What to watch on TV and streaming for Black History Month (2022)

Black History Month is a time of celebration and learning. While we can learn about Black figures in American history and present day change makers, innovators, and creators at any time in the year, February is when we, as a people, acknowledge the progress the nation has made and honor those who’ve made that progress possible.

Below you’ll find a list of films ranging in topics including military service, Hollywood, sports, politics, music, and more that can be viewed on various TV channels and streaming platforms.

Derived mostly from Deadline’s megalist of Black History Month programming, our list is focused on documentaries. For a more comprehensive round-up, check out their article which features TV series, documentaries, podcasts, and specials.

Here’s a selection of Black History Month TV and streaming offerings available this February including air dates and times.

What’s on TV and streaming for Black History Month

AMC+

“Black Stories & Storytellers” – The streamer’s collection is home to documentaries and feature films including The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975, The Stand: How One Gesture Shook the World, Kiki, and more.

CBS

The Loyola Project (CBS Sports Network) – An reexamination of the Loyola Ramblers 1963 basketball season by Lucas Williamson, a current player for the team. The Chicago based basketball team broke racial barriers during the historic season and changed college basketball in the process. Premiere date: Tuesday, Feb. 8 at 9 p.m. ET.

Trayvon Martin: 10 Years Later (CBS News Streaming Network) – Hosted by CBS Morning‘s Gayle King, this special takes a look at the decade following Martin’s murder and the impact his death has had on the nation. Premiere date: Friday, Feb. 25. The special will also air on the Smithsonian Channel Saturday, Feb. 26 and BET on Monday, Feb. 28 at 8 p.m. ET.

Discovery+

Profiled: The Black Man – The four-part docuseries examines the stereotypes that have impacted Black men in America, from the origin of these harmful assumptions to how they’ve permeated the very fabric of our society.

The series is executive produced by Tina Knowles-Lawson and includes her commentary along with DeRay McKesson, Tamika Mallory, Sway Calloway, and Billy Porter. Premiere date: Saturday, Feb. 12.

Disney+

Summer of Soul – Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson’s debut as a filmmaker centers on The Harlem Cultural Festival that took place in 1969 at Mount Morris Park (now known as Marcus Garvey Park).

The documentary is described as being part music film and part historical record as the event is a celebration of Black history, culture, and fashion of the time.

Performers in attendance include: The 5th Dimension, B.B King, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Mahalia Jackson, Nina Simone, Sly & the Family Stone, Stevie Wonder, and more iconic music legends. Premiere date: Tuesday, Feb. 8

ESPN+

Black History Always Collection – This is a relaunch of the streamer’s collection that includes new content that’s aired on ESPN as well ESPN+ including originals, specials, and more. Titles such as Why Not Us, a docuseries executive produced by NBA All-Star Chris Paul that goes behind the scenes with North Carolina Central University basketball team and Florida A&M’s football program.

HBO/HBO Max

A Choice of Weapons: Gordon Parks – The documentary follows the career of Gordan Parks, a photographer, novelist, and filmmaker. He was the first Black staff photographer to work at Life magazine as well as the first to write, direct, and score a Hollywood movie. Parks’ autobiography of the same name was published in 1966. Available to watch for free.

Being Serena – The five part docuseries follows famed tennis legend, Serena Williams, as she works toward her return to the sport after the birth of her daughter, Olympia. The first episode is available to watch for free.

King in the Wilderness – A documentary focused on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s final years. Available to watch for free.

Frederick Douglass: In Five Speeches – As orated by Nicole Beharie, Colman Domingo, Jonathan Majors, Denzel Whitaker, and Jeffrey Wright, this documentary takes viewers through the different stages of Douglass’ life via five significant speeches that encompass 19th century America, the Black experience, and the beliefs firmly held by the man himself. Premiere date: Wednesday, Feb. 23 at 9 p.m. ET.

Dreamland: The Burning of Black Wall Street – The documentary covers the history of Black Wall Street and the Tulsa Massacre.

Oscar Micheaux: The Superhero of Black Filmmaking – Oscar Micheaux was a pioneer of the Black film industry. The documentary covers his life and work. Also available to watch on TCM – Sunday, Feb. 13 at 9:30 p.m. ET.

The History Channel

Black Patriots: Heroes of the Civil War – In this one hour special, NBA legend, author, and activist Kareem Abdul-Jabbar sits down with Civil War scholars to discuss the Black men and women involved in the war effort.

Through the use of photography, documents, and original illustrations by James Ransome, the documentary covers significant figures including Harriet Tubman, Frederick Dogulass, Robert Smalls, the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, the 1st Kansas Colored Volunteer Infantry Regiment and more. Premiere date: Monday, Feb. 21 at 11 p.m. ET.

Hulu

Your Attention Please season 3 – Hulu’s Black History Month series returns with its third season as host Craig Robinson explores the lives, ideas, and ingenuity of Black innovators and creators. This season’s featured figures are Brehanna Daniels (a NASCAR pit crew member), Ashley Ann (a celebrity dog groomer), Dr. Maya (an ice cream scientist), and more.

Basketball (and Other Things) – Based on Shea Serrano’s book of the same name, this Complex docuseries consists of sit down interviews with professional basketball players as they discuss the game, the industry, the legends of the sport, culture, history, and how it all interconnects.

