WJCT-TV Celebrates Black History Month
January 30, 2008
(Jacksonville, FL, January 30, 2008); WJCT-TV broadcasts programming created by and about African Americans year-round, from drama to public affairs to history to independent film. In celebration of Black History Month, February 2008, WJCT will broadcast a lineup of new and encore presentations honoring and exploring African-American history.
Programs premiering in Black History Month include AFRICAN AMERICAN LIVES 2, in which Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., reveals the triumphs and tragedies within the family histories of an all-new group of remarkable participants, and PRINCE AMONG SLAVES, which tells the true story of an African prince enslaved in Mississippi for 40 years before achieving fame and freedom. THE CLINTON 12 and COME WALK IN MY SHOES revisit the American civil rights movement, while THE BETTER HOUR: THE LEGACY OF WILLIAM WILBERFORCE profiles the British abolitionist.
These and other programs in celebration of Black History Month are highlighted below, in chronological order. WJCT’s Black History Month programming is supported by Citibank and CSX Transportation.
AFRICAN AMERICAN LIVES 2 Like the original series, AFRICAN AMERICAN LIVES 2 profiles some of the nation’s most intriguing and well-known African-Americans in a fascinating and revealing way. Combining personal interviews, historical research and cutting-edge technology, host Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., and a team of genealogical experts set out to tell the unique and powerful histories of the four-hour series’ celebrity guests. Using family lore, historic records and a DNA sample from each guest, the series explores the mysteries and surprises of the guests’ origins and heritage. The powerhouse guest list includes rock ‘n’ roll legend Tina Turner, actors Morgan Freeman and Don Cheadle, comic Chris Rock, athlete Jackie Joyner Kersee, author Bliss Broyard, radio host Tom Joyner, publisher Linda Johnson Rice, theologian Peter Gomes, and poet Maya Angelou. Also featured in the series is Kathleen Henderson, an “ordinary citizen” selected from more than 2,000 nationwide applicants for genealogical examination. (Premieres Wednesdays, Feb. 6 and 19 from 9-11p.m., rebroadcasts Sunday, Feb. 17* from noon-4 p.m.)
PRINCE AMONG SLAVES tells the true story of Abdul Rahman Ibrahima, an African prince who was sold into slavery in the American South in 1788. Trilingual, a successful military general and true heir to a West African nation the size of Great Britain, he remained enslaved for 40 years before regaining his freedom and returning to Africa. Mos Def narrates. (Mon., Feb. 4 at 10 p.m.)
OPRAH’S ROOTS, AN AFRICAN AMERICAN LIVES SPECIAL looks again at the compelling story of TV pioneer and philanthropist Oprah Winfrey. Building upon the discoveries of the first AFRICAN AMERICAN LIVES in 2006, Winfrey and Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr., use genealogical and historical research and state-of-the-art DNA analysis to unearth exciting discoveries about Winfrey’s ancestry. (Mon., Feb. 4 at 11 p.m.)
ETTA JAMES Music legend Etta James has been wowing critics and fans for more than 50 years. A Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award winner, she continues to be one of the most respected R&B singers in America. Highlights from her performance on AUSTIN CITY LIMITS include All the Way Down and At Last. (Sat., Feb. 9 at midnight)
THE CLINTON 12 captures a pivotal moment in the American civil rights movement. On August 27, 1956, a small group of courageous black students walked into an all-white high school in Clinton, Tennessee, and into history. Award-winning actor James Earl Jones narrates the compelling story of the desegregation of the first public high school in the South following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Brown vs. the Board of Education. (Mon., Feb. 11 at 11 p.m.)
COME WALK IN MY SHOES provides a fresh, first-person perspective on the nonviolent protests that challenged segregation laws in the South and prompted the passage of the Voting Rights Act in 1965. During the film, Congressman John Lewis (D-GA) leads colleagues from the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, religious leaders and others on an emotional pilgrimage to the “sacred sites” of the civil rights movement. The journey begins in Montgomery, Alabama, where the then-18-year-old college student first met Martin Luther King, Jr. and ends on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, where an angry mob brutally beat the future congressman while leading a peaceful march. (Mon., Feb. 18 at 11 p.m.)
BANISHED. This INDEPENDENT LENS film tells the story of three counties that forcefully banished African-American families from their towns 100 years ago – and the descendents who return to learn a shocking history. (Tues., Feb. 19 at 11 p.m.)
TRIBUTE TO BLUESMAN JIMMY REED Joined by blues luminaries James Cotton, Delbert McClinton, Lou Ann Barton and others, guitarist Jimmie Vaughan joins AUSTIN CITY LIMITS to pay tribute to Jimmy Reed, composer of blues classics Ain’t That Lovin’ You Baby, Big Boss Man, and Baby, What You Want Me to Do. (Sat., Feb. 23 at midnight)
THE BETTER HOUR: THE LEGACY OF WLLIAM WILBERFORCE dramatizes the life of social reformer William Wilberforce, a leader in the British abolitionist movement of the early 19th century. Wilberforce’s own words, the words of his contemporaries and interviews with scholars paint a portrait of the Minister of Parliament — a man of privilege, social position and wealth — whose efforts help free all of the slaves in the British Empire. (Mon., Feb. 25 at 11 p.m.)
WJCT is the community-supported public broadcasting station for the First Coast.
