People don't understand. Reading Rainbow was airing during the crack epidemic sweeping cities across America. Reading Rainbow encouraged me to park my behind in the nearest NYC library daily as a kid and stay off the streets. I will never forget LeVar Burton and Reading Rainbow. He sparked my self learning journey. Pick up a book, learn a new skill

We need Reading Rainbow now. Literacy is down in America.

LeVar Burton & Mr. Rodgers are 2 men who spoke softly to children, effected generations & pushed boundaries. We need more men like them!

As a white kid in an extremely white town, I found the books he chose fascinating. As an adult I’ve watched a couple episodes and was struck by how diverse his show was. It was truly incredible what he did, it made such an impact on me. Levar is still one of my favorite celebrities.

I was a pbs kid. I love love this show as a kid.. Reason why I love books to this day. That song give my goosebumps to this day.

In other words children looking up to an Educated black man as a role model is a threat so they cancel the show

My twins discovered “Reading Rainbow” just as they began to read books on their own. They were very disappointed when it was cancelled and I remember my daughter being very angry that it was replaced with “Electric Company”. In her mind, “Reading Rainbow” was for kids who knew how to read and were interested in discovering new books while “Electric Company” was a step back because it was for kids who were just learning how to read. She thought that there was a place for both but that cancelling “Reading Rainbow” was a big mistake.

I grew up in a home filled with drugs and violence. Reading Rainbow, the book mobile coming to my school, Mr. Rogers, and the magic school bus were literally my safe escape. This wholesome content kept me sane and gave me hope. I honestly think these shows probably helped with suicide prevention and keeping kids out of gangs and drugs.

Yup I was brainwashed... TILL THIS DAY IM STILL SINGING BUTTERFLIES IN THE SKY I CAN GO TWICE AS HIGH🎶🎶🎶❤❤❤ READING IS FUN TO MENTAL 💯💯 SHOUT OUT TO LAVAR💕

They canceled the show due to the positive results the show had. I grew up in the hood and the way the streets would clear when reading rainbow came on was pure magic! I remember believing that I could conquer the WORLD just from the song alone. I can do ANYTHING! When I couldn’t find whatI wanted in front of me, reading rainbow had me turning pages in books! They knew exactly what they were doing when they canceled the show. They wanted slaves not free thinkers.

As an 80's baby, thank you Lavar and reading rainbow! I still have a deep love for reading to this day thanks solely to this show!

So basically children aren't allowed to use their imaginations anymore, are you kidding me? This wonderful man and his platform changed my life forever! Levar Burton is the reason why I'm an avid reader, and also now a Sci-fi author. As a child mom couldn't afford books, and trips to the library were few and far between. All I had was Reading Rainbow. Whatever negativity going towards "Reading Rainbow" is a smokescreen used by the forces of evils' to push false narratives. Let's give this man all of the flowers he deserves. I am forever grateful 🙏🏾

I was born in 79, so Sesame Street, Mr. Rogers Neighborhood, and Reading Rainbow were huge on PBS. There were others, but none with the impact of these. RRb was like a book fair and fun educational doc all wrapped into one in my era...

I guess Reading Rainbows was too wholesome for today society.

I was on Reading Rainbow once and even gave a review of a book. It was so fun. I didn't meet LB personally, but I remember, as a shy awkward little kid, feeling not so anxious and feeling like people cared what I thought. That was the environment that LB fostered.

I was an older teenager to a young adult when he made Reading Rainbow and still watched it. It was a good, entertaining uplifting show. I never knew there was something “controversial” about his show. I found his book selections enriching and his zeal and excitement presenting the stories to us inspiring. Anyone who has a problem with The Reading Rainbow and Levar Burton just simply has problems in their noggin and or character.

One of the dopest shows of my childhood....give Lavar Burton his flowers!

He was somewhere, and all these parents started singing the "Reading Rainbow" song. The things he taught people today have forgotten or is missing. You need shows like this.

This man was my childhood. I read books instead of eating lunch a lot as a school kid but I did it because I'd lose myself in the words. Nothing else mattered, no bully, no class, just what world this person or people built. Their adventures or life stories. I will always have a love for it even if it's harder for me to sit and focus these days.

While many people talk down to children, Fred Rogers and Le Var Burton made you feel like their equal. We were chatting with a friend, not being schooled or preached too. Thank you, Le Var. Rest in peace, Fred.

