WPSU will celebrate Black History Month with a series of special programs airing during the month of February, highlighting African American history and culture.
Mamie Lang Kirkland was seven years old when she fled Ellisville, Mississippi in 1915 with her mother and siblings as her father and his friend escaped an approaching lynch mob. Mamie had vowed for a century that she would never return to Mississippi. Yet at the urging of her son Tarabu, she finally confronted her childhood trauma by returning to Ellisville.
Saturday, February 1, at 12:00 p.m.
The Lincoln School Story tells the story of how five mothers and daughters fought for school integration in 1954, in Hillsboro, Ohio.
Friday, February 7, at 10:30 p.m.
African Americans have played major roles as researchers and educators in mathematics. This two-part series traces the cultural evolution of Black scholars, scientists and educators in the field of mathematics. The films also introduce innovative educational programs for African American students that will inspire future generations in the pursuit of mathematics.
Saturday, February 8, at 12:00 p.m. and Saturday, February 15, at 12:00 p.m.
Hosted by jury chair Natasha Trethewey, THE 88TH ANNUAL ANISFIELD-WOLF BOOK AWARDS features the personal stories of the 2024 recipients of the only national juried prize for literature that confronts racism and explores diversity. Viewers are transported to across the U.S. to hear the inspiring and revealing stories of this year’s honorees.
Friday, February 21, at 10:30 p.m.
Celebrate one of the greatest and most influential jazz guitarists of all time in a new concert special. Recorded before a live audience, the concert features the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music Jazz Ensemble, and a performance by the celebrated jazz trio of guitarist Dave Stryker, organist Bobby Floyd, and drummer Sean Dobbins.
Saturday, February 22, at 12:00 p.m.
During this time when racial politics and presidential authority are critical themes, comes a compelling radio program revealing a lesser-known chapter in America’s civil rights story. In 1948, Minneapolis Mayor Hubert Humphrey called on the Democratic party to “walk forthrightly into the bright sunshine of human rights.” This led to a series of dramatic political events eventually leading to the landmark civil rights laws of the 1960s. Based on Samuel Freedman’s book “Into the Bright Sunshine,” this documentary features compelling interviews and archival audio to recall pivotal moments in American history that remain relevant and revealing today.
Thursday, February 6, at 3:00 p.m. and Friday, February 7, at 8:00 p.m.
Hosted by Terrance McKnight, WQXR host and former Morehouse professor of music, “I, Too, Sing America” will dive into the songs, cantatas, musicals and librettos that flowed from Langston Hughes’ pen. As he did with his poetry, Hughes used music to denounce war, combat segregation and restore human dignity in the face of Jim Crow.
Thursday, February 13, at 3:00 p.m. and Friday, February 14, 8:00 p.m.
We explore the enduring myth of The Lost Cause, a revisionist history contrived right after the Civil War. It cast the Confederacy’s humiliating defeat in a treasonous war for slavery as the embodiment of the framers’ true vision for America – and pushed the idea that the Civil War was not actually about slavery.
Thursday, February 20, at 3:00 p.m. and Friday, February 21, 8:00 p.m.
A collection of concert performances from recent years by Essence of Joy, the student choir devoted to performing music from African and African American choral traditions. The choir was founded and directed by the late Tony Leach, professor emeritus of music and music education at Penn State.
Friday, February 21, at 11:00 a.m. and Monday, February 24, 8:00 p.m.
In this Black History Month special from Marketplace Morning Report, host Lee Hawkins investigates how a secret nighttime business deal unlocked the gates of a community called Maplewood for dozens of Black families seeking better housing, schools, and safer neighborhoods — his own family included.
Thursday, February 27, at 3:00 p.m. and Friday, February 28, 8:00 p.m.
The movement to abolish slavery had many Pennsylvania roots. Learn about key figures like John Brown and Absalom Jones. Watch »
Bellefonte, Pa. houses rich stories and landmarks of Black history, including St. Paul AME Church, founded in the 1800s, and believed to be part of the Underground Railroad. Its history has been preserved by local historians, as have many other aspects of Black history in central Pennsylvania. Watch »
This collection is curated to showcase Black excellence through contributions, achievements, and ideas across core subjects and eras. These classroom resources aim to inspire educators to intentionally include Black history and stories in all curricula, using PBS LearningMedia as a tool in doing so, and celebrate Black history this month — and all year long.Explore videos, media galleries, lesson plans, and more for students!
WPSU Penn State
238 Outreach Building
100 Innovation Boulevard
University Park PA 16802
814-865-3333
wpsu@psu.edu
Grades K-2:
Grades 3-8:
Grades 6-12:
Grades 9-12:
