Feb 25 Watch 4:44 How a pioneering pilot made the first attempt to break NASA’s racial barrier By John Yang, Kaisha Young Space exploration has long fascinated humans, from the fantasy of the ancient Greeks to the moon landings of the last century. It’s about pushing into new frontiers — and not just technological ones. In the last part of our series,… Continue watching
Feb 18 Watch 4:22 How an enslaved man helped create these iconic monuments in Washington, D.C. By John Yang, Kaisha Young, Sarah Clune Hartman Some of Washington, D.C.’s most familiar landmarks were built with the labor of enslaved people, their accomplishments largely lost to history. In part three of our series, “Hidden Histories,” we learn about one of those enslaved laborers, a sculptor named… Continue watching
Feb 11 Watch 4:32 How Robert Smalls sailed his crew and family to freedom during the Civil War By John Yang, Kaisha Young During the transatlantic slave trade, Charleston, South Carolina was one of the largest slave ports in the United States. But at the height of the Civil War, Charleston’s waterfront was the backdrop of one enslaved man’s daring escape. In part… Continue watching
Feb 04 Watch 5:24 How a trailblazing Black lawyer took down a top New York City mafia boss By John Yang, Kaisha Young This Black History Month, PBS News Weekend is highlighting stories of Black Americans whose lives and work are lesser known — their accomplishments all the more significant because they were made in the face of injustices and discrimination. In the… Continue watching
Feb 01 College Board revises African American studies course, removes Black Lives Matter from exam By Cheyanne Mumphrey, Sharon Lurye, Associated Press The official curriculum for a new Advanced Placement course on African American studies was released Wednesday downplays some components that had drawn criticism from conservatives including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who said the class would be outlawed in his state. Continue reading
Dec 11 Dorothy Pitman Hughes, pioneering Black feminist and community activist, dies at 84 By Jocelyn Noveck, Associated Press Dorothy Pitman Hughes, a pioneering Black feminist, child welfare advocate and lifelong community activist who toured the country speaking with Gloria Steinem in the 1970s and appears with her in one of the most iconic photos of the second-wave feminist… Continue reading
Sep 05 Watch 3:11 A Brief But Spectacular take on piecing the past to the future By Melissa Williams, Elizabeth Burton Vera Hall is a quilter and seamstress based in Baltimore and for decades has crafted a wide array of items. Recently, she decided to combine her artistry with her desire to learn more about her ancestry by creating powerful quilts… Continue watching
Jul 31 Watch 7:37 The double life of civil rights photographer Ernest Withers By Geoff Bennett, Harry Zahn, Juliet Fuisz Photographer Ernest Withers captured some of the most iconic images of the civil rights era. But Withers was also an FBI informant, funneling information to the bureau about the civil rights movement and its leaders. Journalist Wesley Lowery joins Geoff… Continue watching
Jun 20 Watch 9:52 Americans celebrate Juneteenth as the push for social justice persists By Amna Nawaz, Ryan Connelly Holmes Monday marked just the second time in U.S. history that the federal government has recognized Juneteenth. The holiday celebrates June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers brought word of slavery’s end to Galveston, Texas, freeing the last enslaved people after the… Continue watching
Jun 19 Watch 6:04 Juneteenth’s evolution into a national holiday and meaningful ways to celebrate By John Yang, Kaisha Young Monday will be the second time Juneteenth is a federal holiday. The day honors the emancipation of enslaved African-Americans, but some people are still figuring out how to best mark the holiday. John Yang spoke with two organizers about Juneteenth’s… Continue watching