PBS announces Black History Month Programming with Maya Angelou and a new season of ‘Mercy Street’

(L-R): McKinley Belcher and Patina Miller

in a scene from Mercy Street

Credit: Courtesy of PBS/Erik Heinila

In honor of Black History Month. PBS has announced their block of programming which includes features on Maya Angelou, on a segment of the series “American Masters” presents “Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise.” The documentary highlights Angelou’s words with archival photographs and videos of the celebrated author and poet.

The documentary features exclusive interviews with Dr. Angelou, her friends, and family, including Clinton, Oprah Winfrey, Common, Alfre Woodard, Cicely Tyson, Quincy Jones, Hillary Clinton, Louis Gossett, Jr., John Singleton and Dr. Angelou’s son, Guy Johnson.

Also coming in February is “Mercy Street,” season 2 premiering January 22 at 8:00 p.m. on PBS. The series tells the story of a makeshift hospital during the civil war. During the second season, the drama looks at the role that African Americans played in the hospital and the city of Alexandria, VA where the series is set. A new character, Charlotte Jenkins (Patina Miller), is added to the cast. Charlotte is a runaway slave turned abolitionist who goes to Alexandria to help the contraband population adapt to freedom.

Allegiances blur and loyalties shift as the war pushes the drama beyond the hospital. Follow the growing chaos at Alexandria’s Mansion House, the precarious position of the Green family and the changing situation of the burgeoning black population.

“Mercy Street” airs Sundays in February from the 5th through the 19th at 8:00 p.m.

Phyllis Thomas