What to Watch on WTTW for Black History Month
Meredith Francis
January 31, 2025

In February, you can celebrate Black History Month with a variety of programming that explores the political, artistic, musical, and other contributions and experiences of Black Americans. This month brings new shows, including on activist Josie Johnson, jazz virtuoso Hazel Scott, the contributions of contemporary Black mathematicians, stories of Black athletes in sports where they have been underrepresented, and much more. There’s also Great Migrations: A People on the Move, a new multi-part documentary from Henry Louis Gates, Jr., that explores the transformative impact of Black migration on American culture and society.
You can also watch Chicago Tonight: Black Voices every Wednesday at 5:30 pm on WTTW or on the PBS app. We have other programs you can stream for free any time, including documentaries on the life of Ida B. Wells; the birth of gospel music; the origins of house music; the aftermath of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., on the West Side of Chicago; the civil rights legacy of the Pullman porters; and the history of Chicago’s Black metropolis.
Click the schedule link for additional air times.
Tulsa: The Fire and the Forgotten
Sunday, February 2 at 8:30 pm on WTTW Prime
Learn about the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre and how the community of Tulsa is coming to terms with its past, present, and future.
Great Migrations: A People on the Move
Tuesdays starting January 28 at 8:00 pm on WTTW
A new program from Henry Louis Gates, Jr., 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.
Hear more about the show and its large portions about Chicago in an interview with the team behind it, as well as with the family member who is carrying on the legacy of the Black newspaper The Chicago Defender.
Antiques Roadshow: Celebrating Black Americana
Monday, February 3 at 8:00 pm on WTTW
Antiques Roadshow honors Black History Month with this special episode. Highlights include an 1821 U.S. citizenship certificate for George Barker, a free man of color; and an African American beauty book written by Madam C.J. Walker, the first American female millionaire.
Shame of Chicago, Shame of the Nation
Sunday, February 9 and Sunday, February 16 at 11:00 am on WTTW
Shame of Chicago, Shame of the Nation is a four-part documentary series that lays bare the true stories behind how Chicago and its suburbs devised the nation’s most sweeping system of racially segregated communities and how these policies diminished the lives of generations of Black families, creating the vast racial wealth gap that persists to this day.
100 Years from Mississippi
Sunday, February 9 at 1:00 pm on WTTW
100 Years from Mississippi profiles the life of Mamie Lang Kirkland, who left Mississippi at seven years old to escape racial violence and would not return to the state until a century later.
Hope in the Struggle: The Josie Johnson Story
Sunday, February 9 at 4:00 pm on WTTW
This documentary reflects on 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 89th Annual Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards
Sunday, February 9 at 5:00 pm on WTTW
Hosted by jury chair Natasha Trethewey, The 89th Annual Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards features the personal stories of the recipients of the only national juried prize for literature that confronts racism and explores diversity. Viewers are transported across the U.S. to hear the inspiring and revealing stories of this year’s honorees.
The Black Church
Sunday, February 9 and Sunday, February 16 at 9:00 pm on WTTW Prime
This moving series from executive producer, host and writer Henry Louis Gates, Jr., 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.
Discover the history of the Black church in Chicago at wttw.com/blackchurch.
American Justice on Trial: People vs. Newton
Thursday, February 13 at 9:00 pm on WTTW
In one of the “trials of the century” that still reverberates today, Black Panther leader Huey P. Newton faced the death penalty for killing a white policeman in a late-night car stop in 1967 Oakland. While Newton and his maverick attorneys boldly indicted racism in the courts and the country, and a groundbreaking jury led by a historic Black foreman deliberated Newton's fate, the streets of Oakland and the nation were set to explode if the jury, as expected, returned a verdict of murder.
