Juneteenth: 19 Docs, TV Specials And Movies That Celebrate Black Freedom

Two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, some 250,000 enslaved Black people continued to languish in bondage in the Lone Star State.

This changed on June 19, 1865, when Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger rode into Galveston, Texas, and informed the fettered fathers, mothers, sons and daughters that they were officially free. Since then, emancipated Black Texans and their descendants have celebrated their liberty with moving music, delicious food and fellowship on a day that came to be known as Juneteenth.

The jubilee, which became a Texas state holiday in 1980, spread in popularity and importance throughout the rest of the country over the years. However, it took on an exalted significance after George Floyd's murder at the hands of the police sparked an overdue racial reckoning last year.

In 2020, a handful of networks used Juneteenth as an entry point in discussing the nationwide protests. This year, the offerings are even more thoughtful, cultivated and inclusive. From Amazon Prime's celebration of Black Music Month and Juneteenth with the help of Oscar winning-artist H.E.R. and Kid Cudi to the historic film The 24th helmed by Da 5 Blood's Kevin Willmott, there is something for everyone. Plus, NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is executive-producing and narrating the History documentary Fight the Power: The Movements That Changed America, and TBS will commemorate Juneteenth with the premiere of Friday Night Vibes.

Curious about what other programming selections are in store for today and Saturday? Read on for TVLine's extensive and diverse list of specials, docs, movies and more.

The two-hour special, airing Friday at 9 pm/8c (and available on Hulu the next day), is hosted by Hamilton star Leslie Odom Jr., and includes intimate narratives from ABC journalists and personalities as well as musical performances by Chloe Bailey, Leon Bridges and Jimmie Allen. ABC reporter Deborah Roberts breaks down the importance of soul food in her life — and in general — and Michael Strahan interviews former President Barack Obama.

Just as she did in PBS' Tulsa: The Fire and the Forgotten, Washington Post reporter DeNeen L. Brown helps to cover the excavation of a mass grave in Tulsa in this film from John Lewis: Good Trouble filmmaker Dawn Porter. (It airs Friday at 9 pm/8c on Nat Geo and will begin streaming on Hulu that day, as well.) The gravesite is believed to be where racist and deputized conspirators hid the remains of a number of Tulsa Race Massacre victims 100 years ago. Brown, who grew up in Tulsa but isn't a Massacre descendant, is a 35-year veteran of the Washington Post and has been covering the aftermath of the violent event for her paper for years. It was one of her articles that Emmy-winning Watchmen star Regina King shared with fans when the comic-book drama premiered on HBO in 2019.

The weekly movie destination kicks off Friday at 7:30 pm with Snoop Dogg and hosts Tiffany Haddish and Deon Cole discussing the origins of Juneteenth in between a Creed and Creed 2 double feature. The episode kickstarts a 52-week event which "spotlights feel-good comedies, action-packed blockbusters and culturally significant storytelling inclusive of diverse voices." On Saturday, TBS will air a movie marathon that includes both Creed films as well as Black Panther and an encore episode of the game show The Cube hosted by Dwyane Wade.

Fresh off an Oscar win for her hit song "I Can't Breathe," H.E.R. shines in a 25-minute film short (of sorts) where she performs her most beloved tunes. The short, which also features actress Taraji P. Henson, celebrates Black Music Month and Juneteenth by giving an edifying nod to Los Angeles' historic Dunbar Hotel. The hotel opened in 1928 and accommodated Black luminaries such as entertainer Lena Horne and poet Langston Hughes in Jim Crow Los Angeles. It also hosted the NAACP's first West Coast Convention. In another short, rapper Kid Cudi takes a more esoteric, Sun Ra approach and plays an astronaut who goes on a mission to colonize the moon.

