Black History & Culture: Films

Harlem in the 1920s and 1930s was the scene of a passionate outburst of creativity by African-American visual artists. Rich archival footage, including newsreels and photographs, recalls the influential force of the exhibitions, the vibrancy of Harlem and the many significant personalities that shaped the movement, such as William E. Harmon, W.E.B. DuBois and Alain Locke.

Looks at the last five decades of African American history through the eyes of Henry Louis Gates, Jr., exploring the tremendous gains and persistent challenges of these years. Drawing on eyewitness accounts, scholarly analysis and rare archival footage, the series illuminates our recent past, while raising urgent questions about the future of the African American community-and our nation as a whole. How far have we come toward racial equality since the civil rights era? What does it mean to be black today? How did our nation elect a black President-only to see racial conflicts resurface in places like Ferguson and Baltimore?

Gain an unprecedented look at the experiences and accomplishments of African Americans in the military, and learn why such a group of heroic men and women would fight for the freedom of others that they themselves weren't able to enjoy. Hosted by Halle Berry with an introduction by Colin Powell.

This inspiring World War II story spotlights 450 men who fought on two fronts at once. A group of black American aviators, known as the Tuskegee Airmen, battled the Axis powers in Europe and North Africa and took on racism at home. Trained in the segregated military as an experiment to see if blacks had what it took to fly in combat, these fighter pilots made more than 15,000 sorties and 1,500 missions. Their success led to the integration of the U.S. armed forces.