American Masters

The Dust Bowl: Documenting the First Migrants to California

Photographer Dorothea Lange and her husband were the first to witness and to understand the causes of the huge migration to California in the 1930s: families were escaping the Dust Bowl. In this excerpt, Lange describes photographing the first car arriving in California. American Masters — Dorothea Lange: Grab a Hunk of Lightning premieres nationwide Friday, August 29, 9-11 pm on PBS.

The Dust Bowl: Documenting the First Migrants to California

2m 41s

  • The Disappearance of Miss Scott: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Disappearance of Miss Scott

    S39 E1 - 1h 23m

    Learn about jazz virtuoso and screen superstar Hazel Scott, the first Black American to have their own television show. An early civil rights pioneer, she faced down the Red Scare at the risk of losing her career and was a champion for equality. The film features interviews with Mickey Guyton, Tracie Thoms, Amanda Seales, and Sheryl Lee Ralph as the voice of Hazel Scott.

  • The Disappearance of Miss Scott [Extended Audio Description + OC]: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Disappearance of Miss Scott [Extended Audio Description + OC]

    1h 34m

    This version contains extended audio description and large open captions. Learn about jazz virtuoso and screen superstar Hazel Scott, the first Black American to have their own television show. An early civil rights pioneer, she faced down the Red Scare at the risk of losing her career and was a champion for equality.

  • The Disappearance of Miss Scott [ASL]: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Disappearance of Miss Scott [ASL]

    1h 23m

    This version contains on-screen ASL interpretation. Learn about jazz virtuoso and screen superstar Hazel Scott, the first Black American to have their own television show. An early civil rights pioneer, she faced down the Red Scare at the risk of losing her career and was a champion for equality.

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