The HistoryMakers

Culture Series / 1 Season

The HistoryMakers is committed to preserving and making widely accessible the untold personal stories of both well-known and unsung African Americans. The HistoryMakers enlightens, entertains, and educates the public, helping to refashion a more inclusive record of American history.

A Night with Mayor Sylvester Turner

S1 E38 / 56m 58s / TV-G

A Night With Mayor Sylvester Turner explores the life and career of Mayor Turner – from his birth in the Acres Farms neighborhood to his education at the University of Houston and eventually Harvard Law School, to his law career and storied tenure in the Texas House of Representatives, and his bids for Houston’s mayoralty in 1991, 2003, and triumphantly in 2015.

The HistoryMakers on Success

S1 E37 / 58m 45s / TV-G

The HistoryMakers: Success is the first in The HistoryMakers series of documentaries, focused on the achievement of success in the face of adversity. Through a series of real life stories and experiences, this documentary chronicles the long road to success that many well-known and unsung African American history-makers have had no make along with the many obstacles that have stood in their way.

The HistoryMakers on Faith

S1 E36 / 47m 28s / TV-G

The HistoryMakers: Faith is the second volume of The HistoryMakers series centered on the importance of faith in both oneself and a higher being to achieve the impossible. Through a series of real-life stories and experiences, this documentary explores the strength of faith in the African-American community and the role it plays in achieving success.

The HistoryMakers on Courage

S1 E35 / 57m 31s / TV-G

The HistoryMakers: Courage is the third volume of The HistoryMakers documentary series, focused on possessing the courage to fight for your dreams. Through a series of real life stories and experiences, this documentary illustrates how taking stands against social, economic, and racial barriers, were amongst the many courageous actions taken by these History Makers to achieve their aspirations.

A Night With John Rogers

S1 E34 / 56m 19s / TV-G

A Night With John Rogers features U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and McDonald’s President & Chief Operating Officer Don Thompson as the hosts. A unique business leader, John Rogers demonstrated his business acumen founding Ariel Investments, the largest black-owned mutual fund firm.

An Evening With Ursula Burns

S1 E33 / 56m 38s / TV-G

An Evening With Ursula Burns with PBS-TV journalist, Gwen Ifill, serving as the host interviewer provides an inside look into the business leader's rise to becoming the first African American CEO of a fortune 500 company.

An Evening With Sheila Johnson

S1 E32 / 56m 13s / TV-G

Hosted by veteran PBS NewsHour journalist Gwen Ifill, An Evening With Sheila Johnson explores the life and career of a classically trained violinist, successful entrepreneur, and dedicated philanthropist. Johnson co-founded Black Entertainment Television. Johnson taught music directing what became an internationally renowned youth orchestra, Youth Strings In Action.

An Evening With Richard Parsons

S1 E31 / 56m 23s / TV-G

An Evening With Richard Parsons provides an inside look into the life and career of former Time Warner CEO and Chairman of the Board. The interview covers Parsons’ childhood, and the extensive impact his mentor, Nelson Rockefeller, had on him and his legal and business careers. The life of Richard Parsons is an example that businessmen and women look to for guidance and aspire to become.

An Evening With Earl Graves

S1 E30 / 56m 41s / TV-G

In the late 1960s, when African Americans were starting to enter corporate America, Earl Graves started a newsletter. The newsletter quickly grew into Black Enterprise Magazine now a multimedia company. Graves is the recipient of more than 60 honorary degrees and countless awards and is the author of the New York Times bestseller How to Succeed in Business Without Being White.

An Evening With Eartha Kitt

S1 E29 / 56m 22s / TV-G

An Evening With Eartha Kitt features PBS-TV veteran journalist Gwen Ifill as the host featuring a live performance by Eartha Kitt of three musical numbers. Kitt has distinguished herself in film, theater, cabaret, music and on television. Kitt is best known for her role as “Catwoman” on the television series, Batman, and for the Christmas song, “Santa Baby."

An Evening With Dionne Warwick

S1 E28 / 57m / TV-G

An Evening With Dionne Warwick provides a rare look into the life and times of the artist who bridged the gap, Dionne Warwick. One of the most celebrated vocal artists of the past forty years with more than fifty hit singles and twenty albums, Warwick has combined her exceptional talents as a singer with a deep personal commitment to social activism.

An Evening With Diahann Carroll

S1 E27 / 56m 12s / TV-G

Gwen Ifill gives the audience a birds-eye view of Diahann Carroll’s life with a career that began at the age of 14. Carroll’s career would break down multiple barriers that had kept African Americans from becoming successful entertainers for years.

An Evening With Gwen Ifill

S1 E26 / 57m 12s / TV-G

An Evening With Gwen Ifill is an intimate interview of Gwen Ifill, one of the most prolific journalists of our time. Taped in the historic Coolidge Auditorium of the Library of Congress’ Thomas Jefferson Building, and hosted by journalists Michele Norris, the program turns the tables on the long-time host and gives an insider’s perspective into Gwen’s childhood and development as a journalist.

An Evening With Debra Lee

S1 E25 / 57m / TV-G

Hosted by ABC News correspondent Deborah Roberts, An Evening With Debra Lee explores the life and career of one the nation’s top women in media and entertainment. Born in the segregated south, Lee went on to graduate from Brown University and Harvard Law School, then went from corporate lawyer to CEO of Black Entertainment Television, inspiring an entire generation of Black businesswomen.

An Evening With Valerie Simpson, In Honor of Nick Ashford

S1 E24 / 56m 21s / TV-G

An Evening With Valerie Simpson In Honor Of Nick Ashford provides an inside look into the life and career of singer/songwritings Ashford and Simpson featuring PBS-TV veteran journalist Gwen Ifill as the host. The program features musical tributes from Grammy Award-winning artist Patti Austin and Kindred the Family Soul.

An Evening With Smokey Robinson

S1 E23 / 56m 5s / TV-G

An Evening With Smokey Robinson features PBS-TV veteran journalist Gwen Ifill as the host and former Motown executive and film producer Suzanne de Passe as Mistress of Ceremonies. The program features musical tributes from Grammy Award nominated artists Teena Marie, Howard Hewett and Musiq Soulchild.

An Evening With Berry Gordy

S1 E22 / 56m 16s / TV-G

While working on an assembly line at Ford Motor Company, Berry Gordy borrowed $800 from his father to form Motown Records. In 1960, Motown released the song “Shop Around” written by Gordy’s longtime friend Smokey Robinson. The song sold more than a million copies and helped to launch the most influential era in the history of popular music.

An Evening With Quincy Jones

S1 E20 / 56m 29s / TV-G

An Evening With Quincy Jones provides an inside look into the life and career of the music impresario and those whose careers he influenced. Gwen Ifill hosts and and the master of ceremonies is noted jazz musician Herbie Hancock. Live performances by vocalists whose careers Quincy Jones helped to make: James Ingram, Bebe Winans, and Lesley Gore.

An Evening With Della Reese

S1 E19 / 57m 6s / TV-G

An Evening With Della Reese provides a rare look into the life and career of the legendary singer and actress. Reese’s career began in the church at age 6 and by 1954, she scored her first hit single. Her success as a singer led her to numerous television engagements, including becoming the first African American talk show host on television.

An Evening With B.B. King

S1 E18 / 56m 46s / TV-G

An Evening With B.B. King provides a rare look into the life of the “King of the Blues”. Taped in Chicago in front of a live audience, King was interviewed by producer and songwriter Isaac Hayes. Born Riley B. King in Itta Bena, Mississippi on September 16, 1925 to sharecropper parents, his guitar-playing reverend first introduced him to gospel music as a child.

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