These TV Documentaries Are Celebrating Black Excellence Just in Time for Juneteenth
Written by Dave Brooks on June 3, 2024
Juneteenth is a day to honor the best of the Black community, from civil rights trailblazers to iconic athletes. Black creatives have come together to document the triumphs and highs of African Americans who brought their own seats to the table and changed the nation forever. EBONY has gathered some of the most exciting premieres on TV this month to celebrate Black excellence and freedom to count down the days to June 19, 2024.
The Real Red Tails
June 3 on National Geographic
Abbot Elementary‘s Emmy winner Sheryl Lee Ralph narrates this documentary, which celebrates the story of the heroic Tuskegee Airmen who overcame segregation to serve in World War II, earning the respect of politicians and pilots. Recently discovered pieces of Tuskegee pilot Frank Moody’s plane crash solve an 80-year-old mystery, adding to the legendary history of America’s first Black military pilots.
“How difficult it can be to fly high, literally, and figuratively, to fly high in the sky, to take control of your destiny and where it is you might go,” Ralph declares to EBONY. “So many of the Red Tail colonels and pilots went on to survive. But Frank lost his life in April 1944. And his spirit said, ‘You know what I made the may be down now. But my story, I will rise again, and you will hear of the great contributions we have made to our armed services and forces and the great sacrifice we made as men as men of color, Black American men who chose to fight for their country. That is history. That is American history.”
Erased: WW2’s Heroes of Color
June 3 on National Geographic
Narrator Idris Elba tells the hidden stories of the millions of soldiers of color who put everything on the line to help the Allied forces in World War II. From the port of Pearl Harbor to the beaches of Dunkirk, the series also explores how victories on the battlefield inspired the fight for freedom back at home.
Clotilda: The Return Home
June 17 on National Geographic
Author Tara Roberts joins the descendants of the Clotilda, America’s last slave ship, as they carry out their ancestors’ wish to go back to their homeland in Africa over a century later.
Power of the Dream
June 18 on Prime Video
WNBA champions Sue Bird, Angel McCoughtry and more tell the courageous story of how the Atlanta Dream stood up against their own team co-owner and Georgia Senator during the Black Lives Matter Movement of 2020 and forever left their mark on US politics.
Disco: Soundtrack of a Revolution
June 18 on PBS
Disco legends, including The Trammps frontman Earl Young and Thelma Houston, document the disco era’s rich history of championing authenticity, community and inclusivity as it made its way into—and out of—the mainstream.
Triumph: Jesse Owens and the Berlin Olympics
June 19 on National Geographic
Don Cheadle narrates this documentary on Jesse Owens, the four-time gold medal winner of the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Archival footage and insiders like Owens’ daughters share insights on the legendary athlete’s perseverance against racism both at home in the U.S. and overseas as he powered on to make Olympic history.
Black Barbie: A Documentary
June 19 on Netflix
Executive producer Shonda Rhimes and director Lagueria Davis tell the origin story of the 1980s Black Barbie doll, created by three Black women employed at Mattel. Davis’ film not only explores how it altered one of the world’s most iconic brands forever but also its lasting impact on the representation and recognition of the Black community.
