Hello Meltingpot Community,
It feels like it’s day number eleventy-billion of lockdown. What’s a family to do to stay motivated and excited? Especially when the weather may not be cooperating for outdoor activities. Yes, you can play board games, knit sweaters and bake another loaf of bread. And I’m all for those types of activities. Puzzles are fun too. But I don’t know who needs to hear this, but it is okay to turn to the TV for entertainment during these endless days of forced family time.
The thing is, Hollywood knows your pain, and I feel like they are working over time to release content to keep us both entertained and informed while we sit on our couches and wait for the day when hanging out at a cafe with friends is safe again. So, here are some movies and series with multicultural casts and/or storylines that I’ve enjoyed, that hopefully you will too. Please note, I only watch Netflix, so if you don’t have Netflix, you might want to subscribe, or just ignore this post and go make another sweater.
Some of these shows are appropriate to watch with your kiddos and some of these are just for you to enjoy when the kids are in bed and you need your own time.
Multicultural Netflix Shows Worth Watching Now
For the Kiddos:
The Haunted Hathaways: This is an old Nickolodeon Show that I never heard of, but has just been released on Netflix. It’s all about a white family that moves into a house in New Orleans that is haunted by a Black family. It’s totally silly and there’s nothing spooky about it, but the kids are cute and my nine-year old loves it. Check it out if you want your kids to watch something harmless with positive Black family characters.
Carmen Sandiego: I’ve written about my love of Carmen Sandiego here before, but I’ll say it again. Awesome Latina heroine, global destinations, multicultural cast and great plots. And it’s a cartoon! I love Carmen Sandiego more than my kid, but don’t tell anyone. New episodes are out now!
Teens and Tweens
I’m thrilled Netflix seems to be opening up the 90s vault of Black sitcoms because you can now watch:
The Parkers, Sister, Sister and One on One
Family
Sometimes the best thing you can watch as a family, where nobody has to get bored, are reality shows. Here are two that we love in my house:
Best Leftovers Ever!: No joke this cooking competition has taught me a thing or two about re-using leftovers and it’s fun to watch. Plus, one of the judges is Korean American (David So) and one is British (Rosemary Shrager). And they do a good job of bringing in diverse contestants. I find every episode to be fun and colorful.
Voice of Fire: Superstar Pharrell has an uncle who wants to create the world’s best multicultural gospel choir. Need I say more? There’s music that will bring tears to your eyes, inspiring stories and divine drama. What’s not to love?
Mommy Time
Lupin: While everybody is losing their mind over Bridgerton and Emily in Paris, I’m over here trying not to binge all five episodes of the amazing French series, Lupin. It’s based on the gentleman thief of the same name, but it’s really about a man who is trying to avenge the death of his father. It is dubbed in English, but I barely notice because it’s THAT GOOD!
UnCorked: This movie is only new-ish on Netflix, but UnCorked is a beautiful meditation on following your passions in life even if it goes against the culture. In this film, a young Black man wants to become a master sommelier instead of taking over his father’s barbecue restaurant. The story is small and sweet but totally universal. It’s so worth the watch.
Tell me some of the things you’re watching these days. Remember, I like my movies and shows with plenty of color and culture.
