Making Black America

Episode 1

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.

Episode 1

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.

Previews + Extras

  • 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.

  • 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?"

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