KQED is proud to celebrate Black History Month starting in February with a special TV programming lineup. Premiere dates are listed below.

KQED 9

Fri, 2/2
8pm Becoming Frederick Douglass
Discover how a man born into slavery became one of the most influential voices for democracy in American history. Oscar nominated filmmaker Stanley Nelson explores the role Douglass played in securing the right to freedom for African Americans.

9pm American Masters: Little Richard: The King and Queen of Rock and Roll
This episode of American Masters showcases Little Richard, a legend from the golden era of rock. Richard is the cultural lightning rod who influenced some of rock music’s most distinguished icons who will join us to validate Richard’s unquestionable role in rock history: Paul McCartney, Keith Richards, Mick Jagger, and more. As Richard boastfully claims, “I am The King and Queen of Rock and Roll.”

Sat, 2/3
6pm The Dream Whisperer (NEW)
In the midst of segregation, the all-Black Tennessee A&I Tigers were the first collegiate basketball team to win three consecutive national championships, but were never recognized. The team captain, legendary Knicks player Dick Barnett, began a nine-year quest to ensure his historic team’s immortality. His tenacity and dedication finally paid off in 2019 when the team was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. 

Sun, 2/4
12am Austin City Limits: Cimafunk and the Tribe
Enjoy Cuban funk Cimafunk and The Tribe in a must-see hour. The nine-piece powerhouse band makes a thrilling ACL debut with standouts from their soulful album El Alimento.

6pm AfroPop: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange: The Sound of Masks
Mapiko is a traditional masked dance performed by the Makonde men of Northern Mozambique. The film follows Atanasio Nyusi, a compelling storyteller and legendary Mapiko dancer, taking us on a visually dramatic journey through Mozambique’s past and its vibrant present.

7pm John Lewis – Get in the Way
Follow the journey of civil rights hero, congressman and human rights champion John Lewis. At the Selma March, Lewis came face-to-face with club-wielding troopers and exemplified non-violence. Now 76, he is considered the conscience of Congress.

Tues, 2/6
7pm Blacks, Blues, Black!: Episode 8: Art & Literature
Episode 8 Blacks, Blues, Black! made by Dr. Maya Angelou in 1968 examines the influence of African American culture on modern American society. It includes scenes of Dr. Angelou in the studio discussing “black art and black literature,” with performances by Preston Webster, the Danny Duncan Dancers and students from the Martin Luther King School. 

8pm Finding Your Roots: Far and Away (NEW)
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the roots of journalist Sunny Hostin and actor Jesse Williams — introducing them to ancestors from very diverse places.

9pm Pullman and the Railroad Rebellion: American Stories (NEW)
In 1864, the powerful industrialist George Pullman brought luxury to overnight train travel with his revolutionary sleeping cars, where passengers were served by an army of former slaves who became known as Pullman Porters and Maids. Pullman soon established a company town for employees on Chicago’s South Side that gave him complete authority over their lives.

10pm Wham Re-Bop-Boom-Bam: The Swing Jazz of Eddie Durham (NEW)
Eddie Durham, a musical innovator from San Marcos, Texas, played a pivotal role in shaping the Kansas City swing jazz scene of the 1920s and ’30s. As a trombonist, guitarist, writer, and arranger, he influenced the distinctive sounds of Count Basie, Benny Moten, and more. Notably, his use of amplified guitars laid the groundwork for rock ‘n roll. This documentary delves into his musical journey, showcasing the unique genius often overlooked in the musical landscape.

11pm Wes Bound: The Genius of Wes Montgomery (NEW)
Wes Bound is a documentary tracing the life of legendary jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery. Told through his son Robert, the program explores Wes’ early years in Indiana, his rise to fame with the Lionel Hampton Big Band, his solo career, and his tragic early death. The film features rarely-seen performances and interviews with music historians and guitar luminaries.

Fri 2/9
8pm Harriet Tubman: Visions of Freedom
Go beyond the legend and meet the woman who repeatedly risked her own life and freedom to liberate others from slavery. One of the greatest freedom fighters in U.S. history, Tubman was an Underground Railroad conductor, a Civil War scout, and a spy.

9pm Gospel Live! Presented By Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (NEW)
Gospel Live! is a concert celebration honoring the legacy of Gospel music in America. As a companion to Gospel, hosted by Henry Louis Gates, Jr., secular and gospel artists sing their favorite gospel classics.

10pm Symphony Celebration: The Blind Boys of Alabama With Dr. Henry Panion, III (NEW)
Symphony Celebration features the five-time Grammy-winning Blind Boys of Alabama with conductor Dr. Henry Panion, III, and a full symphony orchestra. Hailed as “Gospel Titans” by Rolling Stone, this beloved group – which has collaborated with everyone from Stevie Wonder to Prince rose to fame in the segregated South with their thrilling vocal harmonies and roof-raising live shows. The program also includes story-driven vignettes about the artists and their songs.

Sat, 2/10
3:30pm Cuba in Africa (NEW)
Cuba in Africa tells the untold story of 420,000 Cubans soldiers and teachers, doctors and nurses who gave everything to end colonial rule and apartheid in Southern Africa.

6pm Inspired Lives (NEW)
Inspired Lives is an hour-long program that features in-depth conversations with FUBU founder, “Godfather of Urban Fashion” and Shark Tankinvestor Daymond John, and five-time Grammy Award-winner Dionne Warwick. Host Tony Fama meets one-on-one with them, discussing the steps each took to gain international success and exploring what both are doing to support communities in need. This special is a precursor to a half-hour weekly series, which will tell the inspirational stories of national and international celebrities.

