This February, in celebration of Black History Month, WORLD is premiering two new HBCU Week episodes on LOCAL, USA with stories that demonstrate the power of Black student demonstrations and the prowess of HBCU athletic and academic programs. Encores of AFROPOP: THE ULTIMATE CULTURAL EXCHANGE spotlight the artistic contributions of musical legends Thelonious Monk, Angelique Kidjo and The Real Thing, who were dubbed “The Black Beatles.” And this month into March, don’t miss a special presentation of the landmark Civil Rights Movement series EYES ON THE PRIZE.
Also this month, as the Russia-Ukraine war enters its third year, Ukrainian women share their personal experiences of enduring life in a war zone in the new DOC WORLD film, “Ukrainian Storybox: A Woman’s War,” premiering February 2.
Plus, STORIES FROM THE STAGE bring love and storytelling together with new episodes in time for Valentine’s Day.
WATCH LIVE
NEW Ukrainian Storybox: A Woman’s War | Doc World
February 2 on TV, the PBS app and YouTube
On February 24, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. Most Ukrainian men ages 18-60 have been prohibited from leaving while women have either sought refuge in neighboring countries or stayed behind, living under constant threat. In the film, Ukrainian women share what they are experiencing and how they are suffering, providing a panoramic view of a war from the female perspective.
NEW HBCU Week: Changemakers | Local, USA
February 3 on TV, the PBS app and YouTube
Illustrating the power and success of peaceful protests led by students. Witness how Morehouse College's youth leaders exemplify social grace during demonstrations against social injustices in the U.S., and at Morgan State University, the untold story of how this HBCU became one of America's fastest-growing universities following the largest student-led protest in Maryland.
NEW Meant to Happen | Stories from the Stage
February 3 on TV and the PBS app
Life is full of moments that feel destined. Jack shares how a feminist book club and a poetry reading sparked an unlikely connection; Terrilynn recounts a love story, showing that serendipity knows no age; and Zach dives into his misadventure with "wallet guy," exploring how we often dream of futures.
Rewind & Play | AfroPoP: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange
February 4 on TV
Improvisational pianist and composer Thelonious Monk is among the 20th century’s most revered jazz luminaries. This film by Alain Gomis, features raw footage from an interview the artist gave to French state television in 1969. It shows Monk in the grip of a violent factory of stereotypes, offering an unfiltered glimpse at the racial indignities some artistic geniuses are asked to endure.
The Strike | Independent Lens
February 5 on TV and on the PBS app
The high-security Pelican Bay prison was designed for mass-scale solitary confinement, often for a decade or more, and with little due process. In 2013, 30,000 prisoners went on a hunger strike that spread into a feat of unity across California prisons. The Strike follows these solitary survivors who fought to abolish indefinite isolation.
Eyes on the Prize
Thursdays in February and March on TV
The definitive story of the civil rights era from the point of view of the ordinary men and women whose extraordinary actions launched a movement that changed the fabric of American life. Narrated by political leader and civil rights activist Julian Bond (1940-2015). Explore our special viewer’s guide to learn more about this series and the Civil Rights Movement.
NEW HBCU Week: Innovation | Local, USA
February 10 on TV and the PBS app
Exploring how HBCU programs are changing and saving lives. Howard University is making history with the only Division One swim program at an HBCU while also teaching the Black community to swim. Claflin University's SmartHOME technology connects a person's physical state to actions to help mitigate health risks, hoping to combat healthcare disparities in minority communities.
NEW Smitten | Stories from the Stage
February 10 on TV and the PBS app
Love strikes in the most peculiar way. Matt revisits a childhood fascination with dinosaurs and a Valentine that didn’t go as planned; Emily uncovers the unexpected joy of being truly chosen; and Briana shares a night where one decision changed everything, proving that love is bold enough to stop you in your tracks.
Everything: The Real Thing Story | AfroPoP: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange
February 11 on TV
Against a backdrop of prejudice and political turmoil in the 1970s, The Real Thing was the first all-Black British band to hit #1 in the UK pop charts. Dubbed “The Black Beatles” by the British tabloids, they rose from obscurity to break barriers while navigating discrimination and the pitfalls of stardom – and singing about social conditions ahead of the times. The film features the surviving members of The Real Thing along with international recording artists including Billy Ocean and David Essex reflecting on the importance of the pioneering group to music in the UK and beyond.
The In Between | Independent Lens
February 12 on TV and the PBS app
Following her brother's death, a filmmaker returns to Eagle Pass, the Texas border town where she grew up, to document the places that shaped their family. She finds a treasure trove of his own footage that brings him back to life, sparking a reflection on growing up Mexican American along the U.S.-Mexico border. She rediscovers the beautiful mysteries of their complex hometown.
