On June 19, 1865, the end of the American Civil War was announced in Texas. This became known as Juneteenth, the date we celebrate as the end of slavery. However, the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery and the end of slavery in US territories came later. In addition, Jim Crow laws (local laws enforcing racial segregation in the South) and other practices have limited the freedom of Black Americans.
This Juneteenth, we celebrate Black lives and recommit ourselves to creating an equitable society for all. Explore special programs and films from PBS North Carolina below and streaming now on the PBS App.
Established by Congress, the 14th Amendment promised citizenship in exchange for enlistment, prompting many African American men. They were denied due to Jim Crow laws but still served. The film examines the profound and often-contradictory roles played by Buffalo Soldiers in U.S. history, and how they fought on two sets of front lines: military conflicts abroad and civil rights struggles at home.
Buffalo Soldiers: Fighting on Two Fronts is streaming now online & on the free PBS App.
Explore the enduring legacy of one of the most significant African American leaders of the Reconstruction Era. Born in 1852 in Eastern North Carolina to a family of turpentine farmers, White rose through the ranks of state politics to serve in the 55th US Congress from 1887 to 1901 as its sole Black voice.
George H. White: Searching for Freedom is streaming now online & on the free PBS App.
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PBS North Carolina’s Deborah Holt Noel leads a conversation with filmmaker Mike O’Connell about the life and legacy of George H. White. Joining the conversation are historians and authors featured in the film including Stedman Graham, Dr. Crystal R. Sanders, Ben Justesen and Earl L. Ijames.
Slavery by Another Name is a 90-minute documentary that challenges one of Americans’ most cherished assumptions: the belief that slavery in this country ended with the Emancipation Proclamation. The film tells how even as chattel slavery came to an end in the South in 1865, thousands of African Americans were pulled back into forced labor with shocking force and brutality.
Slavery by Another Name is streaming now online & on the free PBS App.
Discover how three Black diplomats broke racial barriers at the US State Department during the Cold War. Asked to represent the best of American ideals abroad while facing discrimination at home, they left a lasting impact on the Foreign Service.
The American Diplomat is streaming now online & on the free PBS App.
In this episode of Say It Loud, we explain the origin of Juneteenth and look at the parallels of Black liberation work around Reconstruction and Black liberation work, today. We will focus on 3 areas of “Fine Print”: Voter Suppression, Mass Incarceration, and Policing with a special highlight on the work of leaders pushing for change in these areas.
Juneteenth: Freedom and the Fine Print is streaming now online & on the free PBS App.
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"Say It Loud" is a PBS Digital Studios series that celebrates Black culture, context, and history. Hosts Evelyn from the Internets and Azie Dungey give you a comedic take on identity and pop culture, from Black pride movements to Black Twitter shenanigans. The show explores the complexity of Black experience and finds joy in the many ways Black folks have influenced American life.
Moses Greene of the North Carolina Museum of Art talks about increasing visitor diversity at the museum with a special Juneteenth event and more, and sports journalist Dwayne Ballen and clinician Dr. Veronica Hardy share insights on the 2022 NC Fatherhood Conference workshop "Fathering after COVID." Deborah Holt Noel hosts.
Meaningful Juneteenth and Father’s Day Celebrations (2022) is streaming now online & on the free PBS App.
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Black Issues Forum is a platform for Black voices in North Carolina. Each week, host Kenia Thompson and a panel of notable guests address current topics, representing the community and encouraging a range of perspectives. Executive Producer Deborah Holt Noel takes you inside NC communities with special reports.
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