Black History Month TV Programming Guide: Specials, Miniseries and More

Madiba - Laurence Fishburne and Terry Pheto
Marcos Cruz
Laurence Fishburne and Terry Pheto in BET's Madiba

During the month of February many networks will celebrate Black History Month by airing special programs ranging from miniseries and specials to original movies.

TV One is launching a “Creators of Cool” campaign, which will will highlight the contributions made to the world by African-Americans. Every Wednesday its original series, News One Now and Unsung will air new episodes. News One Now will feature segments about the black experience, while Unsung will celebrate African-American culture and history. The network will also feature a slew of specials and movies among which are the 48th NAACP Image Awards and the 2013 film adaptation of The Watsons Go To Birmingham.

RELATED: PBS to Air Documentary About Civil Rights Activist, Congressman and Recent Trump Foe John Lewis

The Smithsonian Channel will air a special, The Obama Years: The Power of Words. The show celebrates the 44th President’s influence in politics through his powerful speeches. Some of the individuals featured in testimonials include Representative John Lewis, Doris Kearns Goodwin and John Favreau.

BET‘s three-part series Madiba brings Nelson Mandela’s inspiring journey to the small screen.  This miniseries stars Laurence Fishburne as Mandela. Madiba premieres Wednesday, Feb. 1, at 8/7c.

PBS will air multiple shows and specials and documentaries, including Accidental CourtesyMaya Angelou: And Still I Rise and Africa’s Great Civilizations, to name a few.

Bounce, the first non-cable television network for African-Americans will air critically acclaimed films and mini-series, including The Color PurpleGhosts of Mississippi,  and Alex Haley‘s Queen. Among these programs, Bounce will also air an original shot-form series, Black History Honors featuring African American trailblazers like Issa Rae (Insecure), Chadwick Boseman and Kamala Harris.

HDNET Movies is also honoring Black History Month with a special selection of films. The marathon The A-List: Sidney Poitier and Denzel Washington will include feature films John Q and Lilies of the Field on February 28.

Amazon has rounded up a collection of television shows and films celebrating black culture. Some of the titles available to stream: Chi-Raq, Selma, Creed, black-ish, Atlanta and Queen Sugar.

*Note that News One Now (TV One) airs at 7am/6am c daily and to check local listings for PBS and Bounce programming times.

February 1

Madiba (BET) airs at 8/7c

Unsung (TV One) airs at 8/7c

February 5

Soul Food Jukies (TV One) airs at 11am/12c

February 6

Birth of a Movement (PBS)

February 8

Madiba (BET) airs at 8/7c

Unsung (TV One) airs at 8/7c

A News One Now Primetime Special: Excellence in Black Hollywood (TV One) airs at 9/8c

February 10

Gershwin Prize: Smokey Robinson (PBS)

John Lewis: Get In the Way (PBS)

February 11

48th NAACP Image Awards (TV One)

Red Carpet airs at 7:30/6:30c

Live Telecast airs at 9/8c

February 12

The Watsons Go To Birmingham (TV One)  airs at 8/7c

February 13

Accidental Courtesy (PBS)

February 15

Madiba (BET) airs at 8/7c

Unsung (TV One) airs at 8/7c

February 20

The Talk (PBS)

You Belong to Me: Sex, Race and Murder in the South (TV One) airs at 7/6c

February 21

Maya Angelou: And I Still Rise (PBS)

February 22

Unsung (TV One) airs at 8/7c

February 25

Media (TV One) airs at 8/7c

February 27

Africa’s Great Civilizations (PBS)

The Obama Years: The Power of Words (Smithsonian Channel) airs at 8/7c

February 28

The A-List: Sidney Poitier and Denzel Washington (HDNET Movies)

The Mighty Quinn airs at 7/6c

John Q airs at 8:45/7:45c

Lilies of the Field airs at 10:50/9:50c

Pressure Point airs at 12:30am/11:30pm c

The Defiant Ones airs at 2:10am/1:10am c