19 series, docs, and specials to honor Black History Month

This Black History Month, there’s a host of series, documentaries, and films programmed to celebrate the rich history and lives of Black Americans. From Oscar shortlisted documentaries to celebratory concerts, intense explorations to joyful film collections, viewers have their plates full with interesting selections. PBS makes a typically strong showing, but you’ll also find compelling offerings across streamers as well as cable and broadcast networks.

Black Patriots: Heroes Of The Civil War (The History Channel)

This new documentary, executive-produced and narrated by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, explores the Civil War by focusing on the Black people who turned the tide of the fight. That includes lesser-known contributors like war hero Robert Smalls and Union spy Mary Richards, but also famous names such as Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman. The film airs on The History Channel on February 21.