Celebrate Black fatherhood with this feel-good movie starring Kevin Hart as a widowed dad discovering what it means to be a full-time father. The film, which drops Friday, is based on Matthew Logelin's Two Kisses for Maddy: A Memoir of Loss and Love. Lil Rel Howery (Rel), Alfre Woodward (Luke Cage), Anthony Carrigan (Barry), DeWanda Wise (She's Gotta Have It), Melody Hurd (Them)and Paul Reiser (Mad About You) also star.

Type "Juneteenth" into the streamer's search engine and you'll get this thoughtful ABC News special from 2020, when the racial reckoning first kicked off following George Floyd's murder. As journalist Deborah Roberts explains, it was the first Juneteenth primetime special the Alphabet network had done in its 75-year history. The special, which still holds up, includes a candid and mildly humorous explanation of the history of Juneteenth from The View co-host Whoopi Goldberg; Juneteenth celebrations in Tulsa's historic Greenwood District where the Tulsa Race Massacre took place; and an interview with Ollie Gordon, Emmett Till's surviving cousin.

Spend the weekend via the PBS video app and PBS.org, learning and reflecting with a full roster of compelling documentaries including Slavery by Another Name, the film based on Douglas A. Blackmon's Pulitzer Prize-winning book. It details how thousands of innocent Black men and boys were arrested for no crime and were bought and sold into forced labor that lasted well into the 20th century. The documentary Eyes on the Prize details the Civil Rights era from the point of view of those who helped launch the game-changing movement. Plus, The African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross, a six-part docuseries, is a deep dive into African-American history, from the origins of slavery to historic events like the Civil Rights movement to Barack Obama becoming America's first Black president.

PBS' thematic programming also includes the Origin of Everything episodes "The Origin of Race in the U.S.A." and "The Racist Origins of U.S. Law."

The WORLD Channel revisits the New York Times' series A Conversation on Race, which centered on the 2014 killing of Michael Brown, in The Conversation Remix. Utilizing new interviews, cell phone video and archive footage, three new films highlight today's social reckoning in the wake of George Floyd's killing by a police officer. Catch For Our Girls: Conversations with Black Women, Learning to Breathe: Conversations with Young Black Men and Good White People: A Conversation with White People currently streaming on The WORLD Channel's YouTube channel.

Dawn Porter's inspiring and intimate 2020 film follows the late Georgia Congressman's tireless fight for civil rights, democracy, voting rights and immigration. The 96-minute film can also be streamed (for a fee) on Amazon, Apple TV and YouTube and was released shortly before the 80-year-old widower, father and Alabama native's death last year. In addition to interviews with Lewis and his siblings John Lewis: Good Trouble includes fascinating and rarely seen footage of a young Lewis and his mentor, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

Catch three new episodes of Cartoon Network's inspirational series celebrating unique voices from different cultures. The first centers on activist Opal Lee, known as the Grandmother of Juneteenth, who advocated for making June 19 a national holiday. The second episode follows Saniya, the first national Miss Juneteenth winner, and Jordan, who participates in the Miss Juneteenth "Princess" contest aimed at younger children. The third installment focuses on Julian, a descendant of Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger, who read the proclamation in Galveston, Texas which declared all enslaved Black people free on the day we now celebrate as Juneteenth. All three are airing throughout the month and are available to stream via the network's app and social platforms.

Starting Saturday at 6 am, Ovation will air an eight-hour block of programming celebrating some of the best and brightest Black American artists. The slate kicks off with Beyonce: Queen B, an hour-long feature which celebrates the Grammy winning star's professional and personal accomplishments. The slate ends with Icons of Our Time: Muhammad Ali (1 pm), a feature that honors one the greatest heavyweights of all time. The list of honorees also includes actress/View co-host Whoopi Goldberg (7 am); filmmaker Spike Lee (11 am); and comedians Richard Pryor (8 am) and Eddie Murphy (9 am).

