PBS’s “Independent Lens” is gearing up for Black History Month by premiering a series of new documentaries shedding an interesting light on African American History.
The film first in the series, debuting Feb. 2, is “Daisy Bates: First Lady of Little Rock,. The documentary tells the story of filmmaker Sharon La Cruise’s seven-year journey to get to know civil rights activist Daisy Bates. Bates became a household name in 1957 when she fought for the right of nine black students to attend the all-white Central High School in Little Rock, AK, but she became mostly forgotten after that.
The following week, “Independent Lens” will show “The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975.” The film features contrasting interviews with Black Power leaders of the time like Stokely Carmichael, Angela Davis, and Eldridge Cleaver with contemporary audio interviews from leading African American artists, activists, musicians, and scholars. Chronicling the Black Power movement’s evolution, the footage includes shots from the streets of Harlem, Brooklyn, and Oakland.
During the final week, the network will show “More than a Month,” the story of Shukree Hassan Tilghman’s cross-country campaign to end Black History Month
Check out the trailers for the Black Power Mixtape and the Story of Daisy Bates below. Will you tune in?
Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.
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