Langston Hughes – I Too Sing America 
Sunday, February 1 at 2 p.m.
Langston Hughes, an enduring icon of the Harlem Renaissance, is best known for his written work, which wedded his fierce dedication to social justice with his belief in the transformative power of the word. But he was a music lover, too, and some of the works he was most proud of were collaborations with composers and musicians. 

Rhapsody in Black
Thursday, February 5 at 6 p.m.
Join us as we amplify the voices of Black artists in the world of classical music, with host Vernon Neal.

Morehouse College Glee Club
Wednesday, February 11 at 3 p.m.
WXXI Classical presents a concert by the Morehouse College Glee Club, which was recorded in Rochester in March as part of their 2025 tour.  A native of Rochester, NY, Dr. David Morrow has been Director of the Glee Club since 1987. The concert features a variety of sacred choral works, spirituals, and popular songs, culminating in the traditional Morehouse College Hymn. 

Black Classical Masters series: “Lift Every Voice and Sing” 
Monday, February 16 – Thursday, February at various times within the 8 a.m., 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. hours
“Lift Every Voice and Sing” is known as the Black National Anthem or Hymn in the Black community. It arguably is the most revered song in the community. This four-part series, part of the larger Black Classical Masters series, documents the history of this song and explores its cultural and political impact. It features interviews with Yale University Professor Willie Ruff, NAACP Chairman Julian Bond, Fisk Jubilee Singers Director Paul Kwami, and gospel singer Kelli Williams, as well as music by Imani Winds, the Oakwood College Aeolians, the Harmonizing Four, and Kellie Williams. The Black Classical Masters series is an ongoing examination of Black history and culture that has not been relegated to one month out of the year. Black Classical Masters explores Black culture and history by focusing on contributions made to classical music by people of African descent. The 5-minute programs combine music and interviews with artists and experts in music, history, or culture.   

Atlanta’s King Celebration Concert 
Thursday, February 26 at 6 p.m.
The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Chorus join with the Ebenezer Baptist Church Chorus and Band for an evening of reflection and celebration. Special guests include singer Gregory Porter, words from the Reverend Dr. Raphael G. Warnock, and works by composers Carlos Simon and Joel Thompson. Recorded live at the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia, on January 4, 2025. Encore from 2025. 

Witness: Black History Month
Sunday, February 8 at 9 p.m.
A new special hour-long edition of Witness History from the BBC World Service, bringing together some incredible stories about the Black experience. Told by people who were there, we hear stories that are fascinating, harrowing, and inspiring. 

Selected Shorts: Celebrating James Baldwin
Sunday, February 15 at 9 p.m.
Guest host LeVar Burton presents a program celebrating the author he calls “potent and polemical.” Christopher Jackson reads an excerpt from Baldwin’s famous letter The Fire Next Time: in “My Dungeon Shook,” he addresses internalized racism. Next, Anthony Rapp performs an excerpt from Giovanni’s Room, in which an ex-pat comes to terms with his sexuality and loneliness in Paris. And Baldwin contemplates The Great Migration in his novel Go Tell It On The Mountain. We hear an excerpt performed by Charlayne Woodard. Encore from 2021.

Whispers in Wilmington
Sunday, February 22 at 9 p.m.
We’re used to recognizing someone powerful with a statue. But what happens when there’s no statue or memorial to a traumatic event? Whoever lives with the impact of that painful history has to confront the kind of power it takes to keep it hidden for so long. In this episode, we uncover the story of the only successful coup d’etat ever to happen on American soil. This act of racial violence was designed to eliminate all memory of a highly successful Black community in Wilmington, North Carolina back in 1898. That suppression involved racist mobs, as well as historians, city planners, journalists and countless others. They conspired for decades to make a Black community’s onetime prosperity and strength unimaginable. Almost unimaginable.