American Masters – James Baldwin: The Price of the Ticket
Friday, February 14 at 10:30 am on WTTW Prime
This program is an in-depth portrait of James Baldwin, one of the greatest American authors of the 20th century. Using archival material that reflects Baldwin’s worldwide influence and appeal, the film includes interviews with family members, friends and notable colleagues, including Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, William Styron, Amiri Baraka, Richard Avedon, and Bobby Short, among others. Through Baldwin’s work as a writer, he helped mobilize the civil rights movement, brought new awareness and compassion to both black and white readers, and shed light on what it is like to be Black in America.
Fight the Power: How Hip Hop Changed the World
Saturdays starting February 15 at 9:00 pm on WTTW Prime
Chuck D of Public Enemy explores hip hop’s political awakening over the last 50 years. With a host of rap stars and cultural commentators, he tracks hip hop’s socially conscious roots. From “The Message” to “Fight The Power 2020,” he examines how hip hop has become “the Black CNN.”
You can learn more about the history of hip-hop in our conversation with a historian featured in the show.
Eyes on the Prize
Sunday, February 16 and February 23 at 9:00 am on WTTW Prime
Eyes on the Prize recounts the fight to end decades of discrimination and segregation. It is the story of the people – young and old, male and female, northern and southern – who, compelled by a meeting of conscience and circumstance, worked to eradicate a world where whites and Blacks could not go to the same school, ride the same bus, vote in the same election, or participate equally in society.
Making Black America: Through The Grapevine
Sunday, February 16 at 1:00 pm on WTTW
Making Black America: Through the Grapevine is a four-part series hosted by Henry Louis Gates, Jr., that chronicles the vast social networks and organizations created by and for Black people – beyond the reach of the “White gaze.”
Journeys of Black Mathematicians
Sunday, February 16 at 3:00 pm on WTTW Prime
African Americans have played major roles as researchers and educators in mathematics. This documentary series conveys a rich history with compelling stories of contemporary Black mathematicians, portraying their struggles and accomplishments. The films also introduce innovative educational programs for African American students that will inspire future generations in the pursuit of mathematics.
The Lincoln School Story
Sunday, February 16 at 5:00 pm on WTTW
This half-hour documentary examines the little-known fight for school desegregation led by a handful of Ohio mothers and their children in 1954. In the wake of Brown v. Board of Education, school districts nationwide were mandated to integrate. But when African American mothers in Hillsboro, Ohio, tried to enroll their children in the local, historically white schools, the school board refused to comply. Five mothers and their children took the school board to court.
Chicago Stories – House Music: A Cultural Revolution
Monday, February 17 at 9:00 pm on WTTW
Chicago has long been known for nurturing diverse music genres and also, infamously, as a place where one of them died – disco. But another musical form rose from its ashes: house music. Celebrate the innovative and catchy electronic dance music that still inspires prominent artists today including Charli XCX, Peggy Gou, Beyonce, and Fisher; its origins in Chicago’s underground Black and gay clubs; and house music producers and DJs such as Frankie Knuckles who welcomed the marginalized into these safe spaces. Stream the show any time on the companion website.
Channels Changers
Thursday, February 20 at 9:00 pm on WTTW
This powerful film shines a light on the trailblazing African American ad men and women of the 1960s, ’70s, and ’80s. It showcases their groundbreaking contributions to the advertising industry and the lasting legacy they’ve left behind.
American Masters: The Disappearance of Ms. Scott
Friday, February 21 at 9:30 pm on WTTW
How could we forget the one and only Hazel Scott? She was not only the most famous jazz virtuoso of her time, but she was the first African American to have her own television show. This feature documentary shines a light on this incredible talent whose voice – like the voices of so many women, especially women of color – has been lost.
We Are Here
Sunday, February 23 at 11:00 am on WTTW
This compelling six-part series showcases the presence and contributions of Black people in sports and activities where they are often underrepresented. From cycling to camping, golfing, race cars, and powerlifting, this series reveals inspiring stories of communities fostering inclusivity and promoting healthy lifestyles within the Black community. Join us to celebrate these remarkable journeys.
