Melody: An American Girl Story on Amazon
Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post.
Melody Ellison, the American Girl doll who supports civil rights and equality has her very own historically based Amazon Original Series!
In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Amazon Original Special An American Girl Story—Melody 1963: Love Has to Win will be free to stream on Prime Video in the US beginning ending at 11:59 p.m. PST on Monday, January 16; no Prime membership required. The first of four original American Girl specials for Prime Video stars Marsai Martin (Black-ish) as the title character Melody, Frances Fisher (Titanic) as Miss Abbot, Frankie Faison (The Wire) as Melody’s grandfather Frank Ellison, and Idara Victor (TURN: Washington’s Spies) as Melody’s mother Frances Ellison. Executive produced by Alison McDonald (Roots), Oscar winner Common’s Freedom Road Productions, and Christopher Keenan and Melinda McCrocklin from American Girl, the special is directed and produced by Tina Mabry (Mississippi Damned, Queen Sugar).
Based in 1963 Detroit during the civil rights movement, An American Girl Story—Melody 1963: Love Has to Win centers around 10-year-old Melody whose eyes are opened to the racial inequality surrounding her, including the 1963 Birmingham Church Bombing. As a result, her belief in the “indivisible” promise of our country’s Pledge of Allegiance comes into question as she challenges her teacher on the validity of this given the horrific tragedy. After an emotional journey of self-reflection, her mother gives her the courage she needs by instilling in her that love brings out the best in everyone; reminding Melody that it’s important to “stand up for what’s right, even when it’s hard or scary.”