Detroit Public Television is proud to celebrate Black History this February and all year round! In 2018, we celebrate 50 years of American Black Journal, the longest-running program dedicated to the African-American experience on any public broadcast station. American Black Journal has planned a year of special programming, distinguished guests and community events. Along with this historic anniversary, we honor African-Americans in the arts, history, and civil rights through special programming this February on DPTV:
- Greatest Performances: NAS Live from Kennedy Center: Classical Hip-Hop – Friday, Feb. 2nd at 10pm. The hip-hop artist perform a symphonic rendition of Illmatic with the National Symphony Orchestra.
- Alicia Keys Landmarks: A Great Performances Special – Friday, Feb. 2nd at 11pm. Alicia Keys performs in Harlem’s Apollo and other notable locations all around New York City.
- ABJ Roadshow: African Americans: Telling our Story – Sunday, Feb. 4th at 9:30am & 7th at 7pm. Host Stephen Henderson takes a look at where we stand today – 50 years later. Are there more minority journalists? What is the state of the Black Press? What avenues are African Americans using to tell their own stories? We’ll talk with past, current and aspiring journalists and organizations that were created to give the Black community a voice.
- Independent Lens: Winnie – Tuesday, Feb. 6th at 11pm. Most globally known as the wife of Nelson Mandela, the overshadowed Winnie Madikizela-Mandela is one of the most misunderstood and intriguing of contemporary female political figures. For the first time on screen, Winnie explores her life and contribution to the struggle to bring down apartheid from the inside, with intimate insight from Winnie herself, those who were closest to her and the enemies who sought to extinguish her radical capacity to shake up the order of things.
- Smokey Robinson: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song – Friday, Feb. 9that 10pm. Join host Samuel L. Jackson for an all-star tribute to singer and songwriter Smokey Robinson.
- Everyone Has a Place – Friday, Feb. 9th at 11:30pm. A toe-tapping, hand-clapping musical tapestry features a collaboration of jazz, gospel and vocals.
- Richard Pryor: Icon – Friday, Feb. 16th at 10pm. The profound and enduring influence of one of the greatest American comics of all time is explored.
- Eddie Murphy: The Mark Twain Prize – Friday, Feb. 16th at 11pm. Some of the biggest names in comedy take the stage to salute comedian and actor Eddie Murphy.
- Independent Lens: Telling Them we are Rising: The Story of Black Colleges and Universities –Monday, Feb. 19th at 9pm. The pivotal role historically black colleges and universities have played in America is explored.
- We’ll Meet Again: Freedom Summer – Tuesday, Feb. 20th at 8pm. Join Ann Curry for reunions between people who met during the Civil Rights Movement.
- John Lewis: Get in the Way – Sunday, Feb. 25th at 11pm. The journey of civil rights hero, congressman and human rights champion John Lewis is chronicled.
- Sphinx Finals Concert – Monday, Feb. 26th at 9pm. The Sphinx Finals Concert allows the finalist of the Sphinx Competition to play with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. The Sphinx Competition offers young Black and Latino classical string players a chance to compete under the guidance of an internationally renowned panel of judges and to perform with established professional musicians in a competition setting.
- Robert Flack: Killing Me Softly – Monday, Feb. 26th at 10pm. The story of singer Roberta Flack is told alongside the wider context of the civil rights movement.
- We Knew What We Had: The Greatest Jazz Story Never Told – Monday, Feb. 26th at 11pm. The unrecognized history of jazz in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is chronicled in this documentary.
