Biographies, films, specials -- all are among the array of programs on television celebrating Black History Month. What follows is a monthlong sampling of pertinent offerings sent to us from local and cable stations. Watch the daily TV listings for additional programming:
Feb. 2
Noon, WCWB: "Black History 2002 -- Year in Review." This historical perspective of the year's events is hosted by Juan Williams and James Brown.
Feb. 3
7 a.m., A&E: "Thurgood Marshall: Justice for All." Marshall was the first black justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.
Feb. 4
7 a.m., A&E: "Malcolm X: A Search for Identity." Despite tragedies in his youth, bright and charismatic Malcolm Little educates himself during seven years in prison, becomes a devoted Muslim, changes his surname and works for the empowerment of black people.
9 p.m., SHO: "Black Filmmaker Showcase: Unjust Cause." A young woman uses poetry to express her feelings about her boyfriend's death.
9:15 p.m., SHO: "Black Filmmaker Showcase: The Life." Following her wrongful death, a woman gets the chance to be returned as a young man.
9:45 p.m., SHO: "Black Filmmaker Showcase: What Wouldn't Jesus Do?" A reporter spends a day with Jesus.
10 p.m., WQED: "Black Horizons Special."
10 p.m., AMC: "Hell up in Hollywood." Urban-themed movies rise and fall; black actors in Hollywood. (Repeats at 12:55 a.m.)
10 p.m., SHO: "Black Filmmaker Showcase: Move." White and black men meet in 1938, 1968 and 2002. (Repeats at 4:30 a.m.)
10:30 p.m., SHO: "Black Filmmaker Showcase: Lock Her Room." A boy is confronted by his sins.
10:50 p.m., SHO: "Black Filmmaker Showcase: Jacob's Sound." A deaf circus performer learns to speak.
Feb. 5
7 a.m., A&E: "Civil Rights Heroes." Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis; Beverly Carter and Gloria Carter Dickerson; Bill Russell. (CC)
5:30 p.m., SHO: "Black Filmmaker Showcase: Lock Her Room." A boy is confronted by his sins.
Feb. 7
6 a.m., NIC: "Nick News." Biography of Martin Luther King Jr.; a 15-year-old boy discusses the Million Man March; hate-crime legislation. (CC)
2 p.m., ESPN2: "Then and Now: Black Jockeys and the Kentucky Derby."
3:30 p.m., ESPN2: "Black Star Risen: Alan Page."
9:30 p.m., SHO: "Black Filmmaker Showcase: Unjust Cause." A young woman uses poetry to express her feelings about her boyfriend's death. (Repeats at 5:45 a.m.)
10:30 p.m., WQED: "Brothermen." Performances, photography, archival footage and interviews celebrate the lives of five black male artists. (CC)
Feb. 8
12:30 a.m., WQED: "The Highwaymen: Florida's Outsider Artists." During the period from the 1970s to the 1990s, black laborers create a regional art tradition with their paintings of the Florida landscape. (CC)
Feb. 10
7 a.m., A&E: "Frederick Douglass." After escaping from slavery in 1838, the activist fights for emancipation.
8 p.m., HBO: "Unchained Memories: Readings From the Slave Narratives." Black actors read passages and share their thoughts on the first-person narratives of former slaves. (CC)
10 p.m., WQED: "Black Horizons: Keepers of the Flame."
11 p.m., WQED: "Black Horizons: Me Too, Junior."
Feb. 11
10 p.m., WQED: "Black Horizons Special: Vietnam Vets II." Chris Moore interviews veterans about their experiences during the war.
11 p.m., WQED: "Black Horizons: Me Too, Junior."
4 a.m., LIFE: "Intimate Portrait: Rosa Parks." Rosa Parks is known as the mother of the civil-rights movement. (CC)
5:25 a.m., AMC: "Beyond Tara: The Extraordinary Life of Hattie McDaniel." Actress Hattie McDaniel becomes the first black person to win an Academy Award.
Feb. 12
8 p.m., A&E: "Biography: "Sally Hemings: Redefining History." Slave Sally Hemings is part of the first U.S. presidential sex scandal. (CC) (Repeats at midnight.)
11 p.m., WPCB: "A Nickols' Worth." Black history heroes. Guest Larry Rowe.
11 p.m., SHO: "Black Filmmaker Showcase: Jacob's Sound." A deaf circus performer learns to speak.
1:40 a.m., HBO: "Gladiator Days: Anatomy of a Prison Murder." The racially motivated murder of a black inmate sheds light on the problems of race and violence in American prisons. (CC)
Feb. 13
5:15 p.m., SHO: "Black Filmmaker Showcase: The Life." Following her wrongful death, a woman gets the chance to be returned as a young man.
