Culture

The African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross

This series chronicles the full sweep of African American history, from the origins of slavery on the African continent right up to today when America remains a nation deeply divided by race.

Black is Beautiful

3m

Black pride is highlighted in the afro hairstyle, the Black is Beautiful message in advertising campaigns, and in Don Cornelius' music and dance program, Soul Train, which brought images of black youth to national television. Musician Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson believes Cornelius used the show's ads to promote Afro-centricity and that the show taught the important lesson of self-love.

Extras + Features

  • The Black Atlantic (1500-1800): asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Black Atlantic (1500-1800)

    S1 E1 - 30s

    The Black Atlantic explores the earliest Africans, both slave and free, who arrived in the New World. Through stories of individuals caught in the transatlantic slave trade, we trace the emergence of plantation slavery in the American South. The episode also looks at what that Era of Revolutions — American, French and Haitian — would mean for African Americans and for slavery in America.

  • Priscilla, a Slave: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Priscilla, a Slave

    S1 E1 - 1m 50s

    Priscilla was purchased at a slave auction in South Carolina by a rice planter, Elias Ball. She arrived on the Ball's rice plantation in 1756. In her time, South Carolina had more black slaves than it did white citizens. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. meets Edward Ball, the fifth great grandson of Elias, and tours the old plantation, discussing Priscilla and early slavery in the United States.

Schedule

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