I realize it's based upon a novel, and it's more historical fiction than anything.

At any rate, it was good. It was weird seeing Ethan Hawke as an adult AND sporting a full beard and mustache. The last time I remember seeing him was in The Dead Poets Society.

I'm not putting a spoiler alert up only because this has elements of real history in it which most people SHOULD know anyway.

When it was time for Captain John Brown to go to the noose, and he was standing on the platform, I couldn't help it. Having seen Dead Poets Society, I called out, "Oh Captain My Captain!"

I found some similarities between Robin Williams' character in Dead Poets Society and John Brown in The Good Lord Bird. Both people were trying to get others to think outside the box, and more importantly, think for themselves and do what was right, not what was right now. And while both characters in some ways failed to achieve the big picture they were after, both affected individuals enough to try to strive for better. Better in their own lives, and better in society. What they couldn't change right then and there, they managed to eventually affect change by passing down their ideals and values to others, who then did the same, and so on and so forth.

Now, in the case of this show, and many things occurring today, is the fight over and has equality truly happened? No, of course not. However, hopefully if people keep working at it, maybe one day, there will be change enough to have true equality between people. Whether white or black or male or female, etc., but it's still going to take a lot of time.