Black History

Little Richard: The King and Queen of Rock and Roll • On-Demand

Experience the meteoric rise and enduring legacy of Little Richard.

Watch On-Demand through 7/20/2024: American Masters – Little Richard: The King and Queen of Rock and Roll

American Masters – Little Richard: King and Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll explores the music icon’s influence and advocacy for the rights of Black artists and features interviews with Keith Richards, Ringo Starr, Big Freedia and more.

A fearless pioneer of rock ‘n’ roll who broke the color barrier in the 1950s with hits like “Tutti Frutti” and “Long Tall Sally,” Little Richard defined a genre and inspired generations by defying societal expectations. Charting the meteoric rise of the artist who counted The Beatles and the Rolling Stones as his opening acts, American Masters – Little Richard: King and Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll provides an intimate exploration of the renowned, electrifying and multifaceted individual.

All New Rock, Pop and Doo Wop • WXXI-TV

Enjoy this full-length performances from various artists of the 1950s and 1960s.

All New Rock, Pop and Doo Wop airs Friday, June 7 at 9 p.m. on WXXI-TV.

Johnny Maestro, The Duprees, Jay Black, Little Anthony & The Imperials, Ronnie Spector, Frankie Valli, Jerry Butler and more perform in this “My Music Presents” special.

Provided by PBS

Colorism in America On-Demand

Our Time: Colorism in America -Shade & Out of Our Heads: Racial stereotyping has a long and insidious history in the U.S. While gains in civil rights have increased significantly, younger generations continue to perpetuate harmful labels, often subtle ones, that undermine people of color. Filmmakers take on the current monikers of colorism and challenge white norms that pervade our society.

Available to watch by 5/26/25

The Porter • Thursdays at 9 p.m. on WXXI-TV

Inspired by real events and set in the 1920s, follow an ensemble of characters who hustle, dream, cross borders and pursue their ambitions in the fight for liberation – on and off the railways that crossed North America.

The Porter airing Thursdays, February 6-March 27 at 9 p.m. on WXXI-TV.

This eight-episode series is a stirring, fast-paced exploration of Black empowerment and self-determination, offering a dramatic and compelling look at the lives of train porters, their families, and a community striving for success and equality. From Montreal to Chicago, and every stop in between, THE PORTER is the story of a movement that gave birth to the first Black union in the world. Winning a record-setting 12 Canadian Screen Awards, the series stars Aml Ameen (Sense8; The Maze Runner), Ronnie Rowe (Star Trek: Discovery), Alfre Woodard (St. Elsewhere; Luke Cage; 12 Years A Slave; Black Panther), and Mouna Traoré (The Umbrella Academy).

Episode Descriptions:

Episode One • February 6 : Train porters and best friends Junior Massey and Zelenskiy Garrett are galvanized to take different—and dangerous—actions after a tragedy occurs on the job.

Episode Two • February 13 : Junior finds himself in debt to notorious Chicago gangster Miss Queenie; Zeke takes a risk to advance his cause; Lucy’s new relationship impacts her career; Marlene makes an unlikely friend.

Episode Three • February 20 : Junior starts a gambling sideline backed by Queenie; Zeke’s pursuit of union integration costs the community; Lucy finds her Stardust dream at risk; Marlene campaigns for an essential medical clinic.

Episode Four • February 27: Junior gets a chilling glimpse at Queenie’s capacity for violence. Zeke and Marlene’s road-trip reignites an old spark. Lucy’s big debut as a featured performer makes her contemplate a different path.

Episode Five • March 6: Queenie tries to keep Junior close. Fay offers Marlene some help for her clinic. Zeke’s proximity to Edwards leads to a devastating truth. Lucy may have found her ticket to the big time.

Episode Six • March 13: Junior takes a risky new angle on Queenie’s numbers game. Marlene’s split focus leads to a mother’s worst nightmare. Zeke seizes an opportunity to show the power of unity. Lucy bets on herself.

Episode Seven • March 20 : Dinger blackmails Junior. A brothel raid puts Marlene and her clinic in jeopardy. Zeke leverages an unlikely ally to put integration to a vote. Lucy’s new shot at stardom could cost her everything.

Episode Eight • March 27: Junior tries to eliminate his greatest threats; Marlene’s efforts to reconcile with Fay could be too late; Lucy faces the consequences of her betrayal; Zeke makes a final plea for union integration.

