Description
This four-hour PBS series, hosted by Henry Louis Gates Jr., honors the Black Church as a bedrock of resilience through history. It tells the story of the Black church in America, the worship spaces, and the people who led them. Covering the spiritual, political, and cultural, and even the role of music in the Black Church, the first episode discusses how the Black Church expanded to address social inequality and the second episode focuses on the roots of African American religion.
Features
Curriculum-aligned teaching resources and lesson plans
Four hours, two episodes
Content-related watch recommendations
Clips and Previews
Free streaming
Practical Applications
Turn the episodes of The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song into a structured study, and faith formation opportunity, for members of your congregation. Pair each viewing with a related scripture and facilitate a guided discussion around topics like faith under pressure, justice, and perseverance.
Use this series as a springboard for topics in your small group ministry. Use the show as the foundation for small groups offering topics including music history (why certain songs matter, not just how to sing them), cultural and historical literacy, the intersection of faith and real-world challenges, and intergenerational conversation where young people can learn from the deep memories of their elders' and their lived experiences.
