When the Court Became the Pulpit
Happy MLK day. This year celebrate MLK’s birthday by supporting the short documentary, Hoops, Hopes, and Dreams. Directed by Glenn Kaino, Hoops, Hopes, & Dreams reminds us that Dr. King wasn’t just a dreamer. He was a strategist who understood culture as a vehicle for change.
Hoops, Hopes, & Dreams explores how civil rights leaders went to the people, using basketball as a tool to reach the youth. Entire communities were mobilized using this tried and true method. Dr. King understood that movements don’t grow in islolation. They grow where the people gather, and sometimes that happened to be the hardwood court.
The documentary focuses on another era that was just a few years ago. It may feel like a lifetime ago, but it was during Obama’s era where the president showed that basketball could serve as a common ground between the people and politics. During both the era of Dr. King and Obama, the court became a space where civic engagement felt accessible.
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And the method was more than performative outreach. Each built genuine connections. America’s second most popular sporting pastime offered important tenets such as trust, familiarity, and a shared sense of identity. Civic engagement felt accessible rather than imposed.
A Thoughtfully Crafted Documentary
Featuring a blend of archival footage, expressive animation, and interviews with key figures allows this documentary to feel lived-in rather than commemorative. Subjects include Ambassador Andrew Young, NBA legend Jerry West, journalist Jemele Hill, and members of President Obama’s inner circle.
Hoops, Hopes, & Dreams recently won Best Documentary Short from the African American Film Critics Association. In addition to wowing crowds at Sundance, Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival, Palm Springs International ShortFest, and more. Hoops, Hopes & Dreams continues to earn recognition for it’s use of innovative storytelling, and social impact.
A Values Driven Team Behind the Camera
The documentary is produced by former NBA executive and Obama strategist Alexys Feaster, filmmaker Glenn Kaino, and actor-activist Jesse Williams. Reverend Dr. Bernice A. King serves as executive producer.
In her words, basketball was one of the bridges her father used to help people channel their energy toward building the Beloved Community. That idea sits at the heart of Hoops, Hopes & Dreams. Progress doesn’t begin with speeches alone. It begins with meeting people where they are.
Building the Beloved Community
The film premieres January 19, 2026, on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+, fittingly arriving on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. It’s less a tribute than a reminder: meaningful change has always required creativity, culture, and connection.
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