10pm American Masters: How it Feels to Be Free
Explore the lives and trailblazing careers of iconic African American entertainers Lena Horne, Abbey Lincoln, Nina Simone, Diahann Carroll, Cicely Tyson and Pam Grier, who changed American culture through their films, fashion, music and politics. 

Sun 2/11
6pm AfroPop: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange: Rewind & Play
Improvisational pianist and composer Thelonious Monk is among the 20th century’s most revered jazz luminaries. This film shows Monk in the grip of a violent factory of stereotypes, offering an unfiltered glimpse at the racial indignities some artists are asked to endure.

Mon, 2/12
9pm Gospel: The Gospel Train/Golden Age of Gospel (NEW)
From the blues to hip hop, African Americans have been the driving force of musical innovation for over a century. Gospel, the latest history series from Henry Louis Gates, Jr., digs deep into the origin story of Black spirituality through sermon and song. “The Gospel Train” will dive into the sonic influences of blues and jazz, and “Golden Age of Gospel” will talk about how the music went from churches to mainstream.

11pm George H. White: Searching for Freedom (NEW)
Explore the life and legacy of one of the most significant African American leaders of the Reconstruction Era. White served in the US Congress from 1887 to 1901. The documentary offers insight into White’s groundbreaking accomplishments as a politician and civil rights leader.

Tues, 2/13
7pm Blacks, Blues, Black!: Episode 9: Violence
Episode 9 Blacks, Blues, Black! made by Dr. Maya Angelou in 1968 examines the influence of African American culture on modern American society. It includes scenes of Dr. Angelou in the studio reflecting on violence in the black American world, with footage of afflicted neighborhoods and speeches from black activists. 

8pm Finding Your Roots: The Brick Wall Falls (NEW)
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. introduces actor Danielle Brooks and singer Dionne Warwick to their distant ancestors — breaking down the barriers imposed by slavery.

9pm Gospel: Take The Message Everywhere/Gospel’s Second Century (NEW)
From the blues to hip hop, African Americans have been the driving force of musical innovation for over a century. Gospel, the latest history series from Henry Louis Gates, Jr., digs deep into the origin story of Black spirituality through sermon and song. “Take The Message Everywhere” will talk about how gospel spread in the mainstream, and “Gospel’s Second Century” discusses the success of the music genre.

11pm Let’s Have Some Church Detroit Style (NEW)
Set in a rust belt metropolis, Let’s Have Some Church Detroit Style introduces 25 men and women singing in an all-star community choir. In this film filled with glorious music, The Hallelujah Singers show us that in a city recovering from bankruptcy, wealth is not always counted in dollars. The film’s narrative portraits of choir members reveal that their community, convictions, and music sustain and enrich them.

Wed, 2/14
10pm Secrets of the Dead: The Woman in the Iron Coffin
Follow a team of forensic experts as they investigate the preserved remains of a young African American woman from 19th century New York and reveal the little-known story of early America’s free black communities.

11pm Army Rising Up (NEW)
Mississippi Delta high school students explore and document their communities’ connections to Civil Rights icons Emmett Till and Fannie Lou Hamer.

11:30pm Fannie Lou Hamer: Stand Up
The documentary Fannie Lou Hamer: Stand Up examines the life of civil rights legend Fannie Lou Hamer, offering first-hand accounts by those who knew her and worked side by side with her in the struggle for voting rights.

Fri, 2/16
8pm KQED Live: Black History Month Dance Party (NEW)
Celebrate Black History Month with dances from different eras. Dancer and culture-maker Traci Bartlow leads KQED Live attendees through a short history of social dance, from Lindy Hop to hip-hop. Part lecture, part dance party, this mini class will teach you history and the moves to get you groovin’.

Sat, 2/17
10pm Freedom House Ambulance: The First Responders (NEW)
In 1967, Pittsburgh’s Hill District produced America’s first EMT service, Freedom House Ambulance, composed exclusively of Black people. Trailblazers in pre-hospital and CPR care, they responded to the African American community’s emergency needs. Despite becoming the foundation for national paramedic training, racism and power dynamics led to its closure in 1975. Freedom House Ambulance delves into the rise and fall of this groundbreaking initiative.

Tues, 2/20
7pm Blacks, Blues, Black!: Episode 10: Series Summary
Episode 10 of Blacks, Blues, Black!, made by Dr. Maya Angelou in 1968, examines the influence of African American culture on modern American society. This episode recaps subjects covered in the previous nine episodes, and it provides a selection of books for viewers to continue their own personal research.

8pm Finding Your Roots: Mean Streets (NEW)
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. maps the family trees of comedian Tracy Morgan and actor Anthony Ramos — taking the two New York City natives far from their hometown.

PLUS

Sun, 2/4
5pm Talking Black In America: Performance Traditions (NEW)
African American artistic forms like the Blues, Spirituals, Spoken Word, Preaching, Comedy and Hip Hop reveal a story about the creative use of African American Language and its function as a tool for survival, liberation and belonging within the Black Community.

6pm The 88th Annual Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards
Hosted by Henry Louis Gates, Jr., The 88th Annual Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards features the personal stories of the 2023 recipients of the only national juried prize for literature that confronts racism and explores diversity. Viewers are transported to Iowa, Massachusetts, Ohio and New Hampshire to hear the inspiring and revealing stories of this year’s honorees, which include Geraldine Brooks, Lan Samantha Chang, Matthew F. Delmont, Saeed Jones, and Charlayne Hunter-Gault. 

