Black History Month

Watch Black History Month

  • 2012
  • 1 Season

Black History Month from Smithsonian Channel is a series that dives deep into the narratives of African Americans and their experiences throughout history. With its debut in 2010, this show aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding of African American history while highlighting notable figures that have contributed to the progression of the Black community. Throughout the series, different episodes examine specific topics related to African American history. From the Civil Rights movement to music, the show's episodes shed light on prominent events, people, and cultural moments that have shaped Black history in the United States. One of the unique features of the show is its focus on telling stories from different perspectives. It tries to showcase black history through the eyes of African Americans, providing a nuanced view of their experience that is rarely seen in mainstream media. The show also covers lesser-known segments of Black history, bringing to light stories that have been overlooked or ignored by traditional history books. The production value of the show is top-notch, with each episode featuring high-quality cinematography and a highly polished script. The use of reenactments, interviews with historians and experts, and archival footage creates a powerful and immersive viewing experience. The first episode of the series delves into the African American experience during the Civil Rights Movement. The episode covers important events such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the March on Washington, along with key figures such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. The show provides a vivid portrayal of the struggles and triumphs of the Civil Rights era, highlighting the courage and resilience of the people who fought for their basic rights. Another episode focuses on the contributions of African Americans to music. From jazz to hip-hop, the show covers the evolution of Black music and highlights the artists that revolutionized the industry. The episode features interviews with musicians and historians, making a compelling case for Black music as a cornerstone of American culture. While the show covers some heavy topics, it also features episodes that focus on the lighter side of African American culture. One such episode highlights the history of Black entertainment, covering everything from comedy to dance. The episode is a celebration of Black talent, showcasing how the entertainment industry has been influenced by African American culture. The show does not shy away from examining some difficult topics either. An episode examines the relationship between law enforcement and the Black community, providing a sobering look at how the history of racial discrimination has impacted the modern-day policing system. The episode features interviews with experts and activists, providing a nuanced view of the complex issues surrounding policing in America. Overall, Black History Month from Smithsonian Channel is a diverse, informative, and engaging series that provides a much-needed platform to highlight and celebrate African American history. It is an essential viewing for anyone seeking to gain a comprehensive understanding of the Black experience in the United States.

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Seasons
LBJ's Battle for Civil Rights
9. LBJ's Battle for Civil Rights
July 2, 2016
Discover how Lyndon Baines Johnson used the power of the presidency to form an alliance with Martin Luther King, Jr. to bring civil rights to the forefront of American politics in the 1960s.
Civil Rights
8. Civil Rights
August 30, 2014
From the little-known actions of iconic pioneers to the many courageous deeds of unheralded champions, crack open the books on one of America's most defining chapters: the Civil Rights movement.
MLK: The Assassination Tapes
4. MLK: The Assassination Tapes
February 12, 2012
April 4, 1968. Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is gunned down on the balcony of a hotel in Memphis, Tennessee. It was all caught on film, tape and audio. So why have we seen so little of it? The well-known photograph of Dr. King's aides pointing toward the direction of the gunfire is iconic, but tells only part of the story. For the first time, a remarkable collection of recently rediscovered footage has been chronologically reassembled. The resulting documentary allows us to revisit the tumultuous events surrounding one of the most shocking assassinations in America and relive history through the voices of the era.
Hip Hop: The Furious Force of Rhymes
3. Hip Hop: The Furious Force of Rhymes
June 24, 2011
Hip Hop has evolved from a musical genre into one of the most influential movements of the 21st Century, affecting the way people dress, speak, and even think. Follow the journey from its birth in the Bronx in the '70s, to the time when rap, DJ-ing, break dancing, and graffiti took over New York City and defined a generation. See how the music and its message expanded to inner cities all over the world, including Paris, Berlin, Dakar and the Palestinian territories, and how it became the universal language for people who didn't have a voice.
Seizing Justice: The Greensboro 4
2. Seizing Justice: The Greensboro 4
July 25, 2010
It was an average Woolworth's lunch counter, but these were no average customers. What transpired on Elm Street in Greensboro, North Carolina 50 years ago sent shockwaves through every block across America. This is the story of the Greensboro Four, college freshman who led a nonviolent sit-in and taught a country that it was finally time to serve everyone. In February of 1960, a simple coffee order at America's favorite five-and-dime store sparked a series of events that would help put an end to segregation in the United States. Join us as we detail the extraordinary story of otherwise ordinary young men, four African-American college students whose nonviolent sit-in at a Woolworth's lunch counter started a revolution.
Black Wings
1. Black Wings
January 14, 2012
For early aviators, conquering the forces of gravity was a daunting challenge. But black aviators had an additional challenge -to conquer the forces of racism. Meet the men and women of color who took to the skies throughout the 20th Century and helped prove to a segregated nation that skin color didn't determine skill level. From biplanes to commercial jets and from barnstormers to war fighters, meet the path-breaking pilots who opened the skies for all.
Description

Black History Month from Smithsonian Channel is a series that dives deep into the narratives of African Americans and their experiences throughout history. With its debut in 2010, this show aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding of African American history while highlighting notable figures that have contributed to the progression of the Black community.

Throughout the series, different episodes examine specific topics related to African American history. From the Civil Rights movement to music, the show's episodes shed light on prominent events, people, and cultural moments that have shaped Black history in the United States.

One of the unique features of the show is its focus on telling stories from different perspectives. It tries to showcase black history through the eyes of African Americans, providing a nuanced view of their experience that is rarely seen in mainstream media. The show also covers lesser-known segments of Black history, bringing to light stories that have been overlooked or ignored by traditional history books.

The production value of the show is top-notch, with each episode featuring high-quality cinematography and a highly polished script. The use of reenactments, interviews with historians and experts, and archival footage creates a powerful and immersive viewing experience.

The first episode of the series delves into the African American experience during the Civil Rights Movement. The episode covers important events such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the March on Washington, along with key figures such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. The show provides a vivid portrayal of the struggles and triumphs of the Civil Rights era, highlighting the courage and resilience of the people who fought for their basic rights.

Another episode focuses on the contributions of African Americans to music. From jazz to hip-hop, the show covers the evolution of Black music and highlights the artists that revolutionized the industry. The episode features interviews with musicians and historians, making a compelling case for Black music as a cornerstone of American culture.

While the show covers some heavy topics, it also features episodes that focus on the lighter side of African American culture. One such episode highlights the history of Black entertainment, covering everything from comedy to dance. The episode is a celebration of Black talent, showcasing how the entertainment industry has been influenced by African American culture.

The show does not shy away from examining some difficult topics either. An episode examines the relationship between law enforcement and the Black community, providing a sobering look at how the history of racial discrimination has impacted the modern-day policing system. The episode features interviews with experts and activists, providing a nuanced view of the complex issues surrounding policing in America.

Overall, Black History Month from Smithsonian Channel is a diverse, informative, and engaging series that provides a much-needed platform to highlight and celebrate African American history. It is an essential viewing for anyone seeking to gain a comprehensive understanding of the Black experience in the United States.

Black History Month is a series that is currently running and has 1 seasons (6 episodes). The series first aired on January 14, 2012.

Where to Watch Black History Month

Black History Month is available for streaming on the Smithsonian Channel website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch Black History Month on demand at Google Play and Apple TV.

  • Premiere Date
    January 14, 2012