MagellanTV

The Fight for the Black Middle Class – Journalist Bob Herbert examines the barriers that have made pursuing the American dream challenging for Black families in the United States. However, despite these unrelenting impediments, the fight for the Black middle class continues. Free through Monday, Feb. 28.

Bessie Coleman: The First Black Aviatrix – This documentary centers on Bess Coleman, the first Black woman to become a pilot.

For Love of Liberty: The Story of America’s Black Patriots – Black men and women have served the nation in its fighting forces since the beginning of the republic. Through the use of military records, diaries, journals, letters, and historical texts, For Love of Liberty works to acknowledge the work, sacrifices, and patriotism of the figures discussed in the documentary.

MSNBC

Race & Rage: A Critical Conversation – Hosted by Jonathan Capehart, this one hour special centers on racial history in America and how the nation is divided by the public’s understanding or misunderstanding of the past and the best way to rectify the tragedy and harm done for what has happened and what’s yet to change. Premiere date: Friday, Feb. 25 at 10 p.m. ET.

Netflix

Race: Bubba Wallace – The docuseries focuses on Bubba Wallace, the lone Black driver in NASCAR’s Cup Series. He’s made waves and caught attention for using his platform to push for change in the sport. Premiere date: Tuesday, Feb. 22.

PBS

Marian Anderson: The Whole World in Her Hands – The documentary covers Marian Anderson’s career in music as a contralto singer as well as her activism. The film features rare archival interview recordings of the late legend. Premiere date: Tuesday, Feb. 8 at 9 p.m. ET.

The American Diplomat – During the Cold War there were three Black diplomats who broke through racial barriers at the U.S. State department. This documentary follows their work and their lives. Premiere date: Tuesday, Feb. 15 at 9 p.m. ET.

“American Reckoning” – On a special episode of Frontline, the series teams with the Retro Report to look at rare footage filmed over 50 years ago in Natchez, Mississippi during the civil rights era. It was here in this town that the local NAACP leader Wharlest Jackson was killed, his murder is still unresolved. Premiere date: Tuesday, Feb. 15 at 9 p.m. ET.

Fannie Lou Hamer’s America: An American Reframed Special – Produced, in part, by Hamer’s great niece Monica Land, this documentary is centered on the life and legacy of the civil rights leader who was born in Mississippi and worked as a sharecropper before she became an activist. Premiere date: Tuesday, Feb. 22 at 9 p.m. ET.

John Lewis: Get In the Way – The documentary follows Lewis’ life from his humble beginnings as the son of sharecroppers to the start of his activism in his youth on into his career on Capitol Hill. The film includes interviews from Andrew Young, C.T. Vivian, Juanita Abernathy, Bernard Lafayette, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Emanuel Cleaver and Amory Houghton. Air date dependent on local listings.

Pluto TV

I Am Not Your Negro – Based on James Baldwin’s unfinished book, this documentary is a visual essay that examines racism through the historic stories of Martin Luther King, Jr., Medgar Evers, and Malcolm X. Samuel L. Jackson is the documentary’s narrator.

Jackie Robinson: My Story – Jackie Robinson changed baseball in America. His story is one that speaks to a nation in the midst of social growth along racial lines and the tragedies and triumphs that come with being one of the first in any industry that’s integrating. The documentary follows Robinson’s life and his historic career in baseball.

Prime Video

Phat Tuesdays – This three part docuseries retells the story of how Guy Torry established an all-Black comedy night at The Comedy Store on the Sunset Strip.

Back in the ’90s, Black comedians couldn’t book gigs at mainstream comedy clubs. Torry’s Phat Tuesdays allowed for comics like Chris Rock, Kevin Hart, Jamie Foxx, Chris Tucker, Martin Lawrence, and Steve Harvey to perform in front of audiences that helped push their careers forward.

The Comedy Store became the place to be, attracting the likes of Arsenio Hall, Prince, Kobe Bryant, Mike Tyson, Eddie Murphy, and Tupac to the club. This docuseries covers that historic period in Hip Hop Comedy through interviews with celebrities who came up during this time and were there.

Revery

One Life to Blossom – Blossom C. Brown’s documentary centers on her dream of getting face feminization surgery done. The Black transgender activist made national headlines in 2019 at the CNN LGBTQ+ Town Hall which occurred within the same year as the doc.

Showtime

everything’s gonna be all white – This three part docuseries focuses on the history of race in America through the perspective of people of color. Commentators include: Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, Dr. Nell Irvin Painter, Jemele Hill, Amanda Seales, Favianna Rodriguez, Tamika Mallory, Styles P, Margaret Cho and Dr. Nick Estes. Premiere date: All episodes and a special on-demand Friday, Feb. 11 at 12:01 a.m. ET. Part 1 debuts on Showtime at 8 p.m.

Tubi

Making History in Hollywood – Debbi Morgan, Dulcé Sloan, Brian Michael Smith, Kyla Pratt, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, and Sierra McClain talk about their own personal triumphs and experiences in Hollywood in this documentary. They each also note figures within the industry who’ve inspired them.

Pass the Mic – A documentary that focuses on the careers of Kendrick Lamar, Lizzo, and Lil Nas X. Premiere date: Wednesday, Feb. 16.

Stay tuned to Hidden Remote for more news and coverage on what’s coming to TV, streaming, and theaters.