FX Networks will commemorate Juneteenth (starting Saturday at 7 am) with a full slate of shows and films centered on unique Black experiences. FX's movie marathon will include Ava DuVernay's historical drama Selma, the film adaptation of Angie Thomas' novel The Hate U Give, Spike Lee's BlacKkKlansman, the NASA drama Hidden Figures and Green Book (girl, I guess). Meanwhile, FXX will air select episodes of the Kenya Barris sitcom black-ish, including Season 4's "Juneteenth" episode and Season 3's "Lemons," in which the Johnsons hash out their feelings about the results of the 2016 presidential election. Plus, FXM will air Jordan Peele's visceral psychological horror movie Get Out.

On Saturday at 9 pm, Oprah Winfrey and This Is Us' Sterling K. Brown host the hour-long special which celebrates Black fatherhood. The event salutes exceptional dads across America, and will include special appearances by singer John Legend, comedian Kevin Hart and NBA star Dwyane Wade. The program will be followed by Honoring Our Kings, Celebrating Black Fatherhood featuring a sit-down with Brown, Legend, comedian D.L. Hughley, NFL star Tony Gonzalez and black-ish's Deon Cole to discuss the joys and challenges of Black fatherhood.

The two-hour event, hosted by comedian Loni Love and airing in syndication on Saturday at 1 pm/12c, will commemorate Juneteenth with a special tribute presented by Speech of Arrested Development. This year's performers include Cece Winans, Montell Jordan, After 7, Syleena Johnson, Pleasure P, Stokley, Avery Sunshine, J. Moss, Q Parker, Bahamadia, Chrisette Michele, Jac Ross, Jacquees, Mumu Fresh, Kevin Ross, Theresa Tha Songbird, and Zacardi Cortez.

On Saturday at noon, inspirational films, short-form content and music videos will be offset by BET's Freedom Day Manifesto, showcased in interstitials: "Juneteenth is our day of celebration. No matter the zip code. No matter who we love or how we show up. No matter our age, gender, faith ... We are one."

Turner Classic Movies will observe Juneteenth and Black Music Month with seven films that trumpet African American musicians. The roster begins Saturday at noon with the 1982 gospel documentary Say Amen Somebody – The Good News Musical. The film's celebrated gospel artists include the Barrett Sisters, the O'Neill Brothers and Sallie Martin, as well as legends Thomas A. Dorsey and Willie Mae Ford Smith. The night will end with 1985's Krush Groove at 10 pm. Additionally, music lovers can look out for 1989's Thelonious Monk: Straight, No Chaser at 4:15 pm and the 1973 doc Jimi Hendrix at 6 pm.

Beginning Saturday at 1 pm, the Smithsonian Channel will air a 10-hour block of programming that shares and unpacks the historically significant contributions of African American trailblazers. First up is America's Hidden Stories: Southern Women Union Spies, which includes the story of a freed enslaved Black woman working covertly in the Confederate White House. Other specials break down the Civil War; the Underground Railroad; the Green Book and how it helped Black, middle-class tourists; and famed musician Huddie Ledbetter aka Lead Belly. The commemorative night ends with the film Reclaiming History: Our Native Daughters (9 pm), a documentary about four Black women asserting themselves in the country music of their ancestors.

This feature film (airing Saturday at 1:30 pm) is based on the little-known story of an all-Black military regiment in 1917 Houston that intervened during a race riot. Directed and co-written by Da 5 Blood's Kevin Willmott, The 24th examines the racial discrimination and abuse the men suffered and how the riot ended with some of the soldiers being arrested and executed for mutiny. Trai Byers (Empire) stars alongside Bashir Salahuddin (Sherman's Showcase), Aja Naomi King (How to Get Away with Murder), Mykelti Williamson (Forrest Gump) and Thomas Haden Church (Wings).

Narrated by NBA legend and social justice advocate Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the hour-long documentary examines the impact of key movements throughout U.S. history in shaping our society, laws and culture. From the labor movement of the 1880s to women's suffrage and civil rights to the LGBTQ+ and Black Lives Matter movements, "protest is in the American DNA and this documentary gives an unfiltered look at the ways it has evolved the world in which we live." Catch it airing Saturday at 8 pm.