Discover Inspiring Stories

Defending Freedom tells the story of Birmingham-native Arthur D. Shores, and the impact he had on the civil rights movement as one of Alabama's first Black trial attorneys.

Joe Minter is the world-renowned Alabama sculptor of the African Village in America. The project is a half-acre art gallery constructed using found objects, reclaimed metal and store-bought materials. Thousands travel to Birmingham to see this 400-year historical record of Black people in America.

Quilt making has a long history in Alabama, and there are no finer examples of this art form than the motifs and craftsmanship of the quilts of Gee’s Bend.

The story of the now legendary Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955-56. Locally engineered by Montgomery's Black community, this nonviolent protest to end bus segregation inspired a new era in freedom and human rights struggles around the globe.

A reflection on the life of freedom fighter and civic leader Josie Johnson, who fought for fair housing, education, and civil rights. Hear in her own words how her experiences turned her to activism. Johnson was inspired by activists who came before her, and the documentary shows how her activism continues to inspire the next generation of activists, including her grandchildren. The struggle for justice and equality continues, but there is hope in the struggle. Explore Hope i

Why does Minnesota suffer through some of the worst racial disparities in the nation? One answer is the spread of racist, restrictive real estate covenants in the early 20th century. Jim Crow of the North charts the progression of racist policies and practices from the advent of restrictive covenants after the turn of the last century to their final elimination in the late 1960s.

This story takes a deep archival dive into the rise of white nationalism in Portland, Oregon, which led to the murder of Ethiopian immigrant Mulugeta Seraw in 1988 at the hands of racist skinheads. The story is grounded in the personal account of Mulugeta’s uncle Engedaw Berhanu, who led the charge to hold the racist organization White Aryan Resistance responsible for his nephew’s murder. The film draws on oral histories of antiracist activists and people from Portland’s musi

The Route to Emancipation by Black History Bike Ride follows three friends as they embark on a 350-mile cycling route from the Texas Capitol in Austin to the site where Juneteenth began in 1865. The journey takes viewers back through centuries of Black history in Texas.

33 Black Frog: An American Story is a powerful documentary about Chief Petty Officer Eddie L. Ferguson, one of the first African American Navy Frogmen. Battling racism and adversity, Ferguson’s journey is one of courage, perseverance, and a legacy that paved the way for generations.

Harriet Tubman | From the Railroad to a Spy is a documentary that tells her complete story. Journey through the events and details of her incredible life story that are seldom told, from the underground railroad to her work as a Union Army scout and spy in military campaigns.

I'm Goin' Home is a story that has never been told about an enslaved person’s journey to freedom on the Underground Railroad. It is also the story of the brave men and women who helped him make the dangerous 400-mile trip from Senator Henry Clay’s Ashland Estate in Lexington, Kentucky to Canada. This account is also the vehicle by which the evils, economics and politics of slavery is revealed.

The third part of “The Price of Silence” series explores the Black American flight to New Jersey during the Great Migration. Blacks hoped to find a better life in the region, devoid of the racism and discrimination they experienced in the South.

As cities across the US continue to be plagued by conflict, Riot: From Rebellion to Redemption traces the trail of heartbreak from the 1967 riots to modern Newark, NJ, the city that still struggles to recover from the tragedies of that summer. More than just a dusty history lesson, Riot brings viewers face-to-face with the people who refused to let the riot define or defeat them.

Discover a hidden chapter of the Civil Rights Movement in 1960s Tampa, Florida. A courageous group of Black high school students organize peaceful sit-ins at a downtown lunch counter, sparking a wave of change across the city. Their actions grew into a movement that helped open a segregated society. The film brings to life the voices of ordinary people who transformed their community and beyond.

African American pioneer, Clara Brown's true-life story is told through the lens of an American opera, "Gabriel's Daughter." Clara became a successful entrepreneur, helped populate the African American Colorado community while searching for her only remaining daughter who was sold away from her at auction. Through Opera highlighted performances we discover Clara's struggles and triumphs.

Explore the stories and contributions of Black jockeys, trainers, owners, grooms, and exercise riders in the 1800s who persevered through...

New Jersey, the Garden State, is known for its produce, but not for the enslaved people who tilled the soil. In this two-part...

By Parties Unknown explores the story of the violent lynching of four Black men in Russellville, Kentucky in 1908 after they were singled...

Juneteenth: Faith & Freedom is a documentary by award-winning director, Ya’Ke Smith that invites viewers into the story of Juneteenth –...

In the 1960s, residents wanted a thriving Black neighborhood in Newport News, Virginia, to keep growing. White city leaders wanted that...