LeVar Burton Reflects on Impact of "Reading Rainbow" | The View
2022 ж. 8 Мау.
140 291 Рет қаралды
On "The View," the actor discusses the documentary "Butterfly in the Sky," which Whoopi Goldberg served as an executive producer on, and reacts to the push to ban some children's books.
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I did not grow up in a safe household, and LeVar brought me so much comfort as a child. He showed me that there are kind, gentle men in the world and that books could provide a place of sanctuary. Books opened the entire world to me and saved my sanity.
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Your story opens up layers to some of my childhood experiences of buddies who shared with you of unknown reasons in a household but gained confidence in books and the Reading Rainbow show.
❤️ Love that!
you two need to go get therapy this isnt the place for that.
Same for me, books were my escape into another world as a kid when my own world was chaotic much of the time.
At one point in my growing up years, LeVar was doing Star Trek TNG, Reading Rainbow and Captain Planet all at the same time. He had a very huge impact on my young life growing up .
"The power is YOURS!" I absolutely loved Captain Planet, & Reading Rainbow with Chaka Khan singing the theme song was EVERYTHING 🙌🙌 Levar Burton is a television LEGEND!!
Yes! This man is a legend!
Wait no way he voiced Captain Planet?!!! I loved that show when I was little
@@janaejones8709 He was the voice of Kwame
@@thenoizmkr ohhh thanks for clarifying
I’m literally crying watching this. I grew up on Reading Rainbow
Me too.
Glad I'm not the only one! Lol
I definitely shed some tears... When a person use a platform, to help and honor others it's special!!! 🥰
Yea I'm crying too🙄
Me too girly
The Reading Rainbow theme song may be one of the greatest theme songs of all time. It and Levar Burton still give me the warm and fuzzies :)
There is a black woman who never got credit for doing the theme for reading rainbow and she so deserves her flowers
@@TheConnonedrum the song is legendary, I would go read a book at a library just cause of the song. I hope the singer gets recognition also, a face to this nostalgic song
I loved this program he was amazing... Yes and the singer her beautiful voice would have me running to the tv I just smiled from ear to ear hearing the theme song I felt like a young girl again! then I cried from so much memories hurtful ones but also beautiful ones I had with my cousin 😢❤️ May you continue to RIH cousin Mick 🙏
It makes me cry 😭 listening 👂 to that song 🎵
@@PraveenSriram Me too. It takes me right back to my childhood.
I’m not going to lie, I was on the verge of tears this entire segment. I love levar burton and his contribution to our lives!
Yes, it brought me back to my 8 year old self.
You're NOT the Only one. MOST of us were touched and getting a little emotional. The Theme Song really did it for me.
He’s a great man. I really wish he got the Jeopardy job.
I had a full cry. Felt like my childhood theme song and brought me back to how books shaped my mind and mentality.
I cried!
My oldest was born in 1984. Reading Rainbow was a big part of my children's youth. I used to watch it with them. Terrific show. Terrific actor. Terrific human being.
Yessssss loved it
Aww I was born in 84 and loved this show
'84 baby as well and Reading Rainbow was one of my favorite shows to watch. My mother was a librarian (retired now) so books were a big part of my childhood.
I was born in 84 and Reading Rainbow really stuck with me. I miss this!
Another 🙋🏽♀️1984 baby here. Loved 🥰 Mr. Burton and Mr. Fred Rogers.
LeVar is a national treasure
Mann what you say
Facts
and the award for the most tired and overused comment on KZhead goes to you ...
I know he doesnt get treated as such but he definitly matters, long live levar burton
@@47imagine are you alright cupcake😉
I am so enjoying looking at Whoopie's face as LeVar talks. She looks like a proud mama!
I was thinking the same❤️
He's aged so well. He's more handsome now than when he was younger. So nice to see him. He's a Huge part of history.
Being an 80s & 90s kid growing up, Classic PBS was Sesame Street, Mr. Rogers Neighborhood, Reading Rainbow, Shari Lewis' Lamb Chop's play along, Pappy Drew It, Shining Time Station, & Barney!! Levar Burton is a television LEGEND, & watching him on RR & Captain Planet growing up was life-changing!
The nostalgia trip I took reading this
Forgot all about Pappy Drew It! Him and Bob Ross fueled my love of art. Then I was introduced to the art of Brian and Jerry Pinkey from a book that was featured on Reading Rainbow. It was on from there! Those were some awesome shows. I can still sing all the theme songs lol. I dont know what channel it came on, but Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego was always in my daily line up as well.