Not having him host Jeopardy was the biggest missed opportunity in television history.

I’m 40 and this was the reason I wanted to learn how to read as a child. This show is a National Treasure.

It's shocking how much I loved this show. It sparked a love of books that still exists today. Thank you LeVar Burton. ❤

I was a girl with undisclosed learning difficulties, and reading was the only thing that came easily to me. This show was one of my all time favorite as a kid, and seemed the only encouragement i got for my love of books.

Actually, we need more teachers like Levar Burton. The show gave me a positive outlook on reading books as a kid.

The problem was black kids was looking up to him so they read books, and that was the only problem

Absolutely tragic for entire generations of American children that this wonderful show was canceled because of entrenched bigotry in the system. PBS educational programming was the greatest force for children back in the day. LeVar Burton taught us how books can change our lives, Fred Rodgers taught us to be good citizens, Bob Ross taught us how to paint, and Mark Whistler taught us how to draw. Then there's Sesame Street which was just plain magical, and also (much to the chagrin of bigots) positively showed diverse urban communities.

I don't remember many of the actual episodes or their stories, but at 40 I can still vividly remember how captivating and inspiring Reading Rainbow was as a child. The world needs more people like LeVar Burton!

I loved this show! I think the problem was that Hollywood did not like Levar Burton normalizing Black men in to society, especially our next generation. He presented the Black man as intelligent, safe, and approachable, nullifying the dominant narrative as Black men as threatening, intellectually inferior, and out of control. Thank you Levar for all of your good work!

Lavar Burton is the reason I can read and I tested at bachelor reading level at 12 yrs old. "Take a look, it's in a book. Reading rainbow." I lived in the projects and unsafe areas all my life. Reading was my obsession and escape. He is a hero.

Most recently, LeVar Burton partnered with the American Library Association as the spokesperson for this year's banned books week. I can't think of a better spokesperson. From a working librarian who grew up with Reading Rainbow: thank you, Mr. Burton!

LeVar Burton is the reason I love to read. I have even passed my love of books on to my children. Thank you, LeVar!!!

LeVar Burton: Reading is an amazing tool! Mr Rogers: I love you just the way are! Bob Ross: there are no mistakes, just happy accidents! These three formed an educational trinity that was nearly nationally available compared to other content of its time. It’s impossible to quantify the benefits these three have brought to generations.

I was a PBS Dad, and I knew LeVar and his message across the Airwaves and Cable as someone and something to which I could absolutely entrust my daughter's attention. Thanks for this reminder and behind the scenes revelation of what a Hero LeVar Burton was, and is.

Mr. Burton showed a generation how kindness and imagination was cool. He was a friend who spoke to us as equals with sincerity and wonder. But you don't have to take my word for it!

I hope generations to come get this quality of programming. Loved Reading Rainbow! Old school Sesame Street, and other shows were just just had people and teachers, not a forced diversity. Just people who wanted more intelligent children. ❤

LeVar Burton is the Bob Ross of literacy, education, and imagination. I watched Reading Rainbow as a kid and every generation I've talked to that was actually around when the show is still airing everybody loves LeVar Burton and Reading Rainbow I have never in my entire life heard a bad word about him nor the TV shows in other media that he's been in. To all those who grew up with Reading Rainbow, that show was the bastion to the people it influenced and forever left a mark in our Hearts and Minds

Wow🤯 a society of workers not thinkers. This show was a threat. Makes sense

As an 80’s baby he helped shape my childhood. I loved this show and I respect him. Thank you for this video! I can still hear the song in my head🥰 sweet memories

My father was a reading teacher and when the government started to teach to the test and not actually teach how to read he used to tell me he thought it was to brain wash them. Think about how true those words are. Because thinking for yourself is a threat. Especially with young people.

I grew up watching Reading Rainbow and all the PBS shows. They were fundamental to the love of reading and made me love going to the library. I even introduced these shows to my children. I have much respect for Lavar Burton. He is truly an icon

LeVar is an icon, we're lucky to have him.

I was also a fan of Star Trek next generation as a 90’s kid visiting my grandmas house and I can say I couldn’t get enough of the show in school and it helped me to be a better reader during reading assignments in class because he was an inspiration and honestly if Hollywood doesn’t like it, to heck with them! Reading rainbow was a good show and I learned a lot about pronunciation and reading pace.