8pm Making Black America: Through the Grapevine #101
Explore how free Black people, in the North and South, built towns, established schools, held conventions – creating robust networks to address the political, economic, and social needs of the entire Black community.

9pm Making Black America: Through the Grapevine #102
Explore how African Americans turn within, creating a community that not only sustains but empowers. From HBCUs to Black businesses to the Harlem Renaissance to political organizations, Black life flourished.

10pm American Experience: The Busing Battleground
Revisit 1970s Boston, when Black and white students were bused for the first time between neighborhoods to comply with a federal court desegregation order – unleashing violence and racial unrest that would escalate and continue for years.

Wed, 2/7
5:30pm Afro-Latino Travels with Kim Haas: San Jose
In Costa Rica’s capital city, San Jose, we meet with one the country’s most renowned writers, whose career spans more than 50 years and is responsible for introducing the Afro-Costa Rican experience in Costa Rican literature. We will also meet a dancer whose grace, style and elegance will charm viewers as she shows Afro-Caribbean inspired dance movements. 

Fri, 2/9
4:30pm History Detectives #1007
What is behind the heroic acts pictured in a poster about two African-American soldiers in World War I? Senator Charles Schumer helps find the answer. Then, is this a map of Valley Forge that George Washington used during the American Revolution? And does a Tucson man own one of the first transistor radios ever made? Finally, after 70 years, a Washington man wonders whether a business card ties his father to Prohibition-era underworld crime. 

Sun, 2/11
12pm Great Performances at the Met: X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X (NEW)
Experience Anthony Davis’s groundbreaking opera directed by Tony nominee Robert O’Hara. The new staging portrays Malcolm as an Everyman whose story transcends time and space. 

4pm Next at the Kennedy Center: Robert Glasper’s Black Radio
Robert Glasper, five-time Grammy Award-winning pianist, composer, and producer, invites his tightly knit community of collaborators to celebrate his iconic, award-winning, and cross-genre revolutionary album – Black Radio. Glasper reimagines his album and reflects on how it has profoundly transformed black music since its conception.

8pm Making Black America: Through the Grapevine #103
To survive economic disaster, African Americans relied on informal economies, grassroots organizations and cultural innovations behind the color line to dismantle the oppressive realities of Jim Crow.

9pm Making Black America: Through the Grapevine #104
Despite the gains of legal desegregation, hour four reveals how Black political and cultural movements – from Black Power to Black Twitter – provide a safe space to debate, organize and celebrate.

10pm American Experience: The Harvest: Integrating Mississippi’s Schools
Explore what happened when the small Mississippi town of Leland integrated its public schools in 1970. Told through the remembrances of students, teachers, and parents, the film shows how the town – and America – were transformed.

Mon, 2/12
11:30pm Afro-Latino Travels with Kim Haas: The Sound of Salsa In Cali, Colombia
In Cali, Colombia, Kim joins hundreds of Afro-Colombians as they converge on the salsa capital of the world for a rhythmic four-day festival named after the legendary musician, Petronio Alvarez. She gets a hands-on lesson in salsa dancing and drumming at the Salsa Museum and meets one of the most revered marimba players alive today.

Wed, 2/14
5:30pm Afro-Latino Travels with Kim Haas: Limon, Costa Rica
In the sun drenched coastal city of Limon, Costa Rica, dive into African Diasporic history. We will learn about the role thousands of Jamaicans, Afro-Costa Ricans and other Caribbean islanders played in the construction of the country’s railroad more than a century ago.

Mon, 2/19
11:32pm Afro-Latino Travels with Kim Haas: Afro-Colombian Culture Along The Pacific Coast
Colombia’s Pacific coastline is home to lush rainforests, beautiful beaches, and the African diaspora. At the Sugarcane Museum, Kim learns about Colombia’s colonial era Afro descendant people who built the country’s sugar cane and rail industries. She traces the fight for freedom to the country’s first Black female VP, brilliantly portrayed by painter Jose Eibar Castillo. 

Tues, 2/20
4pm SciGirls Stories: Black Women In STEM
“Black Women in STEM” features 5 scientists who are passionate about their work, hobbies, families, and dispelling misconceptions about who can do STEM. They share their strategies for overcoming challenges and finding joy in jobs where Black women are underrepresented.

8:32pm Odessa’s Reign
Odessa Madre, nicknamed Queen of the Underworld, was a prosperous numbers runner and a key figure in a lucrative gambling ring in Washington, D.C. in the 1950s. Leading the paper chase gave her prestige in the mob, power in her neighborhood, and control over law enforcers – all while being an African American woman in a segregated city.

Thurs, 2/22
8:55pm Buffalo Soldiers: Fighting On Two Fronts: A Local, USA Special
Explore the complex history of Black Americans who enlisted in the U.S. military as a path to citizenship, a livelihood, and greater respect, and how they fought in military conflicts abroad and civil rights struggles at home.

Fri, 2/23
4:30pm History Detectives #1009
History Detectives tells four stories of our nation’s beginning. First, Eduardo Pagan starts with a simple bill of sale for a 17-year old girl and learns how young Willoby’s life unfolds from being property to owning property. Then, Gwen Wright traces a powder horn to a military captain in Massachusetts during the American Revolution. Elyse Luray asks what role a handwritten score played in making “The Star Spangled Banner” our national anthem. Finally, notes in a 1775 almanac show how conflicting loyalties strained family ties during the Revolution.

11pm Songs at the Center: Celebrating Black History Month
Talented African American singers perform their own original compositions across a wide variety of styles, describe their creative processes, and discuss the inevitable struggles they’ve overcome. Historical references about Black History Month are woven throughout the show.