Photo: Ronnie Rowe, Jr. as Zeke and Ami Ameen as Junior with additional cast. • Credit: Shauna Towney

An Evening with Rashaad Parker • The Little Theatre

The Little Theatre’s One Take Documentary Series presents four short films from Rochester filmmaker Rashaad Parker.

Join The Little & One Take for An Evening with Rashaad Parker on Thursday, May 23 at 7 p.m. at The Little Theatre.

The evening includes a post-screening discussion with Rashaad followed by the screening of his four short films. Click here to purchase tickets.

The films include:

BLACK LIVES MATTER, A Sanctuary for Daniel Prude (18:35) Captures the Black Lives Matter Movement protests in Rochester, NY from May 2020 to January 2021.

ROC CITY SPEAKS Episode 1 (17:18) June 13, 2020; In the wake of the killing of George Floyd in May of 2020 by Minnesota police officers, today we are conducting street interviews during a Black Lives Matter protest rally that started on location at the Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Park in downtown Rochester, NY.

ROC CITY SPEAKS Episode 2 (21:09) Interviews during a Black Lives Matter protest rally at City Hall in Rochester on Wednesday, September 16, 2020.

ROC CITY SPEAKS Episode 3 (24:56) In this episode of ROC CITY SPEAKS the news from the street is coming from some of the international students as well as those originating from the United States currently enrolled at the University of Rochester.

The films will also screen on Saturday, May 25 at 3 p.m.

Great Performances: Purlie Victorious • WXXI-TV

Starring Leslie Odom Jr., this comedic play tells the story of a Black preacher’s scheme to reclaim his inheritance and win back his church from a plantation owner.

Great Performances: Purlie Victorious airs Friday, May 24 at 9 p.m. on WXXI-TV.

Nominated for six Tony Awards including Best Revival of a Play, the Emmy-winning performing arts series Great Performances announces the addition of Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch to its Broadway’s Best lineup in May. Starring Tony Award winner Leslie Odom, Jr.—newly Tony nominated for his performance in the play along with his co-star Kara Young—Great Performances: Purlie Victorious the revival of Ossie Davis’ groundbreaking 1961 play also received 2024 Tony Award nominations for Best Direction of a Play (Kenny Leon), Best Costume Design of a Play (Emilio Sosa), and Best Scenic Design of a Play (Derek McLane).

The comedic play tells the story of a Black preacher’s scheme to reclaim his inheritance and win back his church from a plantation owner. Written by Kennedy Center honoree Ossie Davis with direction by Tony Award winner Kenny Leon (“A Raisin in the Sun”), this first Broadway revival was recorded live at the Music Box Theatre on January 24-26, 2024. Purlie Victorious made its original debut on Broadway in 1961 and starred Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Alan Alda, Godfrey Cambridge, Sorrell Booke and Beah Richards.

Photo: Leslie Odom Jr. • Credit: Marc J. Franklin

Great Performances: Audra McDonald at the London Palladium • On-Demand

The winner of a record-breaking six Tony Awards as well as two Grammy awards and an Emmy, Audra McDonald performs a repertoire of classic Broadway songs. Watch here On-Demand through 6/14/24

Audra McDonald performs a repertoire of classic Broadway songs, including “I Am What I Am,” “Cornet Man,” “Summertime,” “I Could Have Danced All Night” and many more. Recorded from the London Palladium, musical director Andy Einhorn leads the 40-piece London Musical Theatre Orchestra to accompany McDonald.

Norm & Company: Dr. Alice Holloway Young On-Demand

Norm & Company features Educational pioneer, Dr. Alice Holloway Young

Dr. Young was a Founding Trustee & Board Emerita at Monroe Community College (MCC) and has been a leader in the fight for greater equality in education. Dr. Young shared what it was like growing up on a farm in the rural South, her role in bringing the Urban-Suburban program to Rochester schools, how she became involved in MCC, and what she hoped her legacy will be.

Norm & Company is hosted by WXXI President & CEO Norm Silverstein, who speaks with long-time Rochesterians as they recount fascinating stories about their lives in the community.

WXXI News article:

A longtime local educator has died. Alice Holloway Young, who fought for equity in education and helped establish both Monroe Community College and the Urban Suburban program died recently at the age of 100.

Holloway Young was a native of North Carolina, and moved to Rochester. She was the city school district’s first Black principal, and in 2021, Nathaniel Rochester Middle School No. 3 was renamed the Dr. Alice Holloway Young School of Excellence.