End Black History Month? Weigh In With 'More Than a Month' Filmmaker

FILM -- February 16, 2012 at 5:33 PM EDT

End Black History Month? Weigh In With 'More Than a Month' Filmmaker

Filmmaker Shukree Tilghman of the film "More Than a Month." Photo courtesy of Independent Lens on PBS.

Updated 11:07 a.m. Friday, Feb. 17. | Join Hari Sreenivasan and African-American filmmaker Shukree Tilghman here on Friday at 3 p.m. ET for a social screening of the film, "More Than a Month." You'll have a chance to view the film in its entirety and weigh in on the issues live online.

In "More Than a Month," Tilghman sets off on a cross-country road trip to campaign for an end to Black History Month under the premise that black history is, in fact, American history. Wearing a sandwich board stating his cause, he stands on street corners in cities across America and opens a dialogue about whether marking African-American history during the coldest, shortest month of the year is actually a disservice.

Along the way, he talks to historians, scholars, marketing experts and family members about how they view Black History Month and its role in a "post-racial" America.

On Thursday's PBS NewsHour, Sreenivasan interviewed Tilghman and other documentary filmmakers from Independent Lens' Black History Month series.

Watch Why Not Everyone Supports Black History Month on PBS. See more from PBS NewsHour.

Finally, teachers can access a story and lesson plan about the film and Black History Month via NewsHour Extra.

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