This is capital-I Important media—the kind of documentary that belongs on every American history curriculum. The footage is powerful, the storytelling is clear, and the educational value is off the charts.

But let's be real: it's from 1987, and it shows. The pacing is slow, the format is very traditional talking-heads-and-archival-footage, and modern kids raised on quick cuts and streaming will find it harder to engage with than, say, a Ken Burns doc with slick production. It's also emotionally brutal—watching real people get beaten, hosed, and screamed at for wanting basic rights is heavy stuff.

This isn't something you throw on for family movie night. It's something you watch together, pause frequently, and talk through. It's homework that matters. If your kid is studying civil rights or you want them to understand this crucial chapter of history, this is the documentary. Just be prepared to sit with them and process it together.