget that. We’re going to let the kids remind you. Let’s Get Along.”

Audiences everywhere instantly fell in love with KidNation during the sneak peak of Stay Clean earlier this year, which highlighted the importance of hand washing during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“There’s too much division in the world,” added Co-Founder, Sandy Lal. “Kids see past our differences. They look beyond what we’re told separates us. They know how to get along, so let’s take a lesson from them.”

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: KidNation

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In order to help out families with distance learning, HISTORY has launched a new series of fun lessons to teach, inspire and motivate children. History announced “HISTORY at Home” a free video series available every Mon., Wed., and Fri. at 11 a.m. ET across the network’s digital and social media platforms. Led by a diverse roster of presenters, the first lesson kicks off today with best-selling author Max Brooks educating parents and children on the timely topics of the origins of washing your hands and the history of germs and micro-biology.

In addition to Brooks, HISTORY has gathered a collection of presenters to deliver history lessons on topics they are passionate about. Hosts include Laurence Fishburne, Padma Lakshmi, Billie Jean King, Dan Abrams, Brad Meltzer and more.

HISTORY at Home

“We are currently experiencing an unprecedented moment in history,” said Dr. Kimberly Gilmore, Chief Historian for HISTORY. “Our brand has the ability to harness its vast archive of historical content, while also delivering engaging and thought-provoking educational experiences during this intense time for both children and parents. History always gives us perspective and context to find a way forward. We hope ‘HISTORY at Home’ will provide uplifting moments of inspiration and positivity as we all get through this pandemic together.”

The videos will be available on HISTORY’s Facebook, IGTV, Twitter, YouTube and on their website. Easy and engaging lesson plans to match the themes of the videos will be provided after each lesson and users will be encouraged to share their own activities by uploading personal videos and pictures for an opportunity to be featured as HISTORY’s “Student of the Week.” Also, historically-themed quizzes will post daily to History’s Instagram and Twitter providing a light-hearted, interactive means to engage and educate both kids and parents alike.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: HISTORY

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