History

The Black Church

An intimate four-hour series from Henry Louis Gates, Jr., The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song will explore the 400-year-old story of the black church in America, the changing nature of worship spaces, and the men and women who shepherded them from the pulpit, the choir loft, and church pews.

Episode 2

1h 49m

Discover how the Black church expanded its reach to address social inequality and minister to those in need, from the Jim Crow South to the heroic phase of the civil rights movement and the Black church’s role in the present.

Episodes

  • Episode 2: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Episode 2

    S1 E2 - 1h 49m

    Discover how the Black church expanded its reach to address social inequality and minister to those in need, from the Jim Crow South to the heroic phase of the civil rights movement and the Black church’s role in the present.

  • Episode 1: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Episode 1

    S1 E1 - 1h 50m

    Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the roots of African American religion beginning with the trans-Atlantic slave trade and the extraordinary ways enslaved Africans preserved and adapted their faith practices from the brutality of slavery to emancipation.

Extras + Features

  • Trailer: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Trailer

    S1 - 30s

    In this intimate four-hour series from executive producer, host, and writer Henry Louis Gates, Jr., we trace how this came to be in the 400 year-old story of the Black church in America, all the way down to its bedrock role as the site of African American survival and endurance, grace and resilience, thriving and testifying, freedom and independence, solidarity and speaking truth to power.

  • Gospel Trailer: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Gospel Trailer

    S1 - 30s

    From its early origins to today’s Black Lives Matter movement, The Black Church explores the church’s powerful influence as the spiritual, cultural, and political epicenter of the African American community. Hear from iconic musicians such as John Legend, Pastor Shirley Caesar, Kirk Franklin and Yolanda Adams on the powerful role of gospel music within the Black church.

  • Inside Look: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Inside Look

    S1 - 2m

    Host Henry Louis Gates, Jr. discusses the origins of Black church and its continued influence as the spiritual, cultural, and political epicenter of the African American community.

Schedule

  • The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song: TVSS: Iconic

    The Black Church

    Tuesday
    Feb 1

    2 Hours

    The roots of Black religion, from the trans-Atlantic slave trade to the ways enslaved Africans preserved and adapted faith practices from slavery to emancipation.
  • The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song: TVSS: Iconic

    The Black Church

    Wednesday
    Feb 2

    2 Hours

    How the Black Church expanded its reach to address social inequality and help the needy, from the Jim Crow South to the civil rights movement to present day.

Local Black Church Connections

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Learn More on Boundary Stones

From the pulpit to politics to building community, African American churches have played in integral role in shaping the history of the Washington, D.C. region. Learn more on our Boundary Stones local history blog.

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