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Freedom's People (1941-42) The first substantial program in mass media devoted exclusively to African-American life and history. Freedom's People was a 9-part series on NBC exploring black history and achievements in areas like music, science, industry and sports. Created by Ambrose Caliver, a black official in the Office of Education, Freedom's People earned critical acclaim. It features the contributions of leading black intellectuals, artists and activists. Inventions: A dramatization of contributions by African American inventors, including a system to right derailed trains. Steal Away: A sketch simulating the black capacity for turning hardship into beauty in the case of a venerable slave spiritual. W.C. Handy: A creation story about the blues, in which the legendary musician encounters a tune that will later become the St. Louis Blues. War Work: African American contributions to WWI and WWII are described. Next: New World A'Coming |