For many, the Black church is their house of worship. For some, it is ground zero for social justice. For others, it is a place of transcendent cultural gifts exported to the world, from the soulful voices of preachers and congregants, to the sublime sounds of gospel music. For the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., going to church in America also was “the most segregated hour” of the week. The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song explores the changing nature of worship spaces and the men and women who shepherded them from the pulpit, the choir loft and church pews.

We will share clips from the film followed by a discussion with Reverend Dr. Dwight D. Andrews (First Congregational Church of Atlanta) and Dr. Patrice E. Turner (Ebenezer Baptist Church) discussing the diversity of musical and artistic practices in the Black Church with GPB’s Leah Fleming.

Major corporate support for THE BLACK CHURCH: THIS IS OUR STORY, THIS IS OUR SONG is provided by Johnson & Johnson. Major support is also provided by Lilly Endowment, Inc., Ford Foundation, and by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, PBS and public television viewers.