LeVar Burton: Leaving the Church to Inspire on Screen | Beyond the Spotlight | Full Documentary

Inspired by his mother to be “of service”, LeVar Burton entered the seminary at 13 years old. But after deciding the church didn’t have the answers to his many questions about life, he changed his focus to theater arts, ultimately becoming known for Roots, Reading Rainbow, and Star Trek.
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[@videovoidtv]

LaVar Burton helped raise me. Helped teach me english along side Sesame St. as a boy who only spoke spanish. Im also a huge trekkie and I love Geordi. Hes a hero. A legend.

[@MsDisneylandlover]

Beautiful ❤

[@Atchalong]

The man's a national treasure.

[@nycgurl2u]

Levar Burton is the epitome of class!

[@rushalett84]

I have such an emotional connection to Levar Burton. He is a true icon and legend. He really raised a whole generation to love reading. I hope to meet him one day.

[@ParisVan-Del]

Thank you Mr. Burton. You've not only helped unlock my adventures in reading, you opened my eyes to a history before slavery, during slavery, after that evil, to the freedom beyond the stars. Thank you for your vulnerability in service for us to be seen.💜🔥

[@christopheroliver7589]

Thank you, Mr. LeVar Burton! The important literacy work you've gifted us is so appreciated!

[@LordFiercelove1]

I just cried happy tears for 51 minutes.

[@stormymangham5518]

I remember Reading Rainbow like it was yesterday. I remember thinking there was really something special about that program. Captivating children's minds to learn. I am 41 years old now and have been beaten down, robbed and abused by this economy. I'm now dejected, defeated, under the poverty line and will wonder what this economy did to me and for what reason until the day I die. Captivating young minds for the sole purpose of raising a more intelligent society is the holy grail of civility and equality. The secretary of the department of education has a mind numbingly daunting tasking order, I understand that. However, education reform is one of the most important problems we face during this time in human history. We all have an obligation to teach the minds of youth. To inspire them to repair this world and societies that we've all spent our lives destroying. I cannot help but feel profound pessimism for the future of America. I am still trying, my efforts are all in vain, but I will never stop trying. I have many solutions to the problems and threats we face as human beings. Albeit, I have no voice, no credentials, and no support. My life was a success story in the American slave labour mill. I am truly the best slave I have ever known, followed closely by my father. It has to stop, freedom, independence and equality in this economy are vital to our survival as a nation and globally as a fledgling species of ignorant primates. I have many solutions, and my conscience has been clean my entire life. I no longer have anything to prove. I'm here to help in any way I am able. This is a time when it is shameful to call ourselves American. We say we are fighting to promote Democratic process, when really we are fighting for capitalist sovereignty at the expense of the masses. Inequality begets human suffering, we change or we fall and fade from the annals of time.

[@dg8676]

Don’t worry about it to much it won’t change the past. Not everyone can be rich it’s just statistics

[@jonathan53356]

When I was growing up, I never saw Levar as anything other than an adult. I would watch him on Star Trek on the weekends and on Reading Rainbow during the week. Star Trek taught me that it didn't matter who you were, we all have gifts to share. Reading Rainbow taught me to love reading. School made me hate reading. In my eyes, I always had to read books I either didn't understand or thought were boring. I was 25 and randomly saw an episode of Reading Rainbow. Watching that episode got me into reading again. Thank you, Levar.

[@bell9930]

Lavar Berton is the best example of black excellence today. He loves black people he loves being black and he loves the black family, that living practice of black love ideology paired with his love for books and education make him ultimately some kind of supreme being. Just saying 🤷🏾‍♀️

[@dg8676]

Why does it have to be about color 😂😂😂😂 he’s just a good man forget about him being black

[@bell9930]

@@dg8676 I'll say it loud I'm black and I'm proud! ✊🏾

[@rolandbujeiro42]

​@@bell9930 Supreme being?? Really??! I guess you'll bow before anyone. Pretty sad.

[@bell9930]

@@rolandbujeiro42 lol who are you???

[@evonza4858]

Yes he is awesome 🥰❤️🖤💚Jamie Foxx and others could learn a lot about this loving black people while being black🤨

[@NappyVereen]

I am going to meet this man one day. April 13, 1997 I won 1st place 🏆🏆🏆 for my book “I Found A Bat” and it was signed off with an award by LeVar Burton. “Young Writers and Illustrators Awards.”

[@holygroove2]

Beautiful and inspirational! An adult role model for me!

[@david2869]

If Levar Burton is a fingerpainting on the refrigerator of his mother, I know what that painting would look like. It would be a rainbow, with a spaceship on one side and a set of broken chains on the other, all on top of an open book.