I grew up watching Reading Rainbow 🌈. Levar got me into reading as a kid. I miss watching Reading Rainbow. I wish it were back on television. He was incredible on the show. I read a lot just because of him and the show. He inspired a lot of children to pick up a book to read.
Same here I was born in 1983
I was also born in the 80’s and I remember watching this when I was a kid,I’ve always loved to read but I still loved the show and even now I can still remember the theme song,Great show 👍
Same i was born in 84 and Levar Burton is why I love reading to this day and encourage my children to read
My kid was 8 when Reading Rainbow first aired. They watched it in school and he talked about it incessantly. He had a severe case of ADHD and I do believe that show was responsible for him learning to enjoy sitting still long enough to read. I was so stunned when I finally saw the show but so glad of it’s positive impact on my child.
My daughter in Australia has ADHD too and we’re so thankful she enjoys to read - it’s her escape room
I was born in 1983 and started watching reading rainbow 🌈 in 1988
Was really struggling with my ADHD kid like 20 minutes ago. Wouldn’t sit still so we put his favorite show. My wife asked me what my favorite show growing up was and, well that brought me here. Your comment brought a little hope and peace into my life. I believe I was inspired to find these words.
Protect Levar Burton at all costs.
Levar is such a national treasure. Truly an influential person that helped so many children realize the joy of reading. I honestly can’t thank him enough. ❤️
I wish Fred Rogers was alive today to be able to witness the impact of his legacy the way Levar was in this studio. I don’t think either of them were truly appreciated for their contributions to the world at the time they were at their peak, but their popularity today continues to grow and grow because they are exactly what the world needs right now.
Omg i loved mr rogers i would cut school to go watch him. Im in tears
They're popular because the people who grew up watching them are middle-aged.
@@dreamweaver4188 Yes, but also because the films and documentaries keep their memories alive.
@@signalfire15 Not only that but you also have newer generations discovering the 2 shows
I absolutely love that he felt the love. Its good to celebrate those we love while they are still with us.
Well Said! 👍
Completely
Jesus his skin! He hasn’t aged! He will forever be in my heart, everyday in my childhood “reading rainbow” was there. Spanish being my first language I can honestly say this show helped me out tremendously when learning english❤️
His beard is white, so he has aged. He looks great though
There's no way that he's 65, it's crazy
I love love love LeVar but is he drinking blood?
@@nunzioification 😂😂
He looks exactly the same, besides the grey!
WOW, his aura is simply amazing... I have always admire this Man's example of service from Roots to Reading Rainbow, on to Star Trek: Next Generation, and EVERYTHING in between his goodness shines throughout! I think it was Jackie Kennedy Onassis who said "There are many little ways to enlarge your child's world... Love of books is the best of all.” Lavar Burton show us the truth in that statement. Thank you kind Sir, for giving the best of yourself for our children, blessings always... 🥰🙏⚘
I get so emotional whenever I see LeVar Burton. What a beautiful human being. All these years later and I am still listening to him read. His podcast is a joy. Love his selection of speculative fiction, and his voice is pure comfort ❤
LeVar Burton Reads is a great podcast
I am so grateful for Reading Rainbow (born in 84) and to have grown up during that era of television/entertainment. I can relate to Whoopi growing up and being called slow because I process information at a slower speed than other people. Bless Levar Burton!
I was born in 1978, and Reading Rainbow was an elementary school standard, along with 321 Contact, The Write Channel, Square 1, The Electric Company, and a music video show called Color Sounds... which showed the song lyrics on screen with the video with the verbs, adjectives etc. highlighted But Reading Rainbow and LaVar especially stand out for me. That opening theme song always grabbed my attention, and I believe that was the song's intent. So yeah, LaVar and the show were great. And I need to look up the lady's name who singing the theme. I feel I'm doing her an injustice by forgetting it. She deserves the recognition for that
Us Millennials and late Gen X'ers were raised by Fred Rogers and Lavar Burton. And I am forever grateful for that. They taught us how to love others, and ourselves. I would never want to have grown up any any other era than the 80s/90s.
My love for books was probably started because of reading rainbow. Every time they featured a book on the show, the next day i would go to the school Library or ask my parents to take me to the city library to check it out. I have always wanted to be one of the kids on the show to leave a review and when the Book it program for Pizza Hut was popular, Reading Rainbow helped me reach the goals i needed to get that button, stickers and the free pizza.
Missed the show, I am old it was the librarians at public library for me. Went from one end of library to end.
Yes!!! BOOK IT at Pizza Hut. Every month I got my personal pan pizza
@@danniet090383 you just brought on some great memories
His contributions to our country are really innumerable with the amount of children he inspired. I was one of them! Thank you LeVar! And yes, we read all the books and especially the banned ones.
