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. We've compiled a list of films premiering this month, as well as programs available to watch on KBTC and stream in February.

New Documentaries to Watch

Great Migrations: A People on the Move

Tuesdays at 7pm starting February 5 on KBTC

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Great Migrations: A People on the Move explores the transformative impact of Black migration on American culture and society. From the waves of Black Americans to the North—and back South—over the last century to the growing number of immigrants from Africa and the Caribbean today, the film shows how movement is a defining feature of the Black experience.

American Justice on Trial: People v. Newton

February 4 at 11pm on KBTC

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Black Panthers co-founder Huey Newton is accused of murdering a white policeman after a car stop in 1967 Oakland. A landmark trial ensues and Newton's defense team calls out racism in the judicial system. With a death penalty looming, a shocking verdict is delivered that still reverberates today

American Coup: Wilmington 1898 | American Experience

February 6 at 6pm on KBTC

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American Coup: Wilmington 1898 tells the little-known story of a deadly race massacre and carefully orchestrated insurrection in North Carolina’s largest city in 1898. Stoking fears of “Negro Rule,” self-described white supremacists used intimidation and violence to destroy Black political and economic power and overthrow Wilmington’s democratically-elected, multi-racial government.

Paul Laurence Dunbar: Beyond the Mask

February 6 at 8pm on KBTC

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Explores the life and legacy of the first African American to achieve national fame as a writer. Born to former slaves in Dayton, Ohio, Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872-1906) is best remembered for his poem "We Wear the Mask" and for lines from "Sympathy," which inspired the title of Maya Angelou's famous autobiography "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings."

Hope in the Struggle: The Josie Johnson Story

February 6 at 11pm on KBTC

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Learn about the life of freedom fighter and civic leader Dr. Josie Johnson, who fought for fair housing, education, and civil rights. Hear in her own words how her lived experiences turned her to activism, what meaningful action looks like, and how the next generation is taking up the mantle. The battle for justice and equality continues, but this film reminds viewers that there is hope in the struggle.

Finding Edna Lewis

Streaming February 18

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From Freetown, Virginia, to New York City, Edna Lewis carved a remarkable path. She introduced many Americans to seasonal cooking, Southern cooking — the cooking of the Black community in rural Virginia that raised her. Yet despite a life that included fame and acclaim, she is not a household name. In FINDING EDNA LEWIS, Deb Freeman travels to the places where Miss Lewis made her mark.

More to Watch

Finding Your Roots

New episodes Wednesdays at 8pm on KBTC

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Renowned scholar Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. returns for a new season, using genealogical detective work and cutting-edge DNA analysis, Gates guides twenty compelling guests deep into their family trees, revealing surprising stories that transcend borders, illuminating an American root system fortified by its diversity.

Making Black America: Through the Grapevine, parts 1-4

Wednesdays at 6pm starting February 5 on KBTC

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Renowned scholar Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. returns for a new season, using genealogical detective work and cutting-edge DNA analysis, Gates guides twenty compelling guests deep into their family trees, revealing surprising stories that transcend borders, illuminating an American root system fortified by its diversity.

Available to KBTC Passport members. Donate and start watching >

Zora Neale Hurston: Claiming A Space

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Meet the influential author and key figure of the Harlem Renaissance. Also a trained anthropologist, Zora Neale Hurston collected folklore throughout the South and Caribbean — reclaiming, honoring, and celebrating Black life on its own terms.

American Masters | The Disappearance of Miss Scott

Streaming February 21

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Learn about jazz virtuoso and screen superstar Hazel Scott, the first Black American to have their own television show. An early civil rights pioneer, she faced down the Red Scare at the risk of losing her career and was a champion for equality. The film features interviews with Mickey Guyton, Tracie Thoms, Amanda Seales, and Sheryl Lee Ralph as the voice of Hazel Scott.

Independent Lens | Bike Vessel

Streaming February 24

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Knowing his dad miraculously recovered from three open-heart surgeries after discovering a passion for cycling, filmmaker Eric D. Seals proposes an ambitious idea: Bike together from St. Louis to Chicago. 350 miles. 4 days. On their journey, the two push each other as they find a deeper connection and a renewed appreciation of their quests for their own health and to reimagine Black health.

American Experience | Forgotten Hero: Walter White and the NAACP

Streaming February 25

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The story of civil rights hero Walter White — one of the most influential Black men in mid-century America and leader of the NAACP from 1929 to 1955. With his blond hair and blue eyes, Walter White looked white; he described himself as “an enigma, a Black man occupying a white body.” Like virtually all light-skinned African Americans of his day, White was descended from enslaved Black women and powerful white men. But he was Black — by law, identity, and conviction and spent his entire life fighting for Black civil rights.

Ritual | PBS Digital Studios

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Host Tank Ball explores how rituals across the south reveal complexities of the past and new possibilities for the future. Throughout the series, Tank meets with community members, culture bearers, and historians to observe the ways that placing ceremonial boundaries around death, environmental stewardship, and collective renewal shapes a community's sense of reality.

In the Margins | PBS Digital Studios

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In the Margins covers the history they didn’t teach in school, exploring obscure, yet captivating tales that offer unique insights into their time and place.

Stream Music Documentaries & Specials

Chautauqua at 150: Wynton Marsalis’ All Rise

Streaming with Passport February 11

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Celebrate the story and lasting impact of this iconic institution through inspiring stories of faith and democracy with a stirring performance of Wynton Marsalis' All Rise and appearances by Kathryn Hahn, Kwame Alexander, Misty Copeland, and more.

Roberta Flack | American Masters

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Roberta Flack follows the music icon from a piano lounge through her rise to stardom.

Next at the Kennedy Center: The Roots Residency

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Hip Hop legends The Roots give an electrifying performance during their residency at the Kennedy Center.

Available to KBTC Passport members. Donate and start watching >

Cynthia Erivo & Friends | NEXT at the Kennedy Center

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Cynthia Erivo, enchanting star of the stage and screen, invites you to ring in the New Year with her magnificent friends Ben Platt and Joaquina Kalukango as they bring their powerful voices and favorite songs to the Kennedy Center stage.

Available to KBTC Passport members. Donate and start watching >