Insightful, informative Black baseball docu; violent images.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 11+?
Any Positive Content?
Violence & Scariness
a lot
Images and descriptions of racism and violence, including discussions about race massacres across the United States, archival footage of injured or dead Black people, and descriptions of lynching.
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Themes of compassion and empathy for Black people who've suffered due to historical and institutional racism. Also shows importance of courage, integrity, perseverance, and teamwork.
Positive Role Models
a lot
Stars of Negro League baseball -- including Rube Foster, Satchel Paige, Hank Aaron, Jackie Robinson, and others -- demonstrate courage and integrity, especially in the face of harsh racism. They also show how to claim your own space, even in the face of enormous social pressure. The hardships faced by the film's subjects are likely to inspire compassion and empathy for marginalized people.
Diverse Representations
a lot
Focuses primarily on the Black baseball players who comprised teams of Negro League baseball, with Black journalists and sports experts -- men and women -- speaking on the League's history. Also addresses the racist violence that Black Americans faced during the early 20th century. Director Sam Pollard is Black.
Parents need to know that The League is an insightful documentary about the Negro League, the elite Black baseball teams that redefined the sport in the early 20th century. There's some heavy material here -- expect archival images and descriptions of racism and violence, including massacres and lynching. But the movie's focus on the Black sports superstars like Satchel Paige, Hank Aaron, and Jackie Robinson, who helped change some Americans' views on race and inspired other Black people to reach for their dreams, is inspiring, and there are clear themes of compassion, empathy, courage, integrity, perseverance, and teamwork. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
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What's the Story?
THE LEAGUE tells the history of Negro League baseball, the Black baseball organization that featured some of the sport's biggest stars (Satchel Paige, Hank Aaron, Jackie Robinson, and many more). Using interviews and archival material, the documentary shows how -- despite racism, threats, and violence -- the Negro League gave Black fans inspiration and hope for the future and changed the way that many baseball fans viewed Black players, both on the field and in society in general.
Highly educational and impactful, this documentary will fascinate fans of both baseball and history. The League offers inspiration by showing how the Negro League persevered despite racism and violence. And it stays engaging and entertaining while packing in a textbook's worth of information about American history in the early 20th century. Hopefully, after watching The League, viewers will have a deeper appreciation for the Black figures behind the history of baseball, sports, and society at large.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the history behind Negro League baseball. What social factors led to the league's formation?
Who were some of the biggest names in the league? What were some of their contributions to the league -- and to baseball overall?
How did the players and owners persevere amid racism?
What are some life lessons that viewers of The League can learn from the featured players and team owners?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
suggesting a diversity update.
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
By Monique Jones
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
