ITVS Celebrates Black History Month

ITVS and PBS offers viewers the opportunity to explore the rich and vibrant history and cultural contributions of African Americans throughout the year, but this month offers a special slate of new and encore programs in honor of Black History Month.

Independent Lens offers three new films about race in February. ADJUST YOUR COLOR: The Truth about Petey Greene, debuting Feb. 3, profiles America’s first “shock jock,” who, with his raw, unvarnished voice, spoke truth to power on his groundbreaking radio and television series. TULIA, TEXAS, premiering Feb. 10, examines the price Americans pay for the nation’s war on drugs and THE ORDER OF MYTHS, on Feb. 24, reveals the parallel black and white worlds of Mardi Gras Secret Societies in Mobile, Alabama, where separate and unequal is still the order of the day.

Also be sure to check out these encore presentations on Independent Lens: BILLY STRAYHORN: Lush Life, on Feb. 17, looks at the life of the composer of “Take the A-Train” and other Duke Ellington hits, who struggled with obscurity and prejudice as a successful gay man and HIP HOP: Beyond Beats and Rhymes, in February on PBS, takes an in-depth look at the sexism, violence and homophobia in rap music and hip-hop culture through the lens of a former college star athlete.

Other ITVS films airing this month on PBS include: FAUBOURG TREME: The Untold Story of Black New Orleans, which pays tribute to what African American communities have contributed––even under the most hostile of conditions, and SISTERS OF SELMA: Bearing Witness for Change, which tells the story of African American and white Catholic nuns that helped make Selma a turning point for the civil rights movement and change the role of the Catholic church in America.

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Check out these previews of upcoming new Independent Lens programs:

ADJUST YOUR COLOR: The Truth about Petey Greene
February 3 at 10:00 PM on Independent Lens on PBS (check local listings)

TULIA, TEXAS
February 10 at 10:00 PM on Independent Lens on PBS (check local listings)

THE ORDER OF MYTHS
February 24 at 10:00 PM on Independent Lens on PBS (check local listings)

Tags: African American, Mardi Gras, online video