American Masters

A classic Saul Bellow rant about Chicago

Saul Bellow's novel "The Dean's December," released in 1982, details the blowback a writer faces after publishing an exposé on Chicago's corruption. "You can't live in Chicago without being sharply aware of the presence of this underclass," said Bellow of writing about the city in the 1980s.

A classic Saul Bellow rant about Chicago

1m 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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