This year, we got the first movie from Hallmark that highlighted Kwanzaa, Holiday Heritage. I am so happy that Hallmark has become more open to different cultures. But was it any good?

Ella (Lyndie Greenwood) is a graphic designer living in Boston. When she comes home to Mary’s Town, PA for Christmas, she finds that her mother, Micah (Holly Robinson Peete), and grandmother, Tess (Darlene Cooke), aren’t getting along. With the help of her ex-boyfriend and now-mayor, Griffin (Brooks Darnell), she tries to get her family back together by bringing the Kwanzaa celebration back into their lives.

I fully admit that I didn’t know a lot about Kwanzaa before watching Holiday Heritage. It was really nice that, instead of just showing montages of lighting candles and other traditions, the movie explained the reason for each night. In addition, Ella used each night’s traditions to try to get through to Micah and Tess. I’m glad Hallmark spent time to really focus on Kwanzaa instead of the Big Romance. I hope this is a good sign for the future.

Yes, yes, yes. Go watch this one. The movie wasn’t anything amazing but it is amazing that Hallmark is reaching beyond the “traditional” white woman Christmas movie. I am so excited to see what Hallmark has planned for the future. Watching more of these diverse movies shows the channel that, yes, we do want to see more of this.