A new “American Girl” live-action special will be set during the civil rights movement, Deadline reports. “Melody, 1963: Love Has to Win, an American Girl Story” centers on a 10-year-old black girl’s evolving perception of race and racism in the United States.
NAACP Image Award winner Marsai Martin (“Black-ish”) has been cast as Melody in the special, set to premiere on Amazon Prime in the fall. “Melody” is directed and produced by “Mississippi Damned” helmer Tina Mabry, who also directed two episodes of “Queen Sugar,” Ava DuVernay and Oprah Winfrey’s upcoming OWN drama.
“Melody” is set in 1963 Detroit, and Deadline writes that the special will depict its titular character’s eyes being “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.”
The cast includes Idara Victor (“Rizzoli & Isles) and Frances Fisher (“Titanic”). Alison McDonald (“Roots”) and Common (“Selma”) will executive produce. McDonald penned the script.
Earlier this year, Amazon signed a deal to produce four live-action specials based on “American Girl” dolls and books.
“Melody, 1963: Love Has to Win, an American Girl Story” sounds like amazing entertainment to screen in classrooms across the country. The special seems as though it would make a great teaching tool to help educate kids about the civil rights movement in a way that they can process and connect with.