[@larryalden79]

I was introduced to him at 7 via our television for the premier of TNG. It was awesome. Thank you

[@yoBigWave]

Very lucky to have been shaped by such an amazing human being. Mr Burton gave me hope

[@kamronrhodes5151]

Levar Burton is an Icon i grew up watching him on Reading Rainbow

[@MsDisneylandlover]

Me 2

[@kamronrhodes5151]

@@MsDisneylandlover yep

[@TiffanySoulbird]

I have no words for how much I love LeVar. Before I was born he was transforming minds and hearts in Roots, and I grew up with reading rainbow and watching star trek TNG. I even remember the crossover episode between star trek and RR. He also did an episode about Roots and I appreciate the way he presented so mindfully for a kid audience. As a black nerd he's shown me how to make a space for oneself in the world built on love, play, determination, authenticity and service. I love him dearly. I listen to his podcast often too. This man is the real deal. Such a treasure in this modern world. 💕🙏🏾

[@insekta1701]

LeVar will always be my best good friend who had that great tv show when I was a little girl. Im glad to hear from him again♥️♥️.

[@ginabattz9716]

I second that emotion ❤❤❤

[@tylergodefroy8713]

what a great man and a great story

[@katara6227]

Inspiring, thank you!

[@lets_try_more_repect]

Thank you so much, Mr. Burton

[@crystaloelke298]

I can't get past how casually they skim over how his sister had to raise his son and kept him out of fostercare.

[@BrianHatfieldSeattle]

Yeah, I felt like there was more to that story

[@LikeSuicide]

Me too. I wonder if maybe his son wants to be out of the spotlight. Would explain his absence from this documentary.

[@jamesbentz7883]

In this world of so many problems, and so many ill motivated people, I am grateful to learn about you and know that a person like you is among us, living not for personal gain, but purposefully for the betterment of the human race. Thank you so much.

[@gloriouslyimperfect]

It’s not lost on me that Mr. Rodgers was an ordained minister and that was for a time the path of Levar too. I got a chance to meet him when they named a park after him in our mutual hometown of Sacramento. He is everything that the young me watching TNG and reading rainbow had hoped he would be.

[@Diggin4MyRoots]

I enjoyed this exposē on Levar Burton. All that praise for his Mom and her profession, then learns through "Finding Your Roots," that he comes a line of male educators through his father.😊

[@NyeGuy-yv2dv]

Preach, Levar, preach. I love you, brother.

[@willdwyer6782]

Nobody ever talks about One in a Million. Talk about underrated!

[@christopherlaryck3333]

An amazing man.

[@professordavid2008]

Yes he is! ❤

[@ccth22]

Not only is he a brilliant mind, but he must have been some athlete growing up. OJ Simpson said when they filmed Roots, they filmed a few takes and he couldn’t catch up with Lavar. So finally the director told Lavar to slow down. OJ was at his peak physically at that time. So Lavar was an athlete as well.

[@Romel5427]

Thank you, Sir L. Burton, for joy, imagination, and the passion for learning. God bless you, you have so many protoje out here.

[@caralynpercy6542]

Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. This is my response to the comments about his son. LeVar has done so much good that it might do well to say. THERE’S SO MUCH BAD IN THE BEST OF US AND SO MUCH GOOD IN THE WORST OF US THAT IT ILL BEHOOVES ANY OF US TO TALK ABOUT THE REST OF US. God bless you LeVar.

[@AudioThrift]

I met LeVar Burton and Brent Spiner at Comic Con one year... They were exceedingly kind and funny. It means a lot. It's rough to be a fan of something and find out your favorite character is a jerk in real life; makes the show or movie less enjoyable. I consider myself lucky because my interaction with them enhanced the series in my eyes.

[@erinpalmer7179]

Marvelous...thank you.

[@sirkingofus]

Great interview

[@withershin]

Like I'm cool with Blossom and Ken doing Jeopardy but really? Reading Rainbow was my jam back in the day. Butterfly in the Sky.

[@JacobHayden911]

Yeah man, I would have LOVED to see him as the long lasting host of Jeopardy!, but I think Ken is great for the roll too considering he's the World Record holder for the most wins! I'm glad he doesn't let it get to his head and still hosts the show respectfully, and I'm sure he hopes to see someone beat him during his run on the show! ❤️

[@evonza4858]

Lavar would've been excellent 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾🥰❤️🖤💚

[@devilpup21]

Great man learned a lot from this man as kids

[@jessgunn6639]

LaVar Burton is a person every man should strive to be like!

[@MsDisneylandlover]

1st God

[@Carmen-D-Clinton]

I Was Raised Watching PBS9 In St. Louis, Missouri ❤ Since '71 & I Watch CPB Now. 🎉 😊

[@seanhalldorson1746]

This was beautiful.

[@francescab6636]

He was my childhood, i love reading rainbow and star trek. We need show back for the new generation

[@evonza4858]

Black IS beautiful even if others don't acknowledge it it is what it is 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾🥰❤️🖤💚

[@LiciKai]

I love how he speaks of Alex Hailey. It was surprising to hear how he ran from his responsibility to raise his son. Love for his sister for stepping up to the plate to do it. I would like to know what became of the relationship with his son and about his other sister.

[@MsDisneylandlover]

I hope he got back into his son life

[@MsDisneylandlover]

God had a calling on this man ❤

[@claires9100]

Those eyes.❤

[@MsDisneylandlover]

He needs a movie next

[@MsDisneylandlover]

Great actor ❤

[@ScottsBranch]

Maybe I missed something about him finding out that he had a son that had to go into foster care and then be raised by his sister while he try’s to understand how to be a parent. He meets the love of his life becomes a father again but doesn’t even mention his son again in this documentary or even show his son’s picture or allow him to speak on camera.