WORLD

Thurs, 2/1
11am POV: Homegoings
Through the eyes of funeral director Isaiah Owens, the beauty and grace of African American funerals are brought to life. Filmed in New York City’s historic Harlem neighborhood, “Homegoings” takes an up-close look at the world of undertaking in the black community, where funeral rites draw on a rich palette of tradition, history, and celebration. The film paints a portrait of the dearly departed, their grieving families, and a man who sends loved ones “home.”

12pm Reel South: The Passing On
Renowned African American embalmer, James Bryant, puts his faith in a new generation to continue the legacy of Black funeral homes in San Antonio, TX. But his intern, Clarence Pierre, is conflicted about his commitment due to the judgment he receives as a queer, Christian man.

1pm American Experience: Goin’ Back to T-Town
Revisit Greenwood, a Black community in Tulsa. Torn apart in 1921 by a racially-motivated massacre, the neighborhood rose again but could not survive integration and urban renewal. 

5pm Eyes on the Prize: Awakenings 1954-1956
Individual acts of courage inspire black Southerners to fight for their rights; Mose Wright testifies against the white men who murdered young Emmett Till and Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat to a white man in Montgomery, Alabama.

6pm Eyes on the Prize: Fighting Back 1957-1962
States’ rights loyalists and federal authorities collide in the 1957 battle to integrate Little Rock’s Central High School and in James Meredith’s 1962 challenge to segregation at the University of Mississippi.

Fri, 2/2
4pm American Experience: Zora Neale Hurston: Claiming a Space
A new biography of the influential author whose groundbreaking anthropological work would challenge assumptions about race, gender, and cultural superiority that had long defined the field in the 19th century.

6pm Shuttlesworth (NEW)
Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth was raised in segregated Birmingham but he was forged by its attempt to kill him. When the KKK planted a bomb underneath his bed and he was unharmed, he was sure God saved him to lead a Movement. His work not only ended legal segregation but led directly to the Civil and Voting Rights Acts – and inspired freedom movements around the world.

Sat, 2/3
11am Jesse Owens: American Experience
The most famous athlete of his time, his stunning triumph at the 1936 Olympic Games captivated the world even as it infuriated the Nazis. But when the four-time Olympic gold medalist returned home, he could not even ride in the front of a bus. The story of Jesse Owens, who triumphed over adversity to become a hero and world champion, is also about the elusive, fleeting quality of fame.

12pm Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson — Part 1
This Ken Burns film chronicles the life and career of boxer Jack Johnson, the first African American heavyweight champion. Johnson ultimately lost his title in a bout in Cuba in 1915, after fleeing the U.S. following his federal conviction for allegedly violating the Mann Act, which was used against Johnson to create an example against “the evils of miscegenation.”

4pm The Bright Path: The Johnny Bright Story
The Bright Path chronicles the life and career of African American football player Johnny Bright who as a walk-on at Drake University smashed college football records. In 1951, his college career abruptly ended from violence during his senior year in 1951. Bright’s story is one of resilience as the documentary explores how he overcame racial obstacles to carve out his own path in life to become a Hall of Fame athlete and award-winning Educator.

5pm The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song — Part 1 (NEW)
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the roots of African American religion beginning with the trans-Atlantic slave trade and the extraordinary ways enslaved Africans preserved and adapted faith practices from the brutality of slavery to emancipation.

Mon, 2/5
11am Bird: Not Out of Nowhere
As the world celebrates the centennial of Charlie “Bird” Parker’s birth, this film looks back at the twenty-one years Charlie spent at home in Kansas City and on his long-lasting impression on Kansas City Jazz.

12pm American Masters: Miles Davis
Discover the man behind the legend. With full access to the Miles Davis Estate, the film features never-before-seen footage, including studio outtakes from his recording sessions, rare photos and new interviews.

4pm Bridging the Divide: Tom Bradley and the Politics of Race
The test of race relations unfolded in Tom Bradley’s 1973 election as Mayor of Los Angeles—the first African American mayor in a predominantly white city. Bridging the Divide narrates how Bradley’s diverse coalition transformed the city. The film also delves into police abuse and reform faced by Bradley. Ultimately, it depicts the struggles that led to the 1992 LA civil unrest, marking the end of Bradley’s era and highlighting the politics of race complexities.

5pm Local, USA: In the Bubble with Jaime (NEW)
In South Carolina, African American Jaime Harrison runs for US Senate against Republican incumbent, Lindsey Graham. See how Jaime deals with the COVID pandemic and a legacy of racial injustice in a state with one of the largest African American populations in the country.

Tue, 2/6
12pm Ron Carter: Finding the Right Notes
Explore the life and career of jazz luminary Ron Carter, the most recorded bassist in history. Featuring original concert footage and candid insights from jazz icons, “Finding the Right Notes” is a vibrant portrait of the artist in his own words.

Wed, 2/7
11am Independent Lens: Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary
“Chasing Trane” is about an outside-the-box thinker whose music continues to influence people around the world. This portrait of a remarkable jazz artist reveals the critical events, passions, experiences, and challenges that shaped the life of John Coltrane and his revolutionary sounds.

12:30pm American Masters: Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes
Explore the extraordinary life and musical career of the legendary drummer, composer and social activist Max Roach. His creativity and unshakable sense of mission kept him at the forefront of music and activism across seven decades – from the era of the Jim Crow south, to the Civil Rights years.

4pm The Exchange: Kaukauna & King 50 Years Later (NEW)
50 years after Black and white students from different parts of Wisconsin came together to perform a play about race relations during the Civil Rights Movement, the original performers reunite to reflect and watch as a new generation reprises their performance of Martin Duberman’s “In White America.”

