The March
By Joyce Slaton,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Docu traces crucial moment in U.S. civil rights history.
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What's the Story?
Before the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964, there was the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963, an event explored in the documentary THE MARCH. Narrated by Denzel Washington and featuring interviews with many key civil rights leaders as well as superstars like Oprah Winfrey, THE MARCH weaves together vintage television footage with new perspective from those who were there. Viewers will learn about the underpinnings of the March on Washington, including the Montgomery bus boycott (think Rosa Parks), and the political organizing efforts of leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and A. Philip Randolph. The documentary then follows the March on Washington from its planning stages through the day itself, with affecting footage of the singers and pundits who spoke that day, including MLK, whose spine-tingling "I Have a Dream" speech is the highlight of the doc.
Is It Any Good?
Earnest and straightforward, The March is the kind of documentary you can picture a high school history teacher wheeling an AV cart in for. Those who didn't know a lot about the 1963 March on Washington will learn more about it: the leaders who inspired the march, the foot-soldiers who made it happen, the nameless and faceless hundreds and thousands who made it their business to be there that day.
Probably the most gripping parts of the doc for teens will be footage of police officers bullying peaceful protesters, and images of signs like "colored bathroom." Young people who have never seen such images, or heard politicians railing fiercely against what we think of today as basic human rights, will be spellbound. The rest of the doc may be a tougher sell -- the thing about a peaceful protest is that it's not that dramatic. Nonetheless, The March illuminates a painful, yet crucial period in America's history, and parents (and history teachers!) who want their children to understand why may want to put The March on the "required viewing" list.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how far racial equality has advanced since the events spotlighted in the documentary. Can people of any color be barred from jobs? What about bathrooms? Are people of color on a truly equal footing with white people? Why or why not?
How much did you know about Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech before watching the documentary? How do you feel about the speech now? Was it an effective speech? How did it affect you?
How is the viewer supposed to view the March on Washington? Is the documentary The March meant to convince us of a point of view? Or simply to review a period in history?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: October 15, 2013
- Cast: Denzel Washington , Harry Belafonte , Oprah Winfrey
- Director: John Akomfrah
- Inclusion Information: Black actors, Female actors
- Studio: PBS
- Genre: Documentary
- Topics: Great Boy Role Models , Great Girl Role Models , History
- Run time: 60 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: February 26, 2022
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