Nashville Public Television’s 2020 lineup of Black History Month programs includes a mix of historical documentaries, celebrations of cultural icons and spotlights on little-known or forgotten events. Highlights this year include two documentaries about Nashville by Nashville filmmakers, as well as Stanley Nelson’s profile of trumpet virtuoso Miles Davis. Many of the broadcast offerings are also available for streaming and there are some streaming-only offerings.
Watch local
NPT is premiering two documentaries by local filmmakers on Sunday, Feb. 16. Deep Fried Gold: The Nashville Hot Chicken Movement, by LaQuita James and Don Clark, airs at 10 p.m., followed by Mark Schlicher’s The Past Is Prologue: Cameron Class of 1969 at 10:30 p.m. An encore broadcast of The Past Is Prologue is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 26, at 9 p.m.
We’re also re-airing First Black Statesmen: Tennessee’s Self-Made Men, our original documentary about 14 men – 11 of whom who had been born into slavery – who defied the odds and rampant racism of the time, to become elected representatives in the Tennessee State Legislature between 1873 and 1896. First Black Statesmen airs Thursday, Feb. 26, at 9:30 p.m.
Artistic all-stars
Birth of the Cool, Stanley Nelson’s profile of music genius Miles Davis, airs Tuesday, Feb. 25, at 8 p.m. on American Masters. Nelson’s The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution is available for streaming here through March 1, 2020.
Ever heard of Paul R. Williams? He designed swanky homes for A-list celebrities such as Frank Sinatra, Cary Grant, and Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. His commercial designs included LAX’s airport and Memphis’ St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (designed gratis for his friend, actor and hospital founder Danny Thomas). Hollywood’s Architect: The Paul R. Williams Story airs Thursday, Feb. 27, at 9 p.m.
Explore more at https://www.wnpt.org/black-history-month/.