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Disney Celebrates Black History Month

© F. Colin Kingston

February is Black History Month and the Disney cable channel offers a variety of programs that the entire family can watch together. These specials include animated and live action movies. While each program is designed to be entertaining, they are also designed to share black culture and history. If you can, watch them with your entire family together. They provide an excellent avenue to discuss Black History and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

John Henry, an animated short about the legendary African American folk hero. The special finds John Henry learning that men of all colors worked together to build the railroads. It is narrated by Denzel Washington and features music by the legendary B.B. King. This 30 minute program premieres on Tuesday, February 2 at 7 p.m. PST.

Koi & The Kola Nuts is an animated version of an African folk tale. Narrated by Whoppi Goldberg, this program tells the story of Koi, a villager who must either complete three impossible tasks or end up in the cooking pot. Along the way, Koi makes three unlikely friends who save his life and help him to find his rightful place in the world. This 30 minute program premieres on Wednesday, February 10 at 7 p.m., PST.

Nightjohn, a live action motion picture, tells the fictional story of a slave in the pre-Civil War South who believes that literacy can be a strong weapon against the cruel physical and mental barriers of slavery. He courageously defies the laws which forbid the teaching of slaves how to read and write. Nightjohn, which is just over 90 minutes in length, premieres on Tuesday, February 2 at 7:30 p.m., PST. It stars Carl Lumbly, Beau Bridges, Allison Jones and Lorraine Toussaint, among others.

On Promised Land is the story of two families, one black the other white. Set in the rural south of the 1950s, the story shows how their lives are are drawn together by common dreams and broken promises. It stars Joan Plowright, Norman D. Golden II, Judith Ivey and Carl Lumbly and runs just over 90 minutes. It premieres on Tuesday, February 2 at 9:15 p.m., PST

One Day tells the story of four youngsters as they prepare to celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. As they prepare to write essays about the slain civil rights leader they learn that they don¹t really understand Dr. King, his accomplishments, or his vision. Thanks to the help of a seamstress who is also at the celebration they learn that anyone, no matter how big or how small, can make a difference in life. The program stars Loretta Devine, Ed Beagley Jr., James Ingram and Kirk Franklin. One Day is 30 minutes in length.