February is Black History Month, and VPR is taking this opportunity to bring you special programming from State of the Re:Union that introduces us to a new generation of African American leaders.
Al Letson, host of State of the Re:Union, brings us three programs, which we'll run at 3 p.m. on Saturdays for the rest of the month of February. Here's what we can look forward to:
- February 14: Leadership From The Bottom Up. Usually during Black History Month, we remember Civil Rights icons and reflect on their legacy. But over the past couple of years, SOTRU has met a new generation of African American leaders, people you may not see on TV specials or making nationally acclaimed speeches. Most of these men and women are on the front lines of their communities, rolling up their sleeves and diving in to what can be very unglamorous work. In this episode, you'll find out what these leaders are accomplishing in their various corners of America
- February 21: The Power Of African-American Art. State of the Re:Union has made it an annual tradition to commemorate Black History Month with a special episode exploring lesser known corners of African-American history. This year, we do that through the lens of African-American art, the role it has played in social movements and everyday life, and why it matters both to the black community and the United States as a whole. From a poem celebrating Nina Simone and her powerful voice for social change, to the story of the surprising event that sparked the hip-hop cultural revolution, to unsung heroes of the culinary arts.
- February 28: Who Is This Man? Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech has become the shorthand of the Civil Rights Movement - but we might never have heard it, if it were not for another man, who’s largely been forgotten by history: Bayard Rustin. We'll learn about the life and legacy of Rustin, a black, gay, Quaker who brought Gandhian non-violent protest to the Civil Rights movement in America.
