To tell the story of American religion is to tell a political story. A point made throughout THE BLACK CHURCH: THIS IS OUR STORY, THIS IS OUR SONG— an excellent series which surprised me because it told the truth and was not afraid to do so. It also helped the viewer understand that there is something deeper inside this religious community that lives and thrives inside a hidden code. ... read more »

The CORE 100 honorees, which include changemakers like Stacey Abrams, Attorney Ben Crump, NBA superstar LeBron James, and Oprah Winfrey, mark and remind the world of the beauty, boldness, and brilliance of Black Excellence at a time when the cultural, economic, and political landscape in the United States has grown increasingly more hostile towards Blackness. ... read more »

The NAACP is pleased to announce that Kyle Bowser will serve as its Senior Vice President of the Hollywood Bureau. In this capacity, Mr. Bowser will be responsible for advancing NAACP’s Hollywood projects, relationships, and overseeing NAACP’s Image Awards production. ... read more »

Gifted with a spirit of perseverance, determination and extreme creative intelligence, the award recognizes Chappelle as one of the world’s greatest humorists. ... read more »

Need a master class on the Mueller report before Rober Mueller testifies to Congress on Wednesday? Join PBS NewsHour correspondent and producer William Brangham, senior broadcast producer Mike Melia and politics reporter Daniel Bush as they answer questions and walk viewers through the components of the Russia investigation and Mueller’s findings on July 24. ... read more / watch video »

The new slave voyages website counts as the product of three years of development by a multi-disciplinary team of historians, librarians, curriculum specialists, cartographers, computer programmers, and web designers, in consultation with scholars of the slave trade from universities in Europe, Africa, South America, and North America. ... read more »

Bulluck’s new passion project is his latest play titled “Paradise.” Originally written by Laura Censebella, the play shares the journey between a gifted Yemeni-American and biology teacher’s unlikely relationship. The pair becomes tangled in conflict, religious differences, and test the boundaries of mentorship. Viola Davis and Julius Tennon’s production company JuVee Productions teamed with American Oasis to bring the play to life. ... read more »

Anyone that’s been working inside Hollywood’s inner circle for the past two decades has either worked with or heard about producer Tracey Bing. Besides praising her solid business acumen —the product of a first-rate education received at Yale University and Harvard Business School—it was her superlative taste level and her ability to maneuver the creative and business side that really made the bees in the beehive buzz. ... read more »

Talithia Williams is now an Associate Dean for Research and Experiential Learning and Associate Professor of Mathematics at Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, California. ... read more »

Less than a month after PBS dropped Tavis Smiley's talk show after reported inappropriate relationships with subordinates, Smiley announced a deal Monday to go back to work with a new series about inspirational stories. ... read more »

The producer discovered the fiery red hair and soulful singer 7,000 miles away on an Israeli kibbutz. ... read more »

PBS' documentary on the life of Jackie Robinson gets most interesting when the gloves and bats are put away for good. The two-part film directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Burns and David McMahon airs Monday and Tuesday at 9 p.m. EDT on most PBS stations. The first part details Robinson's early life and his baseball career, when he became the first black player in Major League Baseball in 1947. The second part is more complex, showing Robinson navigating a civil rights era that he helped put in motion. ... read more »

B.B. King, born Riley B. King, was one of the most influential and celebrated blues musicians of all time. From his roots as a sharecropper's son, working in the cotton fields of Mississippi, he rose to become a living legend -- the most renowned blues singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer of the past 40 years -- earning the moniker 'King of the Blues'. King's story of struggle and triumph is chronicled in American Masters: B.B. King: The Life of Riley, premiering nationwide during Black History Month on Friday, February 12 at 9 p.m. (ET) on PBS (check local listing). Academy Award winner Morgan Freeman narrates and appears in the film. ... read more »

Jackie Robinson, Courtesy of Hulton Archive Getty Images; Top right: Misty Copeland, Courtesy of Urban Romances, Inc; Bottom left: Mercy Street’s Aurelia Johnson (Shalita Grant), Courtesy of Antony Platt/PBS; ... read more »

A new documentary that explores the life and legacy of Tom Bradley, who served an unprecedented 20 years as mayor of Los Angeles, will premiere at Cal State L.A. on Monday, August 10. ... read more »