Growing up in the 90s, I remember watching Reading Rainbow all the time on PBS Kids. I also remember teachers having us watch them in class, for certain topics. Thank you for all the wonderful memories LeVar.
I was in college when Reading Rainbow came out, so I was not the target demographic. Years later, my kids watched it and enjoyed it. He is right that TV (web etc) can be useful in educating, but too many just go for the profit. That is why PBS is so important! 😎
I didn't care yet I still watched it!😊😂❤📚📖📙🙏💯👏🙏🙌🎒📘🥰🧑🏫👩🏫🧑⚖️👨🌾🧑🎓👩🎓👨🎓🧑⚕️👩⚕️👨⚕️
I’m 47 years old and I must say I grew up watching LeVar Burton. From him playing Kunta Kinte in Roots, to Reading Rainbow 🌈 he’s always been a person of character and class. I grew up watching Reading Rainbow and I’d still watch it now. God bless him, he’s truly a citizen of that village it takes to raise A child,
That show was so inspirational. LeVar and Reading Rainbow 🌈 deserve all the love.
Reading Rainbow was such a comfort classroom activity for me. When the teacher turned those lights off and the theme song came on, my eyes were glued!
Lol.... was u in my classroom
I am a 1983 baby and adored this show. This brings so many memories. I didn't realize that it lasted until 2009!
Wow... Reading Rainbow was on air for that long??? I was assuming that the show was canceled by the end of the 80's or early 90's at the latest. That's crazy
I grew up with Reading Rainbow 🌈 and I love LeVar Burton. Reading is my happy place. This show was beautiful to watch growing up.
Educational television in the 70’s and 80’s was ahead of its time. I think about Mr. Rogers, the Electric Company, Sesame Street, and Reading Rainbow…so much diversity and inclusion for that time…
OMG! I had forgotten all about "The Electric Company"🥺such quality television,what a time to be alive💫
Yessss 👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿
Yes!!!
@@UmmJannah5 Agreed! Remember Hey You Guys?
@@mstwelvedeadlycyns I just went n watched the intro🤣
Reading Rainbow was my safe space as a kid. It gave me a space to imagine. Love Levar.
I think Reading Rainbow should be a show that goes on forever! Love him and it. What a blessing he is
My childhood. He’s a legend! 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤 Beautiful Black King. He taught me!
I’m old enough to have seen LeVar as Kunta Kinte in Roots when it originally aired. I already graduated college by the Time Reading Rainbow but was well aware of his impact and was happy for him. I enjoyed Ana’s quip about Jeopardy
I love this man. I love his laugh. He is one of the influences that helped shape me & raised me. I loved reading as a kid because of him 📚 🙏
Reading Rainbow truly helped shape me!! I had a huge love for reading as a kid that I think stemmed from Reading Rainbow. We need a remake for our kids!
Grew up in a rough part of the city and he was always the one I'd always look forward to watching on PBS. All the situations around me, he kept me grounded. Sad to say that I don't have that thrive to read anymore, but he kept me out of that bad side of the streets for my childhood. Thank your Mr. Burton
The humility that Whoopi exudes when someone shines the light on her is quite telling.
Reading Rainbow my all time favorite show as a kid growing up! It is the reason why I am an avid reader today!!
The way Whoopi was beaming looking at Levar speak was so beautiful to see! I just adore Levar Burton he has been in my life for as long as I can remember. He’s up there wit Betty White for me ❤️
Love this. So happy my childhood included his work, encouragement and vision.
He had been apart of my childhood and every time I hear that song, my heart flutters like the butterfly 🦋
That standing o! Beyond well deserved!
This nearly brought me to tears. So nostalgic because Reading Rainbow pulled so many people, both children and adults, in and encouraged them to read.
Yes. I’m 39 , I loved reading rainbow when I was growing up … oh my childhood 😊
Yep
39 as well and I still randomly think of this show and the theme song. It was one of the first shows I showed my daughter!
This show was everything to me. I absolutely loved this show and I loved reading because of this show. This show is apart of my childhood. I read so many of the books on this show and I read many of these same books to my daughter.❤️🤗 Mr. Roger's was one of my favs as a kid as well.❤️
This made me cry. I LOVE Levar for Reading Rainbow it made me feel so safe, I hope he realizes that. It was so confusing also seeing him in Star Trek as a kid hahaha. LeVar Burton and Fred Rogers really had a way on PBS for me of just feeling loved through the tv screen.
They both really did!!!