[@MsDisneylandlover]

I hope things r good with his son. N I hope he is involved with his son.

[@SundayBoy72]

My most respected actor… ❤️

[@kincamell]

Gratitude

[@MsDisneylandlover]

Rip Ms Tyson and Ms Mya

[@MsDisneylandlover]

Love him and RR show ❤ #DisneyDiva ❤

[@TyrekeCorrea]

Having an image that is forever in the public eye which needs catering to means that people have a role to play whether there on the clock or not. Thus, the idea that identifying as a member of a certain group means certain things is functionally unconditional, and if the implications are held in place, they've basically made it a rule of operation that Black people exist to be brutalized, and they're preserving that as a reality by design.

[@MsDisneylandlover]

Rip Louis ❤

[@MsDisneylandlover]

Rip Alex❤

[@TyrekeCorrea]

It must be appreciated that could have just as easily been any guy, or indeed, any woman, in the role LeVar are eventually got in Reading Rainbow. It's cool that he got the part, but it's ultimately not terribly remarkable that it was him. We've been up to the point of things like this be impossible at least since the 90s. Everybody can't see B people like this now. We know better because we've learned better.

[@saiyanbob666]

so what happened to his first kid?

[@MsDisneylandlover]

That what I was saying.

[@zyongslife]

Does Lavar have a relationship with his son? This documentary completely skimmed over Eian. Why isn't he in the documentary? It seems like he is closer to his daughter. I also wonder if Lavar's sister raised him till he graduated H.S or if Lavar eventually got full custody of him once he got married. If not, how horrible to know your dad is loved by kids all over the U.S, but he chose not to raise you. I looked up the son and I do see pix of him with his father, so it seems like they are ok. I wish his story wasn't skimmed over though, like he doesn't matter.

[@MisterNotlob]

Protect this man at all costs! 🥹

[@kingjones7482]

✅

[@TyrekeCorrea]

There has never been so much emphasis on LeVar being brutalized on the basis of his race. It's so negative, so dark, so terrible, and it gives you the sense that that's all he's here for.

[@TyrekeCorrea]

Education can be the great equalizer, but it has to be done right, or it's not education at all.

[@TyrekeCorrea]

Part of what I'm saying is if the acting isn't about skill, then people playing the parts on TV might as well have all been pulled off the street. So actors can't focus on their craft while real people be a real people, if people can't represent and define their own identities, then it really is all just roleplay: race, ethnicity, every groupable aspect of identity... So it's very easy to get bound to and stuck with some director's interpretation of things, but letting them take it that far?

[@TyrekeCorrea]

It's hard to know where the acting ends and reality begins, but the acting's gone too far. You know better than to treat each other like crap as a group, and you know you deserve better for yourselves as individuals.

[@TyrekeCorrea]

I mean, you don't play Cowboys and Indians anymore, do you?

[@marieazrak1951]

I never wanted to be a priest or nine I grew up Catholic and I was raised Catholic. Nice day with my family because I have a disability I don’t want to do anymore dad and civil servant for low paying job

[@TyrekeCorrea]

That whole "Me Too" movement - I hope it's died down now - it's seen people being cast in roles or otherwise losing jobs based on aspects of identity they have identified with or otherwise been claimed to be, regardless of skill in the role or measure of the authenticity of the connection. It's an insult to the Arts. The point is to secure the height of skill and performance based on it.

[@MessianicJewJitsu]

John the Baptist wasn't up in the synagogues; The Bible is the Book of Books.

[@user-br5gn8mb7c]

Why is reading rainbow star LeVar Burton a loving father to his daughter mica burton?

[@marlowegaray4262]

... stopped reading the greatest book ever known to explore some pretty good ones...

[@TyrekeCorrea]

This documentary places far too much emphasis on race. This service is supposed to be about education, right?

[@ChaiLatteJackson777ILuvMJ]

Shame on you

[@travis8850]

Thou shalt not judge. But I guess that commandment is too good for you. Lol

[@zyzzyz7035]

Lost a lot of respect for this guy when he was on the Bill O'Reilly show and he was asked questions about some social issues he believed and was asked follow-up questions. He got all bothered and couldn't justify his beliefs on certain subjects. Then the next day he claimed that he was being harassed and attacked because of questions. A grown man tried to play the victim over questions. Wow!

[@JacobHayden911]

Wait wait wait, what were the questions, and what were the answers? That's kind of important to detail if I'm gonna be on your side!

[@StephenLewisUniverse]

@zyz zyz I saw the interview and you are completely misrepresenting it likely for political reasons.

[@zyzzyz7035]

@@StephenLewisUniverse Well, you're dumb. It was strictly for him whining like a little girl and making himself a victim for getting non-softball questions. It was for man reasons.

[@travis8850]

Lol. You're so sensitive over someone else's opinions.

[@zyzzyz7035]

@@travis8850 Like you're so sensitive over my opinion. See how that works.

[@OddWomanOut_Pi81]

This. Was. AMAZING. 🥹🥹🥹