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Episode 2

Season 1 Episode 2 | 1hr 49m 49s

Discover how the Black church expanded its reach to address social inequality and minister to those in need, from the Jim Crow South to the heroic phase of the civil rights movement and the Black church’s role in the present.

Aired: 02/15/21 | Expires: 02/28/22
THE BLACK CHURCH: THIS IS OUR STORY, THIS IS OUR SONG is a production of McGee Media, Inkwell Films and WETA Washington, DC. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and Dyllan McGee are executive producers. John Wilson is executive producer in charge for WETA. Stacey Holman is the series producer and director. Christopher Bryson and Shayla Harris are producers/directors. Corporate support is provided by Johnson & Johnson. Major funding is also provided by the Lilly Endowment; the Ford Foundation; and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and PBS.
Extras
John Legend attributes his faith-oriented upbringing to his successful music career.
Jennifer Hudson’s first memory of church was on Easter Sunday.
As Black Churches became prominent, white supremacists targeted these sacred places.
Prathia Hall inspired Martin Luther King’s “I Have A Dream” speech.
In 1997, Kirk Franklin brought gospel music to the Billboard charts with his song “Stomp.”
For the Black Church to survive, it must be a place that is welcoming to all.
Jesse Jackson challenged Ronald Reagan and paved the way for a new generation.
The Black Church is the place where the African American made their way in society.
John Legend showcases his musical talent while singing “So Good To Me.”
As Black political activism evolves, new school activists abandon the church, but not God.
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Host Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the roots of African American religion.