Both my Late Gramma and Lavar were HUGE influences in my life when it came to reading. I was born with a learning disability, so it was VERY hard for me to learn to read. Today, thanks to Lavar’s teachings and my Grandmothers encouragement, that disability NO LONGER SHOWS when it comes to Language arts as a whole, much less Reading. This man and his show really changed lives.
Anyone else start crying when RR theme song came on?!
Me!!!
LeVar Burton is one of my all-time favorite people, and has been since I was a child. Thank you for all you've done, and that you continue to do!
Being an 80’s kid 😩😩😩 this brings back so much nostalgia! “IIIIIIII CAN GO ANYWHERE! FRIENDS TO KNOW, AND WAYS TO GROW, A READING RAINBOW 🌈!!!!!” 💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽💯💯💯💯
Books 📚 are a lot more powerful than ebooks on the screen 📺. I definitely grew up with watching Reading Rainbow 🌈 and it makes me very emotional 🥹 every time I listen 🎧 to the song 🎵
Me too, grew up watching it late 90’s early 2000’s and I loved it when they would put this on in my 2nd grade class! Always makes me emotional listening to the song. Makes me wanna go back!
I literally had an existential moment the other day after hearing the Reading Rainbow theme song. I thought about my failures in life and I was a little down. Then listening to the words it made me think of my successes and my potential that I still have. " I can go anywhere" and " I can be anything". Not only my mother but shows like RR is why throughout my life I've been a voracious reader and never felt limited by my mind. I'm very grateful and appreciative to have been apart of this show and time period.
I work with children now, and I love it showing them Reading Rainbow episodes
I’m 42 years old. Listening to Levar read was so calming to me and greatly attributed to my growing love for reading. And I literally cried when I found his Podcast where he reads short stories because it took me right back to probably the happiest time in my childhood, and I will still sit and listen, completely enthralled and in awe of not only his acting talents, but that you can absolutely feel his deep love for the written word. Thank you, Levar, for instilling in me that same great love from such a young age unto this day.
This was the first kickstarter I backed. Being able to help preserve something I loved as a kid for future kids was something you can’t say no to!
Grew up in Jamaica and back then we only had one television station. I looked forward to Reading Rainbow and In-between the Lions. Hearing the theme song from watching this took me back several decades.
No offense to Sesame Street and Mr. Roger's Neighborhood, but Reading Rainbow was the show that really stuck with me the most. I was already a bookworm at an advanced reading level to most kids my age Ijust knew how to read at 3, could read long chapter books on a 3rd grade level in first grade, and classic literature by 2nd and 3rd grade. Reading Rainbow just added to and encouraged my love of reading. It led me to become the book reviewer, editor, and proofreader that I am now. It helped me to channel that love of reading into a career and encourage the next authors to lead others into adding to the chain of a love of reading.
What a blessing to see him here. I loved watching him as a kid.
As a true Star Trek Geek I was hoping to hear more about them and TNG. His Character, Geordi often asked her character, Guinan, for advice or just in general they had many conversations.
Just watched "I, Borg" the other day and realized Geordi was the only one to ever take Guinan down a peg. "Then why don't you just listen? That is what you do best, isn't it?"
@@Raja1938 that’s quite true. Then Guinan had to convince Captain Picard to talk to Hugh after she spoke to him.
📖 🦋 _"Butterfly in the skyyyy"_ was a bop. 😄
"Read the books they're banning! That's where the good stuff is... If they don't want you to read it theres a reason why."
I was a teenager when Reading Rainbow premiered. I watched it from time to time throughout the years. I’ve always loved to read stories so I really enjoyed the show.
I grew up watching "Reading Rainbow!" His show was what inspired me 2 love reading whenever I was able 2 do so! It's 2 bad there is no reboot. :(
Wow much respect to LeVar Burton. When I heard the crowd cheering for him I could tell it meant a lot for him. He even wanted to tear up. I got teary 🥹 a little watching that
I love that man for his work with children and education. Still have a crush on him 40 years later
I tell everyone to read a book. You would be surprised how many people smile and do it.
Absolutely.
Levar Burton is 65 years young! He looks fantastic!
Inspired me as a child and aspiring teacher, he helped me become a better orator and my students and children enjoyed books because of it.
Levar and mr rogers will forever be the dads of my childhood
AS a child of the 80's and a latchkey kid, RR had a profound impact on my love of books. those times i was home alone, i knew i never was, so long as i had a good book near by. Levar burton is in the pantheon of childrens TV hosts and was a big influence in me becoming a teacher.
