Black Women in History | Explore Black History | PBS
Inspirational Black Women

Be inspired by an exceptional group of women in this collection of videos and web-exclusive features from trusted public media partners. Each of the features below is a window into a documentary or program about Black women who have made a special mark on their communities and the World. The features will connect you directly to the website of a PBS partner where it can be viewed in full or allow you to watch a preview directly within the collection below. Get started now! Explore Inspirational Women with PBS.

Angela Davis on Seeing Her Younger Self Angela Davis on Seeing Her Younger Self

Dr. Angela Davis speaks with Hari Sreenivasen of the PBS NewsHour about her 1972 interviews

Angela Davis on Seeing Her Younger Self When I Rise - Who is Barbara Conrad?

For Conrad - truly the embodiment of "Amazing Grace" - creativity is essential.

Daisy Bates: A Civil Rights Hero

Daisy Bates was a complex, unconventional and largely forgotten heroine of the civil rights movement who led the charge to desegregate the all-white Central High School in Little Rock, Ark., in 1957. From Independent Lens.

Rosa Parks: Special Collection Rosa Parks: Special Collection

She has been called the Mother of the Freedom Movement

Rosa Parks: Special Collection She is one of the most influential artists of the 20th century.

"Sister Rosetta Tharpe: The Godmother of Rock and Roll"

Remembering Wangari Maathai Remembering Wangari Maathai

Maathai was the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize

Remembering Wangari Maathai Change Agents: Women Are the Solution

Extraordinary people empowering women worldwide.

The inspirational women feaured above are from PBS documentaries and productions by Independent Lens (When I RiseBlack Power MixtapeHalf the Sky), POV (Chisholm '72), and NewsHour (Remembering Wangari Maathai) and To The Contrary.

More to explore
Harriet Tubman: 100 Years of Legacy Harriet Tubman: 100 Years of Legacy

10 Interesting Facts you may not know about Harriet Tubman.

More Women to Know:

Carolyn ParkerCarolyn Parker: Hurricane Katrina Surviror and Community Activist  
I'm Carolyn Parker: The Good, The Mad, and The Beautiful
 
(POV)

  

Vernice ArmourVernice Armour: America's first African American female combat pilot.
To The Contrary


Ameena Matthews

Ameena Matthews: Chicago Native and Community Activist 
The Interrupters
(FRONTLINE)

 

Sign up for enews Shop PBS: African American Collection Find us on Facebook