I miss Reading Rainbow so much. Levar Burton is the entire reason I tell people to this day that I don't need to travel. I've already lived more lives than any traveling could fulfill in this lifetime. I had no friends growing up, so my books became my best friends. Yep, I was that weird, poor kid who always had their nose in a book.

Was quite literally watching Reading Rainbow with my three year old early today. I loved the show growing up and like to watch it with him, along with Mr. Rodgers and Lambchop as well 💚

Reading Rainbow brainwashed kids? Okay. I guess by the age of three I was brainwashed to see a positive black man talk about books, show the joys of education, art and adventure on TV. I guess I was brainwashed into becoming an illustrator when I used to watch storytellers narrate while their book was being illustrated at the same time. LaVar was no Mr. Rogers however he's right up there with children great TV educators from the 80's. Yup, I'm brainwashed damn it.

OMG I just shed tears. I was a reading rainbow and next gen kid and I always respected him as someone who already was in the better future people talked about. From the way he talked to kids to experiencing diverse cultures to frankly befriending an Android but I didn't realize that after the show got cancelled HE KEPT GOING this is a man who stood up for kids in a time when kids were really struggling with streets becoming dangerous and technology advancing at an exponential rate we couldn't be naive and innocent like previous generations nor could we keep up with all the changes of how the world works that our own teachers didn't understand. But LeVar taught us to listen to different kinds of people and to problem solve and shared with us enough different worlds that our own world wasn't so scary anymore.

Levar Burton got me started reading. Thanks to him I was crushing novels like Jurassic park in 4th grade. I don’t care what they think, reading rainbow is the kind of show we need today cause kids need to be pulled off their devices

I grew up with Reading Rainbow, 321 contact, square one tv, Wishbone. Reading Rainbow definitely made an impact in pushing society forward in challenging children and adults to grow intellectually and emotionally. It's unnerving how some parts of the country are threatening to circle back to a time when empathy, curiosity and celebration of learning are being banned.

I became an avid reader because of this show. I was already 13, but my younger sisters watched it and I became hooked. Thank you LeVar.

I wished I had Reading Rabow when I was a little boy. I was 16 when Reading Rabow aired. I watched some of the episodes when I could with my busy teen life. The show is a blessing to young minds to challenge them to read, learn, and discover the world around them. LeVar Burton helped them and encouraged them to think on their own. We need shows like this, and Mister Roger's back on the air today.

I believe I was a beneficiary during the golden age in children's Television. Reading Rainbow, Mr. Rogers, The Magic Garden all had an immeasurable positive influence on me and shaped me into who I am now. I remember having to wait weeks on a waiting list at the Library to finally be able to check out the book Levar recommended. I love that man deeply to this day!

Levar Burton is a good man. It felt safe watching Reading Rainbow and I actually went to the library and checked out books he and the kids talked about. It’s insane that there wasn’t an adult version of this on television, a smart helpful show reviewing books and recommending things to pick up.

Lavar Burton is a GLOBAL TREASURE! Thank you Mr.Burton for inspiring millions of children to develop a love of literature! One of my childhood heroes!

Im 39 and I LOVED reading rainbow as a child and found the books amazing and captivating! Love Lavar Burton ❤

I’m in my 40’s and sometimes randomly sing the reading rainbow song. Levar was a treasure to kids my age

I guess Lavar brainwashed me cause Mrs Daniels showed it to us religiously in elementary library class! That Reading Rainbow song still slaps to this day to me. Ultimate respect to Mr Lavar Burton! I’m now 43 years old and still remember the stories read and the field trips we went on with him! Greatest show ever created!!!If you came from the class of 97 and before, Lavar is your smart big brother that you never met!! A true educational gangsta!!💯💪🏿

growing up in the 1980s, I religiously watched Mr. Roger's Neighborhood, and Reading Rainbow. I am from a single parent, abusive and alcoholic household. I think these two shows helped mold me into the compassionate, kind, and caring person that I am today. I loved to read as well, as it was an escape to worlds that weren't like my own. As an adult, I realise as a kid, I had a deeper understanding of a lot of things that were way ahead of my age. Thank you, LaVar, for teaching me about life that I wasn't getting in my own home. I took my love of reading when teaching ESL for kids. I told them if they can read and understand what they are reading, they can do anything!

