Celebrate Black History Month this year with a closer look at the lives of various Black Americans who have made indelible marks on history with their artistry, professional achievements, and community activism. Praising the victories and recognizing cultural contributions and sacrifices, these programs will unearth remarkable stories of African Americans across generations, from the famous to the lesser-known.
We've compiled a list of local shows and films premiering this month:
**Local Shows Are In Orange**
IN THEIR OWN WORDS “Chuck Berry”
Encore – Tuesday, February 1, 2022, 9:00 – 10:00 p.m. on WUCF
Take a riveting ride on the Chuck Berry train, exploring the life of the man behind the music. By blending “hillbilly” music with R&B and writing impactful lyrics, Berry birthed a renaissance in popular music we now call rock and roll.
MUHAMMAD ALI “Round Two: What’s My Name? (1964-1970)”
Encore – Friday, February 4, 2022, 9:00 – 11:00 p.m. on WUCF
Cassius Clay publicly joins the Nation of Islam and takes the name, Muhammad Ali. When he refuses induction into the Army, he is stripped of his title and forced into exile. After three years, he returns to the ring, but he's lost a step.
AMERICAN EXPERIENCE "Riveted: The History Of Jeans"
Premiere – Monday, February 7, 2022, 9:00 – 10:00 p.m. on WUCF
They’re more than just a pair of pants — America’s tangled past is woven deeply into the indigo fabric. From its roots in slavery to the Wild West, youth culture, hippies, high fashion and hip-hop, jeans are the fabric on which the history of American ideology and politics are writ large.
THE GROVELAND FOUR
Encore – Monday, February 7, 2022, 10:00 – 11:00 p.m. on WUCF
July, 1949: Four young black men are accused of rape by a 17-year-old woman in rural Lake County, Florida. The case of “The Groveland Four” included a race riot, torture, multiple murders, two trials and a Supreme Court reversal. Though widely covered by the national press, the case has been largely forgotten... even though it helped lay a foundation for the Civil Rights Movement.
FINDING YOUR ROOTS “Fighters”
Premiere – Tuesday, February 8, 2022, 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. on WUCF
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. sits down with Terry Crews and Tony Danza, both guests who overcame adversity, to discover they aren’t the first in their families to beat the odds through sheer force of will.
AMERICAN MASTERS “Marian Anderson: The Whole World in Her Hands”
Premiere – Tuesday, February 8, 2022, 9:00 – 11:00 p.m. on WUCF
Discover an international singer who captivated royalty in Europe and defied the conscience of 1939 America. Watch rare archival footage and hear audio recordings exploring her life and career from the Metropolitan Opera to the State Department.
NEWSNIGHT | Breaking the Cycle
Friday, February 11, 2022, 8:30 p.m. on WUCF
The first in our series of NewsNight Conversations during Black History Month. This week, a discussion on disparities in Central Florida’s affordable housing crisis. The panel looks at the factors unpinning the shortage of affordable units in local African American communities and discusses possible solutions for improving access to the housing market. Watch more here.
MUHAMMAD ALI“Round Three: The Rivalry (1970-1974)”
Encore – Friday, February 11, 2022, 9:00 – 11:00 p.m. on WUCF
Muhammad Ali battles his fiercest rivals, Joe Frazier and the U.S. government, as he attempts to regain the heavyweight title. He first loses to and then defeats Frazier, but he will have to beat George Foreman to become champion again.
MARCHING FORWARD
Encore – Monday, February 14, 2022, 10:00 – 11:00 p.m. on WUCF
Two dedicated high school band directors—one black, one white—were inspired by music to cross the color lines of segregation and work together for the sake of their students. This courageous cooperation resulted in the experience of a lifetime for both black and white students traveling from the Deep South to the 1964 New York World’s Fair.
FINDING YOUR ROOTS “Forgotten Journeys”
Premiere – Tuesday, February 15, 2022, 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. on WUCF
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. helps John Leguizamo and Lena Waithe retrace the paths of their ancestors, uncovering crucial pieces of their own identities that were lost on the journey to America.
AMERICAN EXPERIENCE “The American Diplomat”
Premiere – Tuesday, February 15, 2022, 9:00 – 10:00 p.m. on WUCF
Discover how three Black diplomats broke racial barriers at the U.S. 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.