5pm Can We All Get Along? The Segregation of John Muir High School
At his 30th high school reunion filmmaker Pablo Miralles questions what has happened to his once integrated public high school in Pasadena, CA. Interviewing past and present teachers and students, Miralles begins to understand how perceptions and policies have created almost insurmountable challenges to maintaining well-funded and diverse public schools.

Thurs, 2/8
11am Reel South: Little Satchmo
Little Satchmo is an intimate exploration of Louis Armstrong’s life and legacy through his relationship with the daughter that the public never knew existed. Based on a revealing memoir written by Armstrong’s daughter, the film seeks to correct a long-held historical narrative.

12pm Dream Land: Little Rock’s West 9th Street
Once a vibrant African-American hub, Little Rock’s West 9th Street, now preserved on the National Register of Historic Places, features Taborian Hall as its sole surviving historic structure. This program chronicles the district’s rich history and explores its resilience, delving into the impact of federal initiatives like urban renewal, school desegregation, and the Eisenhower Interstate Program on the black community and race relations in Little Rock.

1pm Don Lewis and the Live Electronic Orchestra
Don Lewis, an African American musician/inventor/engineer battles technical barriers and institutional racism in his quest to change the world’s musical landscape. His pioneering spirit, technological vision and musical mastery would go on to shape the sounds of Electronic Music.

5pm Eyes on the Prize: Ain’t Scared of Your Jails 1960-1961
Black college students take a leadership role in the civil rights movement as lunch counter sit-ins spread across the South. “Freedom Riders” also try to desegregate interstate buses, but they are brutally attacked as they travel.

6pm Eyes on the Prize: No Easy Walk 1961-1963
The civil rights movement discovers the power of mass demonstrations as Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. emerges as its most visible leader. The triumphant March on Washington shows a mounting national support for civil rights.

Fri, 2/9
4pm American Masters: James Baldwin: The Price of the Ticket
This program offers a detailed portrait of James Baldwin, a renowned 20th-century American author. Using archival material and interviews, the documentary explores Baldwin’s global influence and his impact on the civil rights movement. Filmed in key locations of Baldwin’s life, it highlights his work, particularly Go Tell It On The Mountain, which brought awareness and compassion to readers about the African American experience in America.

5:30pm Independent Lens: Coded Bias
When MIT Media Lab researcher Joy Buolamwini discovers most facial recognition does not see dark-skinned faces or women with accuracy, she joins the fight to expose the threats to civil liberties posed by an increasingly data-driven, automated world.

Sat, 2/10
12pm Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson — Part 2
This Ken Burns film chronicles the life and career of boxer Jack Johnson, the first African American heavyweight champion. Johnson ultimately lost his title in a bout in Cuba in 1915, after fleeing the U.S. following his federal conviction for allegedly violating the Mann Act, which was used against Johnson to create an example against “the evils of miscegenation.”

5pm The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song — Part 2 (NEW)
Discover how the Black church expanded its reach to address social inequality and minister to those in need, from the Jim Crow South to the heroic phase of the civil rights movement, and the Black church’s role in the present.

Sun, 2/11
9:30am Birth of a Planet: Richmond on Paper
From the heart of the Confederacy came an African American-run newspaper that shook the foundations of the South by providing a new, diverse type of coverage. In an era defined by the struggle against lynchings, segregation, and voter suppression, the Richmond Planet exposed stories of brutality, racism, and injustice that remain very familiar today.

Mon, 2/12
12pm American Experience: The Blinding of Isaac Woodard
Discover the 1946 incident of racial violence by police that led to the racial awakening of President Harry Truman and set the stage for the landmark 1954 Supreme Court Brown v. Board of Education decision, jump-starting the civil rights movement.

5pm The Niagara Movement: The Early Battle for Civil Rights (NEW)
The Niagara Movement: The Early Battle For Civil Rights is a documentary spotlighting the civil rights movement of the 20th century. It delves into the socio-economic conditions of African Americans back then, analyzes strategies for racial progress championed by Black leaders, explores the basis of the Niagara Movement, and contextualizes its legacy in the present day. 

6pm Local, USA: Firsthand: Segregation (NEW)
In “Firsthand: Segregation”, explore the impact racial divisions have on individuals and the city with a documentary series, reported stories, expert talks, and community discussions.

Tue, 2/13
11am Jim Crow of the North
The documentary Jim Crow Of The North explores the origins of housing segregation, examining how racist real estate covenants set the stage for redlining in the U.S. The film also looks at the University of Minnesota’s Mapping Prejudice Project, which creates a visual representation of structural racism, informing current conversations around racial disparities.

1pm The Stone of Hope: Moving the Dream Forward
The Stone Of Hope documents the first decade of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington D.C. Now one of the most visited memorials, the King Memorial serves the country as the only Memorial on the National Mall honoring an activist, a preacher, and a man of peace.

6pm NOVA: Star Chasers of Senegal
A visionary astronomer in West Africa attempts a high-stakes observation of a distant asteroid vital to a NASA mission. From prehistoric ruins to Islamic skywatchers, explore the heritage and future of African astronomy.

Wed, 2/14
11am Invisible History: Middle Florida’s Hidden Roots
Invisible History: Middle Florida’s Hidden Roots sheds light on the history of plantations and the enslaved in North Florida. The film seeks to advance a sense of place and identity for hundreds of thousands of African Americans by exploring the invisible history of slavery in Leon County.