I was born in 1973. Raised for the most part by a single mom who didn’t have the greatest taste in men. My life has been shaped by 3 of men Jim Henderson & his friends on Sesame Street, Mr Rodgers & Levar Burton. I was already an avid reader by the time Reading Rainbow came into my life but when you get in trouble for too much reading and not enough playing, some adults never seemed to care about the tv. I could listen to him read stories and stories and still escape my existence. I still listen to him reading stories on his podcast. Now if Jeopardy will just get a clue so I can go back to watching them.
Nothing but Love my friend and you look great my good man!!!
Thank you Lavar for bringing so much joy through books to so many children. It is immensely important !!! I was a young mother when he started, with my own 3 yo.I could not get enough to read as a child, devoured all magazines and books I could get my hands on- in the Drs. office, library -everywhere! And as a result I read on College level in 5th grade…it enhances vocabulary,interest in ALL the things of the world. At 65, I tested recently to enroll in College for a degree in Medieval History at an IQ of 153. No bragging here, just saying that it is imperative to keep your mind constantly fed and growing with new things and interests- as much as it is to take care of yourself physically! NEVER stop learning!
I really wish they can release a full version of the theme song.
I was born in '79 so reading rainbow came on just at the right time for me and I was probably one of the target demographics. I do think it was inspiring and I loved watching that show and became an avid reader. In third grade, I even won an award for reading the most books in my class when there was a contest for that. My mom sometimes also took me to the library and bookstores a lot so she was also a big help, but I will say that even today I feel like the book for a story is 99% of the time better than the movie, even if they are big budget. I feel sorry for kids today who are more involved in things like video games and such because they are really missing out and they have no idea.
Birthday year twins ❤ My parents read to my brother and I every night and we watched this beautiful program frequently growing up. I constantly still read multiple books at once and my brother still reads often too. 😊
Thank you Levar Burton 🧡
2:45 I haven't seen Whoopi smile like that in a while.
I was a 26 year old and came to USA on 1985 and I wach the show with my nice . I don't know engles but my sister help me to understand. I learned to be free and I learned to read on engles. Thank you. You are a bless
When you now look back all those years later you realize just how important reading is, though I admit physical books are so 20th century, reading is best done digitally nowadays. LeVar changed my world and opened my eyes with "Roots", "Reading Rainbow" and "Star Trek: TNG", his acting always being genuine but straightforward!
Reading Rainbow and Levar was the reason I learned to read. It gave me the imagination I so needed as a child. Thank you Levar! And bring back the show for my kiddos. They need that same inspiration.
I still miss watching Reading Rainbow, Liberty's Kids, Wimzie's House, The Puzzle Place, Billy Nye the Science Guy, Wishbone, etc. on PBS. 🎥🎥🎥🎥🎥📺
I have so much love for Levar. Reading Rainbow was a part of my childhood. The show made me happy to read as a kid.
I was an 80's kid so I grew up watching shows like Reading Rainbow. Lavar was the perfect host, you just can't say enough how great he was. He provided so much enrichment and enjoyment, I remember I was always curious to know what books were gonna be recommended at the end of the show. That was a great time to grow up in. ♥️
From someone who grew up with this show and reading, there ironically are no words to describe how much of a life changing impact and correct trajectory this man sent us all as a generation.
Such a class act. He just radiates love and positivity, and still looks amazing. I have so many wonderful memories because of him and Reading Rainbow! I wish I knew how to watch the documentary.
I remember growing up to reading rainbow in the early 90s 👍🏿
Always respected Levar Burton. Will never forget Roots.
He looks GREAT!!!!
I loved this show as a kid!
I was born in 2002, I was watching LeVar Burton on Reading Rainbow and he was a huge part of my life I was crying for months after it stopped showing on TV
Reading Rainbow was likely the most influential program I watched as a child. I went on to get a degree in English literature. Thank you sir. And thank you to all involved!! You’ve meant so much to me. You’ve lead a life worth living and one you can be proud of. 🙏🏼❤️❤️❤️
I grew up watching reading rainbow and have bought the seasons off amazon for my own young kids....
I remember his stories and looking forward to watching him everyday. I am thankful for him. He is a treasure.
omg I love Levar Burton and Reading Rainbow! I used to watch him everyday as a kid and pray I get to be one of the kids doing the book review lol. I love reading as an adult NOW because of this show. awww the feelings
Love this !! My childhood 💜
wowwwwww! is anyone else teary-eyed? loved this guy since my toddler years
Absolutely wonderful man.
Great space coaster, school house rock, electric company and reading rainbow was a huge part of who i am today.
As an adult I watched Reading Rainbow. I loved to see the little kids talk about the books they read. It reminded me of how excited I use to get when checking books out of the library. Thank you, LeVar Burton.