Chicago Stories: Ida B. Wells
Sunday, February 23 at 12:00 pm on WTTW
This documentary traces Ida B. Wells' career as a journalist, activist, and organizer in Chicago. It delves into her battle to keep Chicago Public Schools integrated, her forays into the rough-and-tumble world of Chicago politics, and her ascendance to the national and international stages as an anti-lynching activist and a powerful Black voice on behalf of women’s suffrage. Stream the show any time on the companion website.
Chicago Stories: The Boss & The Bulldozer
Sunday, February 23 at 1:00 pm on WTTW
Chicago mayor Richard J. “Boss” Daley had a lofty vision for Chicago’s downtown. Over the course of his 21 years in office, Daley’s ambitious urban renewal initiatives were the foundation of the city’s infrastructure and at the same time displaced the poor and people of color while perpetuating racial segregation. Stream the show any time on the companion website.
Chicago Stories: Pullman & The Railroad Rebellion
Sunday, February 23 at 2:00 pm on WTTW
Railroad titan George Pullman’s name was once synonymous with luxury. His sleeping cars changed how some Americans rode the rails. But when his success didn’t trickle down to the people who built, operated, and staffed his cars, a rebellion ensued. While the first major strike ultimately failed, a group of Black workers later found success through organizing, paving the way for a Black middle class and a civil rights movement that forever changed the course of American history. Stream the show any time on the companion website.
Chicago Stories: When the West Side Burned
Sunday, February 23 at 3:00 pm on WTTW
In the days after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr,. was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, columns of smoke rose above Chicago’s West Side. The murder of a man who preached nonviolence in the face of struggle ignited grief and rage as uprisings spread in cities across the United States with violence, looting, and fires. On the West Side, the anguish was palpable as 11 people died, hundreds were injured, thousands were arrested, and approximately 200 buildings were destroyed. Stream the show any time on the companion website.
Chicago Stories: The Birth of Gospel
Sunday, February 23 at 4:00 pm on WTTW
For generations, Black music has been one of the foundational sources for liberation, survival, salvation, and entertainment. Gospel music has been one of the most integral and sacred forms of that music. The origins of gospel music lie in the transatlantic slave trade, as African musical traditions blended with new forms born out of the horrors of slavery. The rich lineage of gospel music began in earnest as a young man named Thomas Dorsey came to Chicago during the Great Migration. Stream the show any time on the companion website.
American Masters – Marian Anderson: The Whole World In Her Hands
Sunday, February 23 at 8:30 pm on WTTW Prime
Discover an international singer who captivated royalty in Europe and defied the conscience of 1939 America. Watch rare archival footage and hear audio recordings exploring her life and career from the Metropolitan Opera to the State Department.
Hear from the director of the film in our interview.
American Masters: Roberta Flack
Sunday, February 23 at 10:30 pm on WTTW Prime
Follow the music icon from a piano lounge through her rise to stardom. From “First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” to “Killing Me Softly,” Flack's virtuosity was inseparable from her commitment to civil rights. Detailing her story in her own words, the film features exclusive access to Flack's archives and interviews with Rev. Jesse Jackson, Peabo Bryson, and more.
Driving While Black
Monday, February 24 at 9:00 am on WTTW Prime
Discover how the advent of the automobile brought new mobility and freedom for African Americans but also exposed them to discrimination and deadly violence, and how that history resonates today.
Independent Lens: The Bike Vessel
Monday, February 24 at 9:00 pm on WTTW
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
Tuesday, February 25 at 8:00 pm on WTTW
While many consider the birth of the civil rights movement to be 1955, when Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on an Alabama bus, the stage had been set decades before, by activists of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Some of the NAACP leaders are familiar, including W.E.B. Du Bois and Thurgood Marshall, but Walter White, head of the NAACP from 1929 to 1955, has been all but forgotten. Forgotten Hero: Walter White and the NAACP traces the life of this neglected civil rights hero and seeks to explain his disappearance from our history.
Finding Edna Lewis
Thursday, February 27 at 9:00 pm on WTTW
From Freetown, Virginia, to New York City, Edna Lewis carved a remarkable path. She introduced many Americans to seasonal cooking and 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