I watch PBS NEWSHOUR and all too often I’m saddened by some of the news. It seems that the racial divides we see today have been part of our history from our nation’s beginning. Maybe one way to narrow the space between people is to know more about our history. PBS Western Reserve has been doing that for years and continues this month with two very important programs.
AMERICAN EXPERIENCE presents “The Busing Battleground.” We go back to 1974 when police in Boston were posted outside of neighborhood schools. Why? It was the start of cross-town busing to integrate schools. The result was shocking violence and unrest that lasted for years. See how it unfolded and what the effects are today on Monday at 9:30 PM on PBS Western Reserve.
Then we take a different look at a different part of the country. AMERICAN EXPERIENCE presents “The Harvest,” which visits Leland, Miss., and looks at a group of children who were the first group of Black and white kids to attend all 12 grades together in their small town. See how their lives were changed — and how the town itself was transformed, this Tuesday at 9 PM on PBS Western Reserve.
For me, history comes alive when I learn about the people who made things happen. Why did someone want to run for office, and what made them do what they did when they were elected? We’ll look at one of our more colorful politicians when AMERICAN MASTERS introduces us to Jerry Brown. He was just 36 years old when first elected Governor of California. Then, at the age of 72, he ran again and won. See and hear what motivated him and what he learned from a life in the public eye. It’s Friday, Sept. 15, at 9 PM on PBS Western Reserve.
Telling stories is what we do every day at PBS Western Reserve. It takes a lot of people to make it all happen, and one of the most important is you. When you watch one of our programs, we hope you learn something new. And we hope you’re reminded of the value of belonging to PBS Western Reserve. If you’re not a member, it’s easy to join. Support the great programs you see every day.
