Owning the screen. Owning the story.
Journey through the history of black representation on television, showcasing how black artists and creators both shaped and revolutionized the medium while confronting the systemic challenges that have often undermined their contributions.
Part 1: Seen
From Amos 'n' Andy to The Jeffersons and Good Times, Black television was historically shaped by white writers and creators. But in the 1990s, a rise in shows by Black creators brought social issues to the forefront, allowing Black television to go beyond merely reflecting culture, but to create it with shows such as In Living Color and The Arsenio Hall Show.
Part 2: Heard
The responsibility and power of storytelling is demonstrated through the work of Shonda Rhimes, Oprah Winfrey, and other creators, as well as stories depicting the breadth of the Black experience. With ownership of news and entertainment properties, Black creators now shape perception and policy – while honoring the scope of their history in all its paradoxes and complexities.
Issa Rae
Self
Tracee Ellis Ross
Tyler Perry
Oprah Winfrey
Justin Simien
Debbie Allen
Mara Brock Akil
Lena Waithe
Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones
2023
Face to Face with Scott Peterson
2024
Bling Ring: Hollywood Heist
2022
Victoria's Secret: Angels and Demons
Preaching Evil: A Wife on the Run with Warren Jeffs
The Men Who Built America
2012
Lei da Selva: A História do Jogo do Bicho
Nevenka, Breaking the Silence
2021
Let the Devil In
2025
The Super Models
Worn Stories
George Carlin's American Dream
PCC, Secret Power
American Murder: Laci Peterson
Limitless: Live Better Now
God in America
2010
Fit for TV: The Reality of the Biggest Loser
Michael Palin: Around the World in 80 Days
1989
Pole to Pole
1992
Michael Palin's Hemingway Adventure
1999