Black History Month Blog

During February, the History Channel will air a variety of programs in celebration of Black History Month. Program listings include Modern Marvels: George Washington Carver Tech [February 6] and First in Battle: The Black Panthers [Februrary 25]. The site also includes video clips featuring: Martin Luther King, Jr., Muhammad Ali, Jesse Jackson, Maya Angelou and Dick Gregory. For more details, see http://www.historychannel.com/blackhistory/.

--Mary Ellen Spencer, Head - Research and Reference Services

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During February, the Biography Channel will feature biographical portraits of African Americans including Colin Powell, Denzel Washington, Rosa Parks, Jimi Hendrix, Nelson Mandela, Lesra Martin, Bernie Mac, Arthur Ashe, Malcolm X, Condoleeza Rice and Chris Rock. The Biography Channel Web site also includes biographical sketches and photographs of African American artists, heroes, groundbreakers and newsmakers.

Mary Ellen Spencer, Head - Research and Reference Services

Posted by at 7:59 AM | Permalink

At 7:00 pm this evening, Richmond's PBS station WCVW will present noted television journalist Tavis Smiley's rebroadcast of his interview with the late Coretta Scott King, wife of fallen Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. Smiley spoke with Mrs. King in January, 2005 at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, where Martin Luther King, Jr. was ordained as a minister in February, 1948.

For more information about this special program to commemorate Coretta Scott King's passing, please see http://www.pbs.org/kcet/tavissmiley/tonight/.

Kevin Farley, Humanities Librarian - Collection Management

Posted by at 5:15 PM | Permalink

All this month, PBS will air a variety of new and encore presentations that celebrate African-American history. The centerpiece of these programs will be a four-hour series by Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. of Harvard University called African American Lives, which traces a group of African-American citizens through American history to Africa using DNA science. The series begins tonight! See the PBS Press Release for a description of all the programs as well as the dates and times they air.

--Jill Stover, Undergraduate Services Librarian - Research and Reference Services

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Be sure to watch this interesting series with contributions from VCU professor Norrrece T. Jones of the History Department:

Morgan Freeman narrates SLAVERY AND THE MAKING OF AMERICA. This four-part series airs on two nights (two episodes per night), Wednesdays, February 9 and 16 at 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. on WCVE Richmond PBS / WHTJ Charlottesville PBS, with repeats on Sundays, February 13 and 20 at 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. on WCVW Richmond PBS. This groundbreaking series chronicles the institution of American slavery from its origins in 1619 through the adoption of the 13th Amendment and Reconstruction. The series' unprecedented breadth offers entirely new perspectives on and facts about slavery. The series challenges many long-held notions (including the idea that slavery was exclusively a southern practice) and highlights the contradictions of a country that was founded on the principle of "liberty and justice for all," but embraced slavery.

--Ray Bonis, Special Collections and Archives.

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During February, the History Channel will feature a number of programs devoted to Black History in America. Topics include: black preachers, George Washington Carver, the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. and voices of the civil rights movement. The site also includes video clips and speeches given by African Americans, including: Malcolm X, Jackie Robinson, Thurgood Marshall and Adam Clayton Powell.

-- Mary Ellen Spencer, Head, Research and Reference.

Posted by at 11:20 AM | Permalink

Celebrate Black History Month with the A&E Channel. During February, A&E's Biography series will highlight the contributions of African Americans, including: Colin Powell, Rosa Parks, Jimi Hendrix, Arthur Ashe, Malcolm X, Chris Rock and others. The site includes a brief history of the Civil Rights Movement as well as a photo gallery.

-- Mary Ellen Spencer, Head, Research and Reference

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Today on VH1, watch a fun and interesting 3-part series about African-Americans' influence and achievements in 80's pop culture. The series is called "Black in the 80's". Part 1, "Color TV" focuses on African-Americans in television broadcasting. Part 2, "Def Jams," explores the 80's black music renaissance with the success of artists like Michael Jackson, Tina Turner, and Whitney Houston, to name a few. Part 3, "Color in Film," highlights the movie industry and stereotypes.

The series airs tonight at 5pm and runs until 8pm. See VH1's web site for the schedule and details.

--Jill Stover, Undergraduate Services Librarian.

Posted by at 11:40 AM | Permalink