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The Unreal ’90s Animated Educational Film that is ‘Our Friend, Martin’
Martin Luther King deserves better
Consider this scenario: we remove Martin Luther King Jr. from the Civil Rights Movement, and the United States remains a segregated country.
This happens in the 1999 animated educational film Our Friend, Martin by Dic Entertainment. The film depicts Martin Luther King Jr. as the only one responsible for Civil Rights in the ’60s; the United States wouldn’t have rights for all if it weren’t for his actions. Unfortunately, our Friend, Martin depicts Martin Luther King as the reason for civil rights, thus ignoring the many crucial black voices during the movement (i.e., Malcolm X, Maya Angelou, and Rosa Parks.)
Our Friend, Martin, is a naive depiction of MLK. Showcasing him as the savior of the United States doesn’t help any kid who watches this animation. Children who want to understand Martin Luther King Jr. should learn about his philosophy. Instead of painting him as a hero for nonwhite Americans.
This is as far as I’ll explain Martin Luther King Jr.’s involvement in the ’60s. Much better writers can describe King’s legacy. I’d sound like a dullard if I did.