Feb. 14
6:45 p.m., HBO: "Unchained Memories: Readings From the Slave Narratives." Black actors read passages and share their thoughts on the first-person narratives of former slaves. (CC)
Feb. 15
5 p.m., WPCB: "A Nickols' Worth." Black history heroes. Guest Larry Rowe.
7:30 p.m., WPXI: "Black History Month."
12:30 a.m., WQED: "Goin' to Chicago." Interviews, film footage and photographs depict the migration of black Americans from the rural South to cities of the North and West. (CC)
Feb. 16
5 p.m., HBO: "Unchained Memories: Readings From the Slave Narratives." Black actors read passages and share their thoughts on the first-person narratives of former slaves. (CC)
6 p.m., WQED: "Freedom: A History of Us." Slavery; abolition movement; Underground Railroad; Frederick Douglass; Abraham Lincoln. (CC)
7 p.m., WPCB: "Sportsweek: Tribute to Black History Month." Former baseball players Al Oliver and Maury Wills; former Pittsburgh Steeler Robin Cole.
Feb. 17
7:45 p.m., SHO: "Black Filmmaker Showcase: What Wouldn't Jesus Do?" A reporter spends a day with Jesus.
Feb. 18
6:30 p.m., SHO: "Black Filmmaker Showcase: Unjust Cause." A young woman uses poetry to express her feelings about her boyfriend's death.
Feb. 19
6 p.m., SHO: "Black Filmmaker Showcase: Move." White and black men meet in 1938, 1968 and 2002.
Feb. 20
2:45 p.m., HBO: "Unchained Memories: Readings From the Slave Narratives." Black actors read passages and share their thoughts on the first-person narratives of former slaves. (CC) (Repeats at 9:45 p.m.)
5:30 p.m., SHO: "Black Filmmaker Showcase: Lock Her Room." A boy is confronted by his sins.
8:30 p.m., NIC: "Nick News Special Edition: Black History Month." Today's youth discusses the topic of Black History Month.
9 p.m., TLC: "Black Las Vegas: In Through the Back Door." Racism leaves indelible marks on the town. (Repeats at midnight.)
10 p.m., WPCB: "Sportsweek: Tribute to Black History Month." Former baseball players Al Oliver and Maury Wills; former Pittsburgh Steeler Robin Cole.
10 p.m., TLC: "Meet the Ancestors: New York Slaves." Slaves build the foundations of New York City. (Repeats at 1 a.m.)
Feb. 21
6 a.m., NIC: "Nick News." Biography of Martin Luther King Jr.; a 15-year-old boy discusses the Million Man March; hate-crime legislation. (CC)
Feb. 22
8:30 a.m., SHO: "Black Filmmaker Showcase: Jacob's Sound." A deaf circus performer learns to speak. (Repeats at 4:30 a.m.)
2 p.m., HBO: "Unchained Memories: Readings From the Slave Narratives." Black actors read passages and share their thoughts on the first-person narratives of former slaves. (CC)
8:30 p.m., WPCB: "Sportsweek: Tribute to Black History Month." Former baseball players Al Oliver and Maury Wills; former Pittsburgh Steeler Robin Cole.
9 p.m., WPCB: "Roads to Success: 2003." Actor Greg Alan Williams hosts an examination of the success of the Congressional Black Caucus.
Feb. 24
6 a.m., NIC: "Nick News Special Edition: Black History Month." Today's youth discusses the topic of Black History Month.
3 p.m., ESPN: "Black Star Risen: Alan Page."
5:30 p.m., SHO: "Black Filmmaker Showcase: The Life." Following her wrongful death, a woman gets the chance to be returned as a young man.
10 p.m., WPCB: "Roads to Success: 2003." Actor Greg Alan Williams hosts an examination of the Congressional Black Caucus.
11 p.m., HBO: "Unchained Memories: Readings From the Slave Narratives." Black actors read passages and share their thoughts on the first-person narratives of former slaves. (CC)
Feb. 25
4:30 p.m., SHO: "Black Filmmaker Showcase: What Wouldn't Jesus Do?" A reporter spends a day with Jesus.
10 p.m., WQED: "On Q Magazine: Black History Month Special."
Feb. 26
6 a.m., NIC: "Nick News Special Edition: Black History Month." Today's youth discuss the topic of Black History Month.
11:15 a.m., HBO: "Unchained Memories: Readings From the Slave Narratives." Black actors read passages and share their thoughts on the first-person narratives of former slaves. (CC) (Repeats at 12:30 a.m.)
Feb. 28
9:35 p.m., SHO: "Black Filmmaker Showcase: What Wouldn't Jesus Do?" A reporter spends a day with Jesus. (Repeats at 5:15 a.m.)
10:30 p.m., WQED: "On Q Magazine: Black History Month Special."
Thursday, January 30, 2003
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