12pm Facing North: Jefferson Street, Nashville
Jefferson Street was a beacon for African Americans from the 1800s through the 1950s. Facing North: Jefferson Street, Nashville is a documentary that explores the untold stories of a Nashville community struggling to preserve its vibrant African American culture.

1pm The House on Jonathan Street (NEW)
The accidental discovery of the significant history of a modest dwelling on a traditionally African American street in Hagerstown, Maryland is used to trace the roots of middle America’s racial, economic and social interactions. Through the lens of this house, we hear about the rise and fall of the African American community in rust belt cities. We also see how its renovation and renewal may create positive change in the fortunes of the street and the larger community.

4pm We Were Hyphy
“Hyphy” was a musical movement that emerged from the streets of Oakland, California in the ’90s and encouraged kids to “go dumb” – to stop thinking, have fun, and dance instead of get violent. We Were Hyphy explores this movement through interviews with the charismatic music and also looks at the dances, fashions, and culture spawned by their genius. The film traces the movement’s influence on a variety of artists, from legendary figures such as Keak da Sneak, Mac Dre, and Mistah FAB to modern-day artists such as Kamaiyah, G-Eazy and Rafael Casal. 

5pm Go-Go City: Displacement and Protest in Washington, DC
Washington, D.C., a historic hub of Black culture, faces rapid economic and cultural gentrification threatening its rich history. Go-Go City explores this phenomenon, featuring interviews with Go-Go legends and business leaders. It provides a historical overview of the forces that shaped D.C. as “Chocolate City” and delves into the summer 2020 protests for racial justice, where Go-Go music emerged as an agent for change. 

6pm The Black Fire Documentary (NEW)
The Black Fire Documentary uncovers Washington D.C.’s music and cultural heritage by highlighting the music, message, and art of the people behind Black Fire Records, a Black-owned independent jazz record label started in the 1970s.

Thurs, 2/15
11am In Their Own Words: Chuck Berry
Take a riveting ride on the Chuck Berry train, exploring the life of the man behind the music. By blending “hillbilly” music with R&B and writing impactful lyrics, Berry birthed a renaissance in popular music we now call rock and roll.

12pm AfroPop: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange: Everything: The Real Thing Story
“Everything: The Real Thing Story” is a celebration of four lads from Liverpool, dubbed “the black Beatles” by the British tabloids, who recount their incredible story from inner-city Liverpool to New York. A journey of international stardom as Britain’s pioneering million-selling soul and funk band. Against a backdrop of prejudice and political turmoil in the 70s, The Real Thing were the first all-black British band to hit #1 in the UK pop charts.

1pm AfroPop: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange: Queen Kidjo
Experience a guided tour of the life and indomitable spirit of international music icon and activist Angelique Kidjo. This film features archival footage of the globally recognized artist appearing with superstars like Miriam Makeba, Ziggy Marley, and Peter Gabriel.

5pm Eyes on the Prize: Mississippi: Is This America? 1963-1964
Mississippi’s civil rights movement becomes an American concern when students travel south to help register black voters and three of them are murdered. The Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party challenges the regular delegation at the convention.

6pm Eyes on the Prize: Bridge to Freedom 1965
A decade of lessons is applied in the climactic and bloody march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. A major victory is won when the federal Voting Rights Bill passes, but civil rights leaders know they have new challenges ahead.

Fri, 2/16
4pm Tulsa: The Fire and the Forgotten
Learn about the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre and how the community of Tulsa is coming to terms with its past, present and future.

5:30pm Independent Lens: Outta the Muck
A co-production with Black Public Media (BPM), “Outta the Muck” wades into the rich soil of Pahokee, a rural Florida town. Beyond sending over a dozen players to the NFL, Pahokee, a rural town on the banks of Lake Okeechobe, possesses a legacy of resilience and achievement in the face of great storms and personal trauma.

Sat, 2/17
12pm Jackie Robinson: Part 1
Robinson rises from humble origins to integrate Major League Baseball, performing brilliantly despite the threats and abuse he faces on and off the field and, in the process, challenges the prejudiced notions of what a black man can achieve.

4pm Through the Banks of the Red Cedar
In 1963 Michigan State Head Coach Duffy Daugherty gave 23 African American young men the opportunity of a lifetime. The daughter of Minnesota Vikings football legend Gene Washington deepens her connection to her father as she uncovers how the first fully integrated college football team in America changed the game forever.

Sun, 2/18
9:30am Reel South: Flat Town
In rural Louisiana, an annual high school football game unites a historically segregated town and allows sport to act as a form of intergenerational, anti-racist reconciliation.

7pm American Masters: Roberta Flack
Follow the music icon from a piano lounge through her rise to stardom. From “First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” to “Killing Me Softly,” Flack’s virtuosity was inseparable from her commitment to civil rights. Detailing her story in her own words, the film features exclusive access to Flack’s archives and interviews with Rev. Jesse Jackson, Peabo Bryson and more.

Mon, 2/19
11am AfroPop: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange: Can You Bring It: Bill T. Jones D-Man in the Water
“Can You Bring It” traces the legacy of choreographer-dancer-director Bill T. Jones’ ballet, “D-Man in the Waters.” Emerging in the age of AIDS, the 1989 ballet gave physical manifestation to the fear, anger, grief, and hope for salvation that Jones and colleagues experienced as AIDS took the lives of their co-founder Arnie Zane and other troupe members.

12:30pm American Masters: Ailey
Discover the legendary choreographer Alvin Ailey whose dances center on the Black American experience with grace, strength and beauty. See previously unheard audio interviews with Ailey, interviews with those close to him and an intimate glimpse into the Ailey studios today.