I was a PBS kid. Reading rainbow helped me learn to love reading. It was a great show 321 contact also helped me get into science. Thank you so very much.

I'm 43 I remember all thru elementary school we would watch Reading Rainbow. Thank you LeVar.

I grew up in low income housing and had parents who struggled learning English as a second language. I would watch reading rainbow 🌈 and be encouraged to read books for enjoyment and adventure. I remember my mom would watch with me and pick up things through her broken English. She would practice english through the show. Now im 30 and about to graduate with my masters. His presence was powerful and so encouraging ❤ I will say now in my 30's the episode I remember the most was the story of the Chinese emperor who gave seeds to the children and would select the next emperor based on the flower that would bloom in the pot~ from the seed given. The child who took the seed and tended to it despite it not growing and presented an empty pot to the emperor and was chosen as the one was so powerful to me. All the seeds given were cooked so they couldn't grow. The emperor was looking for character & honesty to see which child would show up with the empty pot. ❤ I will read this book to my children. Thank you reading rainbow. 📚

They would play this at schools in the 90s...I miss it. I still love reading. I'm a proud reading rainbow kid!!!

Reading Rainbow was the best show on TV. It was one of the few shows that can make everyone grow, one of the few that had respect for it's audience and was hosted by a man that earned respect from his audience. The world may change but the message this show had will remain important to everyone long after even TV it's self is gone along with the internet and for as long as humans exist.

As a kid in the 80’s, I grew up watching Reading Rainbow and Mr. Rogers everyday. We need shows like this now. Levar Burton was a great host!

LeVar Burton is a truly wholesome individual, being so knee deep in education and desiring its positivity to reach so many. We need more people like him.

He's one of the greats and my childhood wouldn't have been as rich without this show. It definitely helped fuel my love of books and fascination with different places and cultures in a huge way. LeVar Burton is up there with Bob Ross, Fred Rogers and Steve Irwin

I was a parent when reading rainbow. I loved this show. This was one of the shows i allowed my young children to read. We read books every day from the time my children from babyhood up until they could read themselves. Also, i purchased books with cassettes so my children could feel they were reading themselves. This boosted their reading level far above their grade levels when school started

I loved this show. I remember the whole class going from blah to excited/interested whenever the teacher would put this show on the TV. Everyone loved it. I wonder if kids today ever have a spark of excitement during the class day when the teacher lets us watch a little educational TV like Bill Nye or Reading Rainbow.

He was a huge positive figure in my childhood and I'm 41yrs old now!!! Much love and respect to him 💯

Show shouldn't have been canceled

loved, Loved, LOVED Levar Burton!!! He was one of my biggest inspirations for becoming such a huge reader. Because I grew up on Reading Rainbow, I was reading VC Andrews, Walter Mosley and Stephen King books, by 3rd grade!

This man truly is amazing

Levar is the MAN!!!!! I was an adult enjoying Levar’s Reading Rainbow!! Some of TV”s BEST broadcasting and hosting!!!! Thank you Mr. Burton!!!!!!

Not gonna lie, I love to read today because I watched reading rainbow as a child. I didn't take a Gameboy on road trips, I was bringing books. The call of the wild, swiss family Robinson, Robinson Caruso, don Quixote, and treasure Island are still some of my favorite books.

God bless you LaVar. You helped us kids accept our empathic side. You show was on a level equal with Mr.Rogers. ,Mr Dress-up, and Jim Henson. Love you buddy.

Every child's day in the 90s would brighten whenever they walked into the classroom and saw the tv cart at the front of the class. They knew it was either Reading Rainbow, Magic Schoolbus, or Bill Nye the Science Guy.

I loved Reading Rainbow as a child. It encouraged my love of reading, and offered a limitless portal to adventures everywhere through literacy LeVar Burton gets nothing but my love and admiration for his association with this show

I was heartbroken when this show ended. Loved it more than Sesame Street. The world needs this show back.

11:24 I'm 47, grew up in the 80s, and Reading Rainbow shaped what kind of a student I was and how interested I was in reading and books. I tested at college level reading and English in 7th grade. I LOVED the theme song, Reading Rainbow, and Lavar Burton. He was a bright light in our childhood lives. NOBODY disliked the show! My age group has a deep soft spot for Reading Rainbow and Lavar Burton for bringing us cherished memories and wholesome learning. Thank you Lavar!