FRONTLINE “American Reckoning”
Premiere – Tuesday, February 15, 2022, 10:00 – 11:30 p.m. on WUCF
An unsolved 1960s murder reveals an untold story of the civil rights movement and Black resistance. With Retro Report, the film draws on rarely seen footage filmed more than 50 years ago in Natchez, MS, and follows one family's search for justice.
CENTRAL FLORIDA ROADTRIP "Black History In Central FL"
Premiere – Thursday, February 17, 2022, 8:00 – 8:30 p.m. on WUCF
Did you know the first designer of the automotive turn signal was an African American funeral director from Brevard county? From activists and artists to educators and entertainers, African Americans have played a vital role in the history of our community.
NEWSNIGHT | Breaking the Cycle
Friday, February 18, 2022, 8:30 p.m. on WUCF
The second in our series of NewsNight Conversations during Black History Month. This week, a discussion on the so-called school-to-prison pipeline in Central Florida, and racial disparities that lead to a disproportionate number of African American students entering the criminal justice system. The panel discusses the issue and strategies around policing and discipline in local schools. Watch more here.
MUHAMMAD ALI“Round Four: The Spell Remains (1974-2016)”
Encore – Friday, February 18, 2022, 9:00 – 11:00 p.m. on WUCF
Muhammad Ali shocks the world by defeating George Foreman, winning back the heavyweight title and becoming the most famous man on earth. After retiring in 1981, he travels the world spreading his Islamic faith and becomes a symbol of peace and hope.
FINDING YOUR ROOTS “Songs of the Past”
Premiere – Tuesday, February 22, 2022, 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. on WUCF
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. accompanies Broadway stars Leslie Odom, Jr. and Nathan Lane as they meet a cast of inspiring ancestors hidden in the branches of their family trees.
FANNIE LOU HAMER’S AMERICA: AN AMERICA REFRAMED SPECIAL
Premiere – Tuesday, February 22, 2022, 9:00 – 10:30 p.m. on WUCF
Explore and celebrate the life of a fearless Mississippi sharecropper-turned-human-rights-activist and the injustices in America that made her work essential.
JOHN LEWIS – GET IN THE WAY
Encore – Tuesday, February 22, 2022, 10:30–11:30 p.m. on WUCF
Follow the courageous journey of John Lewis, whose unwavering fight for justice spanned the past 50 years, from his youth in the segregated South, through his leadership within the Civil Rights movement, to his role as a powerful voice in Congress.
NEWSNIGHT | Breaking the Cycle
Friday, February 25, 2022, 8:30 p.m. on WUCF
The third in our series of NewsNight Conversations during Black History Month. This week, a look at why the CDC describes racism as a serious threat to public health. A panel of Central Florida medical professionals discuss implicit bias in health care and look for solutions to the imbalance. Watch more here.
SLAVERY BY ANOTHER NAME
Encore – Friday, February 25, 2022, 9:00 – 11:00 p.m. on WUCF
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.
SOUL LEGENDS (MY MUSIC)
Encore – Saturday, February 26, 2022, 10:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. on WUCF
Discover the man behind the legend in this two-time Emmy-winning and Grammy-nominated Stanley Nelson film featuring never-before-seen footage, including studio outtakes from his recording sessions, rare photos and new interviews.
AFRICAN AMERICANS: "Many Rivers To Cross"
Encore – Sunday, February 27, 2022, 10:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. on WUCF
This series chronicles the full sweep of African American history, from the origins of slavery on the African continent right up to today when America remains a nation deeply divided by race.
HENRY LOUIS GATES JR. "Uncovering America"
Encore – Monday, February 28, 2022, 9:30 – 11:00 p.m. on WUCF
Celebrate the life and work of the Emmy Award-winning filmmaker and literary scholar. A leading figure in American cultural life and one of its most renowned, respected, and popular cultural historians and personalities, Henry Louis Gates, Jr. has authored or co-authored 22 books and created 18 documentary films that helped history come alive to tens of millions of people.
BUDDY GUY "True To The Blues"
Encore – Monday, February 28, 2022, 11:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m. on WUCF
Dive into the career of the legendary blues guitarist, a pioneer of Chicago’s West Side sound and major influence on rock titans like Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton. Featuring new performances and interviews with John Mayer, Carlos Santana and more.