He helped start MLK Day. His son made a film about it and showed it in Kansas City.
The Rev. Dr. Bennie Mitchell Jr. is thought to be the first person to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
That story is told in “It is Well,” a documentary made by his son, Bennie Mitchell III, who appeared at a screening of the film Monday at the inaugural MLK Day of Service Celebration in Kansas City.
The event, held at the American Jazz Museum’s Gem Theater, also recognized local community organizations and included a meet-and-greet with Mitchell III. Organizer Jermaine Jenkins said “edu-tainment” in the form of the documentary was a key part of Monday’s MLK Day celebration.
“It’s about his accomplishments and his talents,” Mitchell III said. “One of his most known accolades is starting the Martin Luther King Observance Day in Savannah, Georgia.”
“He truly believed in what Dr. King stood for, what he did.”
The idea to commemorate King spread and in 1983, President Ronald Reagan made it a national holiday.
Mitchell III began working on the documentary in January 2007 when he happened to be going through a cabinet at his family’s home and a tape fell out. He began digitizing the family’s videos.
“I saw what I had and automatically thought about, ‘I should do a movie,’” he said, noting that his father was also a teacher, singer and preacher.
He conducted more than 70 interviews and moved to Los Angeles.
The process required learning technical filmmaking skills as well as coming to terms with his father’s legacy and death.
“It took me 11 years consciously making this film, but all in all, it was 30 years in the making,” Mitchell III said.
The film was completed in August 2018 and Mitchell III has been traveling the world showing it. He said being able to share his family’s story and educate people on the origins of MLK Day has been rewarding.
“It feels great to be here to share with Kansas City,” he said.
