Local, USA

In a time of rising seas, one city spent billions of dollars erecting a new waterfront district - on landfill, at sea level. Unlike other places imperiled by climate change, this community with some of the world’s largest companies was built well after scientists began warning of the threats. The city called its new neighborhood the Innovation District. Others are calling it INUNDATION DISTRICT.

The untold story of Black Americans in pursuit of higher education in the North when Southern graduate schools were white-only. The academics, who left during the Great Migration, returned to the Jim Crow South to strengthen their communities and to help end segregation. SEGREGATION SCHOLARSHIPS highlights the trailblazers while illustrating the role of education in transforming social conditions.

The story of how the 1942 lynching of Cleo Wright - and the subsequent failure of the first federal attempt to prosecute a lynching - continues to haunt the small city of Sikeston, Missouri. Then, in 2020, the community is faced with the police killing of a young Black father. The film SILENCE IN SIKESTON explores the necessary questions about history, trauma, silence and resilience over 78 years.

In the U.S., Black trans people are among the most marginalized of marginalized Americans.  Award-winning journalist Imara Jones shares the stories of trans leaders Kayla Gore, Breonna McCree, and Oluchi Omeoga who, despite the record-breaking number of anti-trans bills passed in 2023, are addressing critical issues surrounding economic empowerment and human dignity with heart and vision.

On December 30, 1994, a man entered two abortion clinics in Brookline, MA. By day's end, two women were dead, five wounded, and a community was left mourning. Thus began a clandestine dialogue between leaders of the pro-choice and pro-life movements and the beginning of the most unlikely friendship.

For decades, Chinese residents have patrolled Manhattan's Chinatown as NYPD volunteer police to protect the few blocks they call home while finding belonging in a foreign, unwelcoming country. From the savage tribulation in the '70s to “Asian Hate” during the pandemic, these stories remind us of the hope the U.S. represented to the tired, the poor, and the huddled masses yearning to belong.

Yurok people have been putting fire on the land since time immemorial...but this practice has been disrupted by California settlers. Catastrophic fires in the West, however, has policymakers rethinking their commitment to fire suppression. FIRE TENDER shares the work of Margo Robbins, a Yurok knowledge keeper, seeking to return practices to Yurok territory, and to restore the land and its people.

As the demand for plant-based alternatives to meat grows, so does the demand for new methods of farming and food production. In Dawson, MN, “alt-meat” is not new - soybean processing dates back to the '50s. Now, PURIS, one of the largest manufacturers of pea protein, has moved in to revolutionize the agricultural system. What impact will it have on the town's residents and surrounding communities?

HBCU Week: TRADITION AND COMPETITION dives into HBCU football culture. Witness the rivalry of Hampton & Howard, a testament to tradition and spirit, and appreciate the intensity of an NC A&T vs. NC Central game, a match steeped in proximity and pride. The episode showcases the blend of camaraderie and competition that defines HBCU sports, highlighting their impact on African American communities.

HBCU Week: BEYOND THE FIELD takes you inside the heart of HBCUs. Experience the CIAA in Maryland, a cornerstone of Black athletics history, and feel the electrifying atmosphere of Louisiana's Bayou Classic - an annual showdown between Grambling State and Southern University. The episode offers a unique look beyond sports, highlighting the culture, history, and community spirit that define HBCUs.

In Chicago, segregation has a profound impact. From disparities in housing, education and healthcare to economic inequality, FIRSTHAND: SEGREGATION illustrates the high cost of division, not just in dollars, but in lives lost and unrealized potential. Through stories, witness the power of individuals to effect positive change as residents strive for a more integrated and equitable community.

In South Carolina, African American candidate Jaime Harrison faces incumbent Lindsey Graham for U.S. Senate. As COVID-19 disrupts, Harrison confronts not only the pandemic but deep-rooted racial prejudice. But, in a state with a significant African American population, his campaign against Graham becomes a symbol of hope in a time of crisis, intertwining politics, and race and health challenges.