Hosted By Louis Gates, Jr.
The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song is a moving four-hour, two-part series from executive producer, host and writer Henry Louis Gates, Jr., the Alphonse Fletcher University Professor at Harvard University and director of the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research, that traces the 400-year-old story of the Black church in America, all the way down to its bedrock role as the site of African American survival and grace, organizing and resilience, thriving and testifying, autonomy and freedom, solidarity and speaking truth to power.
The documentary reveals how Black people have worshipped and, through their spiritual journeys, improvised ways to bring their faith traditions from Africa to the New World, while translating them into a form of Christianity that was not only truly their own, but a redemptive force for a nation whose original sin was found in their ancestors’ enslavement across the Middle Passage.
A production of McGee Media, Inkwell Media and WETA Washington, D.C in associate with Get Lifted. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. is the writer, host, and executive producer. Dyllan McGee is executive producer. John Legend, Ty Stiklorius and Mike Jackson are executive producers for Get Lifted Co. John F. Wilson is executive producer in charge for WETA. Bill Gardner is the executive in charge for PBS. Stacey L. Holman is the series producer and director. Christopher Bryson and Shayla Harris are producer/directors. Deborah C. Porfido is the supervising producer. Kevin Burke is producer. Robery L. Yachyshyn is the line producer. Christine Fall is the archival producer.
WATCH
THE REBUILDING OF THE EMANUEL A.M.E CHURCH
Reverend Cain started rebuilding Charleston’s staple Black church after it was destroyed.
HBCUS DID THE WORK OF GOD THROUGH EDUCATION
Founded to be seminaries, HBCUs understood themselves to be doing the work of God.
ANIMATED SERIES
CORNERSTONES: FOUNDING VOICES OF THE BLACK CHURCH
READ THE BOOK
The Black Church is a powerful new history from Henry Louis Gates, Jr., the New York Times-bestselling author of Stony the Road and one of our most important voices on the African-American experience. Available February 16 wherever books, eBooks, and audiobooks are sold.
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