Black History

Starring Leslie Odom Jr., this comedic play tells the story of a Black preacher’s scheme to reclaim his inheritance and win back his church from a plantation owner.

Great Performances: Purlie Victorious airs Friday, May 24 at 9 p.m. on WXXI-TV.

Nominated for six Tony Awards including Best Revival of a Play, the Emmy-winning performing arts series Great Performances announces the addition of Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch to its Broadway’s Best lineup in May. Starring Tony Award winner Leslie Odom, Jr.—newly Tony nominated for his performance in the play along with his co-star Kara Young—Great Performances: Purlie Victorious the revival of Ossie Davis’ groundbreaking 1961 play also received 2024 Tony Award nominations for Best Direction of a Play (Kenny Leon), Best Costume Design of a Play (Emilio Sosa), and Best Scenic Design of a Play (Derek McLane).

The comedic play tells the story of a Black preacher’s scheme to reclaim his inheritance and win back his church from a plantation owner. Written by Kennedy Center honoree Ossie Davis with direction by Tony Award winner Kenny Leon (“A Raisin in the Sun”), this first Broadway revival was recorded live at the Music Box Theatre on January 24-26, 2024. Purlie Victorious made its original debut on Broadway in 1961 and starred Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Alan Alda, Godfrey Cambridge, Sorrell Booke and Beah Richards. 

Photo: Leslie Odom Jr. • Credit: Marc J. Franklin

 Renowned actor, dancer, and singer Dulé Hill explores the power of the arts.

The Express Way with Dulé Hill airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m., April 23- on WXXI-TV.

The series captures diverse artists’ stories from across America, celebrating community, humanity, and the transformative potential of creative expression. Each episode serves as a bridge, connecting diverse backgrounds and celebrating the universal power of the arts to illuminate the human experience. The journey begins in California, a state synonymous with dreams, where Dulé uncovers a narrative beyond the surface.

Engaging with individuals using art to reshape personal and communal stories, Dulé encounters the extraordinary Shaheem Sanchez, a deaf dancer challenging stereotypes and proving that the rhythm of life transcends auditory limitations. Moving to San Francisco, Dulé introduces us to the Grant Avenue Follies, a cabaret of spirited senior citizens led by Cynthia Yee. In Los Angeles, Dulé delves into the LGBTQ+ mariachi revolution with Carlos Sameniego, founder of Mariachi Arcoiris. Overcoming machismo culture, Carlos, along with trans woman Natalia, creates a safe space for LGBTQ+ musicians. California airs Tuesday, April 23 at 9 p.m.

Shifting to the Appalachian region, Dulé connects with artists using music as a force for upliftment. Doug Naselroad’s Culture of Recovery program in Kentucky exemplifies the transformative power of art, guiding individuals recovering from opioid addiction to craft stringed instruments. Grammy-nominated bluegrass musician Amythyst Kiah in Tennessee and “latin-grass” artist Joe Troop in North Carolina illustrate the diversity and resilience of the region’s artistic landscape. Appalachia airs Tuesday, April 30 at 9 p.m.

In Houston, Abuela M’api Rainflowa shares the Mexica handshake, revealing her indigenous roots. In Dallas, David Lozano uses daring theatrical productions at Cara Mía Theatre to amplify the Latino experience, while John Bramblitt, a blind painter in Denton, guides others with blindness to reclaim their artistic abilities. Through these captivating Texas tales, Dulé Hill unveils the sacrifice and strength required to become a guiding light for one’s community. Texas airs Tuesday, May 7 at 9 p.m.

In Chicago, Dulé confronts the dualities of art and activism. Engaging with the Andre Theatre Collective on the South Side, he explores the roots of crime in Black communities through a play written by incarcerated playwrights. Vershawn Sanders Ward, through Red Clay Dance, addresses issues like food inequality, while Bassel Almadani uses music to raise awareness about the Syrian civil war and refugee crisis. Chicago airs Tuesday, May 14 at 9 p.m.

In the midst of segregation, the all-black Tennessee A&I Tigers were the first collegiate basketball team to win three consecutive national championships. Yet they were never duly recognized for this singular achievement.

The Dream Whisperer airs Saturday, September 13 at 4 p.m. on WXXI-TV.

In 1957, nine years before Texas Western’s NCAA title victory over Kentucky, there was the Tennessee A&I (now known as Tennessee State University) Tigers. And while Texas Western became the first team to win the NCAA title with an all-Black starting lineup, Tennessee A&I was the first Historically Black College and Universities (HBCU) to win a national championship tournament.  Led by Hall of Fame coach John McLendon, and future NBA players Dick Barnett and John Barnhill, Tennessee A&I closed out the 1950s winning the NAIA Tournament in 1957, 1958, and 1959, the first college team, on any level, to win three consecutive national titles.

Nearly 67 years after the Tigers’ first national championship of that historic run, comes the 2024 release of The Dream Whisperer, from presenting station Nashville Public Television. Eleven years in the making, the documentary chronicles New York Knicks legend Dick Barnett’s long and often frustrating journey to have his team recognized for its achievement at the highest level — induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. The Dream Whisperer, which won the Audience Favorite Award at the Pan African Film Festival, is not only a homage to a historic team from a small HBCU school which won three consecutive national championships in the midst of segregation in the Jim Crow South, but a testament to Barnett’s persistence and perseverance to make sure the Tigers’  legacy  would be honored and remembered.

Narrated by Dr. Barnett, The Dream Whisperer features interviews with: John Thompson, Hall of Fame coach; Julius Erving, Hall of Fame NBA player; Walt Frazier, two-time NBA Champion; Bill Bradley, two-time NBA Champion; Phil Jackson, Hall of Fame coach;  David Stern, Hall of Fame NBA Commissioner; Al Sharpton, Civil Rights activist & TV host; Joanna McLendon, Coach McLendon’s widow; Jim Satterwhite, Tennessee A&I championship team member; Harry Carlton, Tennessee A&I championship team member; Howard Gentry, former Tennessee State University Athletic Director; Dr. Harry Edwards, Civil Rights activist; John Doleva, President, Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame; and George Willis, sports journalist .  

Follow music icon Roberta Flack from a piano lounge through her rise to stardom.

American Masters: Roberta Flack airs Thursday, March 28 at 9 p.m. on WXXI-TV.

From “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” to “Killing Me Softly,” Flack’s virtuosity was inseparable from her commitment to civil rights. Detailing her story in her own words, the film features exclusive access to Flack’s archives and interviews with Rev. Jesse Jackson, Peabo Bryson and more.

American Masters: Roberta Flack provides an intimate look into Flack’s artistry, life and triumphs over racism and sexism within and outside of the recording industry. Flack’s story is illuminated through interviews with Reverend Jesse Jackson (political activist and minister), Clint Eastwood (actor, director and producer), Yoko Ono (multimedia artist, singer-songwriter, activist), Angela Davis (political activist), Eugene McDaniels (singer-songwriter), Joel Dorn (producer), Peabo Bryson (singer-songwriter), Valerie Simpson (songwriter, producer and performer), Les McCann (musician), Sean Lennon (musician), Jason King (music scholar, musician and author), Ann Powers (music critic, author) and more. In addition to Flack’s timeless music, the film also features an original score from award-winning musician Martin Perna of Antibalas (Fela!: The Musical).

Photo: Roberta Flack
Credit: Provided by PBS