89.9 FM WJCT Radio Documentary Examines THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS
November 26, 2007
DETAILS: According to a U.S. Surgeon General’s report, one in five Americans may have some form of mental health problem, and the majority is not getting the help they need. 89.9 FM WJCT Senior Staff Reporter/Producer Kevin Meerschaert examines the First Coast’s current mental health system in the next PERSPECTIVES, WJCT’s continuing series of 30-minute radio documentaries.
WHERE: 89.9 FM WJCT Public Radio
PERSPECTIVES: THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS features recovering patients and families, who discuss their illnesses, their treatment, and how they deal with the stigma society still places on people with their medical condition. The documentary also examines funding problems faced by local mental health care providers and programs that have been successful in treating people with mental health disorders.
“There are a lot more people in our community with a mental health condition than most people realize, many of them doing quite well thanks to proper treatment and medication,” says Meerschaert. “But many others aren’t getting the help they need. We take a look at what is being done to help people and why mental health disorders should be treated like any other medical condition.”
WJCT is the community-supported public broadcasting station for the First Coast.
First Coast Forum: Homelessness
November 15, 2007
Homelessness touches as many as 17,000 people in Jacksonville every year, and thousands more in surrounding counties. Statistics show that as many as 30 percent are families with children. On the next installment in WJCT’s interactive FIRST COAST FORUM series, we’ll explore the issue of homelessness and talk with many of the agencies dedicated to helping people get back on their feet.
FIRST COAST FORUM: HOMELESSNESS will air live on WJCT-TV and 89.9FM WJCT Public Radio and will be hosted by 89.9 WJCT’s Tom Patton. Viewers and listeners can participate in the program by emailing questions to or by calling (904) 358-6347 during the program.
Confirmed panelists include:
• Terry Lorince, Downtown Vision Executive Director
• Audrey Moran, Sulzbacher Center President
• JuCoby Pittman, Clara White Mission President
• Diane Gilbert, Jacksonville Homeless Coalition
• Janice Ancrum, Community Connections Associate Director
• Doug Orange, formerly homeless and now with the Sulzbacher Center
WJCT is the community-supported public broadcasting station for the First Coast.
War Stories From the First Coast
October 16, 2007
WJCT Presents
WAR STORIES FROM THE FIRST COAST, A Tribute to Local WWII Veterans Premieres on on WJCT-TV
(Jacksonville, FL, October 9, 2007); WJCT has announced that it will premiere WAR STORIES FROM THE FIRST COAST, a one-hour documentary that showcases local World War II veterans. The program airs in connection with WJCT-TV’s broadcast of Ken Burns’ groundbreaking seven-part documentary, The War. The program will premiere on WJCT-TV on Tuesday, Oct. 16 at 9p.m., and will rebroadcast on WJCT-DT Channel 7.4 (Comcast 212) in October and November.
WAR STORIES FROM THE FIRST COAST documents the personal experiences and stories of local World War II veterans. Illustrated with rare World War II combat footage, their stories bring the war vividly to life for viewers of all ages. This one-hour WJCT production honors their service, and preserves their stories for our collective history. The program is produced by WJCT TV Producer/Director Christina Grimsley.
“We are pleased to be part of the national conversation about Ken Burns’ The War,” says Rick Johnson, WJCT TV/FM Senior Vice President/Chief Programming Officer. “WAR STORIES FROM THE FIRST COAST is a tribute not only to the servicemen who are showcased in the film, but to all who served their country during the war.”
WJCT is the community-supported public broadcasting station for the First Coast.
WJCT Presents CITY OF BRIDGES, A Social History of Jacksonville Bridges
October 10, 2007
Original Production Premieres Thurs., Oct. 18 at 8 pm on WJCT-TV
(Jacksonville, FL, October 9, 2007); WJCT has announced that it will premiere CITY OF BRIDGES, an original television production from WJCT-TV that explores the social, cultural and economic impact of Jacksonville’s most memorable landmarks. The one-hour documentary will premiere on WJCT-TV on Thursday, Oct. 18 at 8 p.m., and will rebroadcast on WJCT-DT Channel 7.4 (Comcast 212) in October and November.
CITY OF BRIDGES traces the growth that resulted from the construction of Jacksonville’s railroad and automobile bridges across the St. Johns River, and explores the effects – both positive and negative – that the bridges have had on modern Florida, especially the Jacksonville area. Through the years, the bridges have helped to foster growth and prosperity in the suburbs, at the beaches and beyond. They also have contributed to the decline of downtown and the local environment. WJCT TV Producer/Director Stephen Jones tracks Jacksonville’s transformation from a small 19th-century city located only on the north bank of the St. Johns River to the large consolidated city /county of the 21st century. Helping to tell the story are local historians and local residents who witnessed the transformation firsthand.
“We are very pleased to present CITY OF BRIDGES,” says Rick Johnson, WJCT TV/FM Senior Vice President/Chief Programming Officer. “WJCT is committed to providing original programming for the First Coast.”
CITY OF BRIDGES is funded in part by a grant form the Florida Humanities Council, and produced with assistance from the Jacksonville Historical Society.
WJCT is the community-supported public broadcasting station for the First Coast. For information about WJCT’s television and radio programming, visit WJCT Online at wjct.org.