Buffalo Soldiers: Fighting on Two Fronts | Local, USA
February 15 and 20 on TV, the PBS app and YouTube | Available now on PBS Passport, Apple TV+ and Prime Video
Established by Congress, the 14th Amendment promised citizenship in exchange for enlistment, prompting many African American men. They were denied due to Jim Crow laws but still served. The film examines the profound and often-contradictory roles played by Buffalo Soldiers in U.S. history, and how they fought on two sets of front lines: military conflicts abroad and civil rights struggles at home.
Variety Studio: Actors on Actors
February 15 and 22 on TV | Available now on the PBS app
Journey inside the biggest movies and TV shows of the past year through candid conversations with today's hottest actors. Hosted by Variety Senior Awards Editor Clayton Davis and Variety Senior Entertainment Writer Angelique Jackson, each episode brings together pairs of actors engaging in intimate one-on-one discussions about their craft and work. Featured this season are Cynthia Erivo, Pamela Anderson, Angelina Jolie, Kieran Culkin, Demi Moore, Zendaya and more.
Queen Kidjo | AfroPoP: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange
February 17 on TV
A guided tour of the life and indomitable spirit of international music icon and activist Angélique Kidjo. Featuring archival footage of the artist appearing with superstars Miriam Makeba, Celia Cruz, Youssou N’dour, Ziggy Marley, Philip Glass, and Peter Gabriel, the film also includes cameo appearances by contemporary music stars including Alicia Keys and Yemi Alade.
Skin of Glass | Independent Lens
February 19 on TV and the PBS app
A journey to reckon with Brazil’s harsh inequality begins when filmmaker Denise Zmekhol discovers her father’s architectural masterpiece in São Paulo – a 24-story tall modernist icon known as “Pele de Vidro” (“Skin of Glass”) – is inhabited by hundreds of unhoused people. But after getting to know these occupants, what started as a personal quest becomes something much bigger.
The Disappearance of Miss Scott | American Masters
February 23 on TV and the PBS app
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.
NEW Living Soul | Stories from the Stage
February 24 on TV and the PBS app
Navigating the depths of human emotion can be a journey of discovering peace and purpose. After coming face-to-face with the chaos of death, Minda assists her mother in embracing a transformative death vigil; Libby learns a new definition of wellness; and Laconia helps a troubled young girl find her self-worth.
Bike Vessel | Independent Lens
February 26 on TV and the PBS app
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. Three hundred and fifty miles. Four 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.
STREAM NOW
WHY SLAVERY? North Korea's Secret Slaves | Doc World
February 1 on TV and the PBS app | Available now on YouTube
With the promise of payment and honor, thousands of North Koreans are sent abroad, only to find themselves under constant surveillance and working in harsh conditions – with wages transferred to the government. The film shows how the country and globalization have made a pact: underpaid workers toil for the dictator's nuclear program while the United Nations and the European Union look away. Watch more WHY SLAVERY?, including an interview with filmmaker Mette Hoffman Meyer, now on YouTube.
WHY SLAVERY? Maid in Hell | Doc World
February 8 on TV and on the PBS app | Available now on YouTube
In 2016, Mary Kibwana, who worked as a maid in Jordan, returned to Kenya with 70 percent of her body burned. Kibwana is one of many women in Africa and Asia trapped in the Middle East's Kafala System, a set of laws governing migrant labor that binds them to their employers. The film gives unprecedented access to the inner workings of the system and the horrific reality faced by thousands of women each day. Watch more WHY SLAVERY?, including an interview with filmmaker Mette Hoffman Meyer, now on YouTube.
Silence in Sikeston | Local, USA
February 17 on TV | Available now on YouTube and the PBS app
The story of how the 1942 lynching of Cleo Wright – and the subsequent failure of the first federal attempt to prosecute a lynching – continues to haunt the small city of Sikeston, Missouri. Then, in 2020, the community is faced with the police killing of a young Black father. “Silence in Sikeston” explores the necessary questions about history, trauma, silence and resilience over 78 years. Listen to the companion podcast now.
Growing Up Black | Stories from the Stage
Available now on the PBS app
What does it mean to grow up Black in America, a country too often divided by race? Bullied by a group of kids, Ben finds out he is not alone; Sue shares the realities of raising kids of a different race; and Angie learns about how far we have come, and how far we have to go in a chance encounter she will never forget.
Growing Up Black Part 2 | Stories from the Stage
February 17 on TV | Available now on the PBS app
Growing up Black in America means cultural bonds, the struggle for visibility, and all too often, unearned judgement. Valerie teaches her students about Africa's greatest explorer; U-Meleni brings her son to a protest of George Floyd’s death; and Harold shows how fear of the police affects his everyday life.
Fannie Lou Hamer’s America | America ReFramed
Available now on YouTube
A portrait of the civil rights activist and the injustices in America that made her work essential. Through public speeches, personal interviews, and powerful songs of the fearless Mississippi sharecropper-turned-human-rights-activist, “Fannie Lou Hamer's America” explores and celebrates the lesser-known life of one of the Civil Rights Movement’s greatest leaders.
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