6pm Local, USA: HBCU NOW (NEW)
Explore the vibrancy of Historically Black Colleges and Universities – HBCUs. Featuring four unique short films, this special presentation shines a light on the diverse experiences, challenges, and triumphs of HBCU communities.

Tue, 2/20
11am Black Ballerina
Black Ballerina is a story of passion, opportunity, heartbreak and triumph of the human spirit. Set in the white world of classical dance, it tells the stories of several black women who fell in love with ballet. 60 years ago, while pursuing dreams of classical dance careers, three black ballerinas confronted racism and exclusion in segregated America. In 2015, three young black women dealt with many of the same obstacles. This documentary engages viewers to think about larger issues of exclusion, equal opportunity and change.

12pm American Masters: Marian Anderson
Discover an international singer who captivated royalty in Europe and defied the conscience of 1939 America. Watch rare archival footage and hear audio recordings exploring her life and career from the Metropolitan Opera to the State Department.

6pm NOVA: Lee and Liza’s Family Tree
With the help of scientists and genealogists, filmmaker Byron Hurt and his family members search for their ancestors. Follow their journey as they hunt for new details of a history long obscured by the enduring legacy of slavery.

Wed, 2/21
11am Gullah Roots
“Gullah Roots” follows leaders of the South Carolina and Georgia Gullah/Geechee communities as they experience a homecoming to Sierra Leone in 2019. “Gullah Roots” reaffirms the ties between these groups and West Africa. After the trip, the travelers share their moving reactions to the similarities between Sierra Leonean culture and Gullah Geechee traditions – the food, music, dance, crafts and religious worship, forming the emotional heart of the documentary.

12pm Independent Lens: Soul Food Junkies
Baffled by his dad’s reluctance to change his traditional soul food diet in the face of a health crisis, filmmaker Byron Hurt sets out to learn more about this culinary tradition and its relevance to black cultural identity. The African American love affair with soul food is deep-rooted, complex, and in some tragic cases, deadly. This film puts this culinary tradition under the microscope to examine both its benefits and consequences. 

1pm Reel South: Rap Squad
An Arkansas community mobilizes around a divisive ballot initiative for a new high school, led by a group of high school writers and performers who seek healing for themselves and justice for their community through hip hop.

4pm Independent Lens: Ferguson Rises
Michael Brown Sr.’s son was killed in 2014 by white police officer Darren Wilson, an event that fueled the global Black Lives Matter movement. His personal story seeking justice and healing has not been told until now.

Thurs, 2/22
11am Ida B. Wells: American Stories
There are few historical figures whose life and work speak to the current moment more than Ida B. Wells, the 19th-century crusading investigative journalist, civil rights leader, and passionate suffragist. In the wake of her recent posthumous Pulitzer Prize citation, the hour-long documentary Ida B. Wells: American Stories tells her story as never before.

12pm Slavery By Another Name
Slavery By Another Name challenges one of America’s most cherished assumptions – that slavery in this country ended with the Emancipation Proclamation. This documentary tells a harrowing story of how in the South, even as chattel slavery ended, new forms of involuntary servitude, including convict leasing, debt slavery and peonage, took its place with shocking force — brutalizing and ultimately circumscribing the lives of African Americans.

1:30pm Bonnie Boswell Presents: A Conversation with Pastor James Lawson and Attorney Bryan Stevenson
From Bonnie Boswell, this special is an intimate look at Pastor James Lawson, who has been called “the leading non-violent theorist in the world,” and Attorney Bryan Stevenson, often referred to as “America’s Gandhi.” The two men, generations apart, are both iconic figures at the vanguard of America’s peace and justice movement.

4pm The Groveland Four
In 1949, when a white farm-wife alleged she was assaulted by four black men in Lake County, Florida, Sheriff McCall identified four suspects: Samuel Shepherd, Walter Irvin, Earnest Thomas and Charles Greenlee. The documentary The Groveland Four chronicles the injustices faced by these defendants at the hands of the Jim Crow-era U.S. criminal justice, employing historical re-enactments, witness accounts, and narration by actor Courtney B. Vance.

5pm Eyes on the Prize: The Time Has Come 1964-1966
After a decade-long cry for justice, a new sound is heard in the civil rights movement: the insistent call for power. “Black Power!” replaces “Freedom Now!” as the fabric of the traditional movement changes.

6pm Eyes on the Prize: Two Societies 1965-1968
King and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference help Chicago’s civil rights leaders in the struggle against segregated housing. The Kerner Commission finds that America is becoming “two societies, one black, one white, separate and unequal.”

Fri, 2/23
4pm POV: We Are the Radical Monarchs
Meet the Radical Monarchs, a group of young girls of color on the frontlines of social justice. Follow the group as they earn badges for completing units on such subjects as being an LGBTQ ally, preserving the environment, and disability justice.

5:30pm Where I Became (NEW)
Where I Became traces the story of 14 women who left apartheid in South Africa to attend Smith College in the U.S. The film, narrated in their own voices and filmed between South Africa and the U.S., follows their stories from childhood to higher education.

Sat, 2/24
12pm Jackie Robinson: Part 2
Robinson uses his fame to speak out against injustice, alienating many who had once lauded him for “turning the other cheek.” After baseball, he seeks ways to fight inequality, but as he faces a crippling illness, he struggles to remain relevant.

Sun, 2/25
9:30am Justice in Chester
During the 1990s, Chester, Pennsylvania, a predominantly African American community, faced the permitting of numerous waste treatment facilities. Justice in Chester portrays Zulene Mayfield and the group CRCQL, who led a grassroots movement against environmental injustice. The documentary highlights the decades-long struggle to curb pollution, emphasizing the significance of community involvement and grassroots efforts.

