TV One has announced its new two-part documentary titled Unsung Presents: Music & the Movement. Part one will air on Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Monday, January 18) at 8 p.m. ET, and part two will air at 9 p.m.
The special will honor artists who have helped curate the soundtrack to the ongoing fight for racial equality, including Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Beyoncé, Gil Scott-Heron and more.
Music & the Movement will include interviews with artists and media, along with archival footage from historical speeches, vocal performances and more. It will also feature commentary from Raheem DeVaughn (R&B singer), Erica Campbell (gospel singer), Isaac Hayes III (son of Isaac Hayes), Rev. Al Sharpton (civil rights activist), Big Gipp (rapper), Ronda Racha Penrice (author/historian), Angie Ange (Radio One personality), Shante Paige (tv/film producer), Rickey Vincent (author/historian) and many more.
“Music is the heart and soul of Black culture – giving life to our experiences, voice to our stories and growing power out of our pain,” said Cathy Hughes, chairwoman of Urban One, Inc. “Every melody, lyric and rhythm artfully depicts the layers of Black diversity, scope of black creativity, and depths of the complexity of our people. TV One’s Music & the Movement special pays homage to the music and music makers whose talents created a soundtrack of Black music during moments of political and social unrest throughout our history. It is another opportunity for us to spotlight Black content.”
VP of Programming and Production Robyn Green Arrington added, “Throughout history, Black music has been a clarion call to amplify the voice of our community and important social and political movements like the Civil Rights and Black Lives Matters Movements. After an unprecedented year of social, economic, and political turmoil, we felt MLK Day was a great time to chronicle the ongoing struggles of Black Americans along with those who tirelessly lend their voices to protesting injustice and instigating positive changes for our community and social justice movements.”
Watch the trailer for Music & the Movement below.
