3 Movies to Watch on #MLK Marting Luther King Jr. Day

The racial divide in America hasn’t been this bad since the Rodney King era, but it doesn’t need to be. The power of movies/tv is their ability to provide both emotional catharsis and inspiration all at once.

Instead of spending MLK day shopping, or complaining about the president, or trying to quash your inner riot – I strongly encourage everyone to spend the day with some snacks while absorbing the power from the following suggested marathon:

START WITH –

O.J.: Made in America (2016)
This is actually a multi-part ESPN documentary that flows like a movie. It is riveting and eye opening.
While most people will see O.J.’s story as a screw-that-murderer-we-finally-got-him epic, they will actually miss the point. This documentary is flat out amazing. O.J. Simpson’s story is so tragic that it feels like a Shakespearean play, except it’s Real. This guy is Icarus meets Uncle Tom, and from start to finish a racially emotional roller coaster that will prepare you for this next pick in the canon:

Malcom X (1992)
Part of being a “minority” (yes, I put that in quotes, and you’ll soon see why) in America (and still in India for that matter where an entire nation to this day still feels ashamed they’re not white and british) is in dealing with the “lie of inferiority” every day. Every Day. It’s an inner monologue as a reaction to your personal experience. You see that even though Martin Luther King’s and Gandhi’s peaceful ways made Some progress – neither the “lie of inferiority” nor the treatment of non-whites has really changed.

The truth of white “power” is that it exists because we allow it to. The paradox of racism is that fighting white “supremacy” actually strengthens it, because you have to first acknowledge its existence. And it’s a ghost, there is no such position. There is no superior vs. inferior. Because of the tendency to want to Fight aggressively, learning about Malcolm X’s path can prevent us from reinventing the wheel. Acting on impulsive angry conclusions is not wise. And even though Spike Lee isn’t the most exciting filmmaker, if you can get through this movie the catharsis is liberating.

I’ve come to realize that we are Not Minorities. We Are.

Selma (2014)
This of course is the ideal way to celebrate MLK. It’s about his dangerous campaign and sacrifice to secure Black voting rights. Nothing else needs to be said about this movie as being next to watch, it is just a great way to cap off a day honoring a movement that is still being tussled with today.

No matter what your ethnic background is and where you stand on the BLM divide, you can close that gap and liberate yourself emotionally through the visually stimulating cathartic adventure outlined above. It’ll take the whole day, but pop a lot of popcorn. Trust me, the peace & positive-yet-productive outlook resulting from the emotional release will be worth it.