A Unique M.L.K. Jr. Story

Many stories are told about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, but one remains not so well-known. Hoops, Hopes, and Dreams is a short film that explores how Dr. King leveraged the sport of basketball to connect with communities and push the Civil Rights Movement.

Hoops, Hopes, and Dreams premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 23, 2025. The production team includes Glenn Kaino (director and producer), Jesse Williams (producer), Afshin Shahidi (producer and DP), and Alexys Feaster (producer).

In the short film, Andrew Young shared what it was like to be a part of M.L.K. Jr.’s team of activists who played on basketball courts around the country to engage with young voters. The film includes interviews with sports journalist Jemele Hill, Obama personal aide Reginald L. Love, and others.

“I think this was a really cool way to bring this man off of our trophy case and show y’all the ground game he really had to, that he really chose to engage with, which is to be with people,” Williams said to the Carvd N Stone Team.

The short film is part animation and shows Dr. King playing in his suit and making layups with his left hand.

“It’s really telling the story of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. sacrificing his life to make a difference in this country, and that’s why I feel like that the timeliness of creating this film was something I just felt really proud to be a part of,” Feaster said to the Carvd N Stone Team.

Basketball is Unifying

Hoops, Hopes, and Dreams shows how basketball has been used as an unifying vehicle. The film also explores Obama’s love for basketball and its role in his grassroots connections.

“It was a unique story that hadn’t been told before, so I was excited to help tell it,” Shahidi said to the Carvd N Stone Team.

Check out our video interviews from the 2025 Sundance Film Festival here.

This coverage is presented by Visit Milwaukee.