American Masters

Premieres Tuesday, March 23rd at 8pm EST (check local listings) on PBS and PBS.org.

One of his films helped inspire the independence movement for his native Bahamas.

Before he was a lover he was a fighter who spent time serving in World War II.

Joni Mitchell has kept an important part of her early musical life story hidden – until now.

The inspiring story of six trailblazing Black women entertainers.

Carroll's TV show “rearranged her” and made her realize that she “had value.”

The Brooklyn-born artist Jean-Michel Basquiat remains one the most enigmatic and beloved figures of the '70s and '80s.

Watch In the Making, our new digital video series following the lives and journeys of emerging BIPOC artists.

Here are four women who earned a place among America’s cultural icons well into adulthood.

The story involves an actual bird that suffered an unfortunate fate.

This month, we are releasing a selection of films for you to stream and enjoy.

The archive includes over 1,000 hours of footage from the movers and shakers of American culture.

Twyla Moves will provide a first-hand glimpse into the legendary choreographer’s storied career and famously rigorous creative process.

She was crushed after a rejection from the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia.

Princeton professor and writer Imani Perry reflects on the power of representation in popular culture.

Garland’s life was marred by tragedy, from beginning to end.

Sequoyah recognized the value of the European settlers’ “talking leaves,” and set out to create a written language for the Cherokee.

She fought discrimination and helped improve standards of representation for Black performers.

Neil Young saved just about everything, and now much of it is available via the Neil Young Archives.

The movies were revolutionary in the filmmaking world.

"There’s a thing I’ve dreamed of all my life," Armstrong told Time magazine in 1949.