History

Making Black America

Making Black America: Through the Grapevine is a four-part series hosted by Henry Louis Gates, Jr., that chronicles the vast social networks and organizations created by and for Black people—beyond the reach of the “White gaze.” Professor Gates sits with noted scholars, politicians, cultural leaders, and old friends to discuss this world behind the color line and what it looks like today.

Episode 4

52m 46s

Despite the gains of legal desegregation, hour four reveals a fervent desire for Black spaces and institutions that provide a safe place to debate, organize and celebrate. Host Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores how Black cultural and political movements - from Black Power to Black Twitter - embraced a radical consciousness that championed a new generation.

Episodes

  • Episode 4: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Episode 4

    S1 E4 - 52m 46s

    Despite the gains of legal desegregation, hour four reveals a fervent desire for Black spaces and institutions that provide a safe place to debate, organize and celebrate. Host Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores how Black cultural and political movements - from Black Power to Black Twitter - embraced a radical consciousness that championed a new generation.

  • Episode 3: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Episode 3

    S1 E3 - 53m 11s

    In hour 3, the Great Depression will devastate America’s economy and bring Black America to its knees. To survive, the Black community will use social networks to navigate the oppressive realities of Jim Crow. Host Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores how social networks formed the cultural, economic and political foundation of the Civil Rights Movement which would transform America’s race relations.

  • Episode 2: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Episode 2

    S1 E2 - 53m 11s

    As Jim Crow laws went into effect, African Americans built a “life behind the veil” to meet their educational, economic, political, and cultural needs. Hour two explores the genesis of these organizations and networks that paved the way for Black life to flourish. Host Henry Louis Gates, Jr. highlights the progress Black people made during the early 20th Century.

  • Episode 1: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Episode 1

    S1 E1 - 53m 16s

    As Black people fought for full citizenship, hour one explores how free African Americans exercised their self - determination by building communities, establishing schools, and creating associations that would become the foundational pillars of Black America. Host Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the organizations, networks and artistic impression created by and for Black people.

Extras + Features

  • Episode 4 Preview: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Episode 4 Preview

    S1 E4 - 32s

    Despite the gains of legal desegregation, hour four reveals how Black political and cultural movements - from Black Power to Black Twitter - provide a safe space to debate, organize and celebrate.

  • Episode 3 Preview: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Episode 3 Preview

    S1 E3 - 32s

    To survive economic disaster, hour three shows how African Americans relied on informal economies, grassroots organizations and cultural innovations behind the color line to dismantle the oppressive realities of Jim Crow.

  • Harlem, The Black Metropolis: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Harlem, The Black Metropolis

    S1 E3 - 1m 35s

    This episode looks at the idea of the “Black Metropolis” – a Black city within a larger city – and explores the black businesses, churches and entertainment of Harlem.

  • Episode 2 Preview: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Episode 2 Preview

    S1 E2 - 32s

    As Jim Crow laws went into effect, African Americans built a “life behind the veil” to meet their educational, economic, political, and cultural needs. Hour two explores the genesis of these organizations and networks that paved the way for Black life to flourish. Host Henry Louis Gates, Jr. highlights the progress Black people made during the early 20th Century.

  • Annie Malone's and CJ Walker's Beauty Empires: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Annie Malone's and CJ Walker's Beauty Empires

    S1 E2 - 1m 19s

    "Making Black America" explores how Annie Malone and CJ Walker built their beauty empires. Both women envisioned their businesses as more than money-making enterprises, and also operated as a vehicle to create economic opportunity for Black women and a home for culture and community.

  • What is “Black Love?”: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    What is “Black Love?”

    S1 E1 - 1m 55s

    "A love that allows for grace... creating spaces for one to be their whole self, all the time."
    "Radical love... radical empathy."
    -- These are some of the ways "Making Black America" panelists respond when Henry Louis Gates, Jr. asks, "What is Black love?"

  • The Evolution of Black Literature: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Evolution of Black Literature

    S1 E1 - 52s

    The first episode of "Making Black America" includes an exploration of the evolution of Black Literature, including a discussion on poet Frances Ellen Watkins Harper. She influenced her fellow Black writers to expand the subjects of their work to include universal feelings, such as love, loss, aspiration, to showcase the Black experience beyond oppression by White people.

  • Making Black America: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Making Black America

    S1 - 3m 20s

    Making Black America: Through the Grapevine is a four-part series hosted by Henry Louis Gates, Jr., that chronicles the vast social networks and organizations created by and for Black people -beyond the reach of the “White gaze.” Professor Gates sits with noted scholars, politicians, cultural leaders, and old friends to discuss this world behind the color line and what it looks like today.

Schedule

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