11pm American Masters: Buddy Guy: The Blues Chase the Blues Away
Dive into the career of the legendary blues guitarist, a pioneer of Chicago’s West Side sound and major influence on rock titans like Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton – Buddy Guy. See new performances and interviews with Carlos Santana and more.

Mon, 2/26
11am Independent Lens: Down a Dark Stairwell
A Chinese American cop shoots and kills an innocent Black man in the dark stairwell of a Brooklyn housing project. Suddenly, two marginalized communities must navigate an uneven criminal justice system together.

12:30pm POV Shorts: Shut Up and Paint
Painter Titus Kaphar uses film as a medium while grappling with an insatiable art market seeking to silence his activism.

1pm Fight the Power: How Hip Hop Changed the World: The Foundation
Discover the factors that led to the birth of Hip Hop and its first socially conscious hit – “The Message” by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five in 1982.

6pm Bridging the Divide (NEW)
Thirty-five years before Barack Obama’s election as President, the question of race and the possibility of bridging racial barriers were put to the test in an overlooked story in American politics: Tom Bradley’s 1973 election as Mayor of Los Angeles: the first African American mayor of a major U.S. city elected with an overwhelmingly white majority.

Tue, 2/27
11am Just a Mortal Man: The Jerry Lawson Story
The inimitable Jerry Lawson, who fronted the legendary a cappella group The Persuasions, is largely responsible for creating the genre of contemporary a cappella. As lead singer and arranger of the group, Jerry recorded 24 albums over 40 years and toured the world with some of the biggest names in show business.

12:30pm POV Shorts: This Sacred Place
New worlds unfold in stories of tradition and pride. “You Can’t Stop Spirit” – Centered on the Baby Doll Mardi Gras masking tradition: a group of self-liberated Black women created an alternative space where they are encouraged to be free. “Coming Home” – Palestinian-American dancers living in Brooklyn use traditional Dabka as a way to connect to their homeland.

1pm Fight the Power: How Hip Hop Changed the World: Under Siege
Explore the 1980s and the birth of Hip Hop as social commentary in the Reagan Era with the emergence of artists like Public Enemy, KRS-One, Ice-T, and NWA.

5pm NOVA: Forgotten Genius
NOVA presents the remarkable life story of Percy Julian- one of the great African-American scientists of the 20th century and civil rights pioneer. The grandson of slaves, Julian won worldwide acclaim for his research in chemistry and broke the color barrier in American science. He discovered a way to turn soybeans into synthetic steroids on an industrial scale, enabling drugs like cortisone to be widely available to millions. NOVA traces the vivid and moving saga of Julian’s dazzling scientific achievements and sometimes stormy personal life. 

Wed, 2/28
11am Beyond the Baton: A Conductor’s Story
Born to a single mother on welfare, African American Thomas Wilkins grew up to become a remarkable conductor leading a major orchestra – the celebrated Omaha Symphony. Beyond The Baton is a film that documents Wilkins’ experience as a Black conductor and his larger impact on the musical world.

12pm AfroPoP: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange: Mama Gloria
“Mama Gloria” is a feature documentary about Gloria Allen, a 75-year-old Black trailblazing transgender activist who started a charm school for homeless trans youth and is now aging with joy and grace. It is the story of a mother’s love – the love that Gloria’s mother had for her and the love that Gloria has for her chosen children. 

1pm Fight the Power: How Hip Hop Changed the World: Culture Wars
Experience the 1990s during the Clinton years and the unstoppable rise in popularity of Hip Hop, which becomes a force that attacked by all sides of the political establishment.

4pm POV: The Two Towns of Jasper
After the brutal murder of African-American James Byrd, Jr. by three white supremacists in Jasper, Texas, friends Whitney Dow, who is white, and Marco Williams, who is black, made a film about their town.

5:30pm POV: Unapologetic
Meet Janae and Bella, fierce abolitionists whose experiences shape their views on Black liberation. Told through their lens, “Unapologetic” offers a look into the movement, from the police murder of Rekia Boyd to the election of mayor Lori Lightfoot.

Thurs, 2/29
11am Truth Tellers (NEW)
Truth Tellers is a film about American courage. For more than 20 years, artist and activist Robert Shetterly has painted a collection of more than 250 portraits entitled “Americans Who Tell the Truth.” From racial justice activists to civil rights leaders, Shetterly has captured great Americans and etched their inspiring quotes into each painting. Shetterly uses his art to explore these activists’ responses to some of the most pressing issues of our time.

1pm Fight the Power: How Hip Hop Changed the World: Still Fighting
Follow the evolution of Hip Hop as its artists turn into multimillionaires and successful entrepreneurs. As a cultural phenomenon, Hip Hop continues to change history and is adopted as the voice of protest around the world.

4pm Independent Lens: More than a Month
Shukree Hassan Tilghman, an African-American filmmaker, is on a campaign to end Black History Month. Through this tongue-in-cheek journey, “More Than a Month” investigates what the treatment of history tells us about race and equality in a “post-racial” America.

5pm Eyes on the Prize: Power! 1967-1968
The call for Black Power takes various forms across communities in black America. In Cleveland, Carl Stokes wins election as the first black mayor of a major American city. The Black Panther Party, armed with law books and guns, is born in Oakland.

6pm Eyes on the Prize: The Promised Land
Martin Luther King, Jr. stakes out new ground for himself and the rapidly fragmenting civil rights movement. In the midst of political organizing, he detours to support striking sanitation workers in Memphis, where he’s assassinated.