🤩I so so loved Reading Rainbow & really missed it when they canceled it. Reading Rainbow started me to Reading outside of school, it was a real blessing that helped me as a kid. I would have loved to let my girls grow up watching it.🥰🥰🥰

Being bullied for my medical problems led to me skipping school. A lot. As soon as the morning cartoons were over, I'd change the channel to PBS until 3:00, when the afternoon cartoons began. "Reading Rainbow" was one of my favorite shows on the channel. In fact, it was because of it that I watched "Star Trek: The Next Generation" since Levar Burton was a regular character on the show!

This inspired me to read , and by the time i was 12 i was reading and writing essays on a college level.

I loved this show as a kid. The 80s and 90s were great decades compared to what our kids have right now.

Reading Rainbow was the only saving grace I had growing up in an abusive home. I would escape to the library because LeVar Burton gave me love for books and reading. I am so grateful for him and this show.

He definitely made an impact on me as a kid

I was going through a lot of mental health issues as well as neglect, was in foster care and juvenile detention and group homes by the time I was 12 in the 90's. Reading saved my life and is the ONLY thing that got me through my childhood. This show helped me to learn and grow and enjoy reading and learning. I learned MORALS from books and is the ONLY reason I learned any (because the life I was living wasn't teaching me any).

LeVar Burton is an inspiration to many people, myself included, and should be held in the highest esteem for his work. I may not have watched much of Reading Rainbow, but that was because it taught me the lesson to learn, read, and study. My love of learning and knowledge can be traced back to this one show directly. Without shows like Reading Rainbow, the country and perhaps the world itself would be much worse. If you are reading this LeVar, thank you for teaching me the valuable lessons you have. I love you 🖖

Reading Rainbow and Lavar Burton brought me so much happiness as a kid. Even when I became too old for the show, if it was on, I'd sit and watch. How anyone could have found anything nefarious in that program is well beyond me.

I was definitely one of his students... and I still luv to read til this very day. Never knew his story til this content came across my feed.... truly grateful for the guy .... one of few real teachers

I was a PBS kid and LOVED THIS SHOW. Levar and that show were amazing. Of course Hollyweird viewed this show as a threat because they cant have free thinking child who would turn i to free thinking adults. Look at what Sesame Street is now. Its not about ABCs and 123s anymore. I respect him for being consistent with his message and finding ever more creative ways to keep pushing child literacy.

Thank you Levar Burton!! You inspired my love for reading in the late 80's, early 90's!!!! You helped cement an early love for literature, imagination and the importance of education ❤🙏 I will never forget the important contribution you played in my life.

LeVar Burton was as integral to my childhood as Mr.Rogers, Fred Penner, Mr. Dressup (Ernie Coombs), Bob Ross, the friendly Giant, and many many more. Legends amongst men, making a positive impact to generations of kids.

As a child of color Reading Rainbow introduced me to the world of 📚 📖 📙 📘 📚 books. I love Levar Burton to this day. A very wholesome show that celebrated the written word and impacted MANY lives. Taking children into the portals of different worlds. 🌎 ✨️.

Discovering this show as a child was life changing!!! I also watched 3-2-1 Contact as well!! PBS was the go to channel!! ❤️

I grew up watching Levar and following his career. I remember looking forward to watching Reading Rainbow.

I remember reading rainbow. Not much but I did. I did watch it some times. Thank you good sir.

I was an inner city child of the 70s and 80s & have been watching reading rainbow since it's inception. Thanks to my Dad and Grandfather I've always been a strong reader since kindergarten. Reading Rainbow to me was like a MASSIVE power boost for something that I already enjoyed doing & great people like LeVar Burton were instrumental in helping me to benefit more from books in general.

I absolutely loved this show. I can still remember the entire theme song. Unfortunately all too often the things in our lives that foster positivity are destroyed for the sake of profit. It literally seems like family, community, and anything else that contributes to personal feelings of security and stability are under attack by those who would prey upon the confused, uncertain, and fearful. Good luck out there everyone.

This show is why I’ve read tens of thousands of books and learned how to do so many skills. Greatly appreciate him and this show.

Thank You Mr. Burton. I truly did enjoy EVERY ADVENTURE during the episodes in elementary school. You will always be respected. THANK YOU.