Broadcast Outage: We're investigating a broadcast transmission failure affecting the San Luis Valley from Antonito in the south to Salida in the north. We're working to resolve this issue. You can stream our live broadcast HERE or via the RMPBS+ App.

Stream live and on-demand content now on our new app:
RMPBS+

Help tell more stories in 2026 - make a year-end gift!

Give Now
The Black Church show's poster
History
2021
The Black Church

Episode 1

An intimate four-hour series from Henry Louis Gates, Jr., The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song explores the 400-year-old story of the black church in America, the changing nature of worship spaces, and the men and women who shepherded them from the pulpit, the choir loft, and church pews.

RMPBS Passport

Please log in to your PBS Passport account to watch this video

Become a Member

Episode 1

The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song Episode 1 | 110m 9s | CC

Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the roots of African American religion beginning with the trans-Atlantic slave trade and the extraordinary ways enslaved Africans preserved and adapted their faith practices from the brutality of slavery to emancipation.

The Black Church

Watch more episodes

See more
See more
THE BLACK CHURCH: THIS IS OUR STORY, THIS IS OUR SONG is a production of McGee Media, Inkwell Films and WETA Washington, DC. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and Dyllan McGee are executive producers. John Wilson is executive producer in charge for WETA. Stacey Holman is the series producer and director. Christopher Bryson and Shayla Harris are producers/directors. Corporate support is provided by Johnson & Johnson. Major funding is also provided by the Lilly Endowment; the Ford Foundation; and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and PBS.

Subscribe to Our Newsletters

Get trusted Colorado stories, programs, and events from Rocky Mountain PBS straight to your inbox.

Set Your Preferences >