TV One will premiere Behind The Movement as the centerpiece of its 2018 Black History Month offerings on Sunday, February 11 at 7 p.m. ET. The original film, starring Meta Golding, Loretta Devine, Isaiah Washington and Roger Guenveur Smith, features the actual bus where Rosa Parks’ refusal to give up her bus seat to a white passenger on December 1, 1955 spiraled into the historic Montgomery Bus Boycott. The made-for-television movie honors the contributions of many unsung heroes in the Civil Rights struggle and recounts the meticulous planning and preparation that took place during three intense days between the fateful evening when Parks was arrested for “breaking the law” to the launch of this significant protest. Behind the Movement is written by and directed by Aric Avelino. It is produced by Swirl Films for TV One.
In the 1960’s, black people were fed up with segregation and discrimination. Not everyone had the liberty to voice it. For many, exercising their freedom of speech came at the cost of their life. Rosa Parks’ refusal to give up her seat to a white man sparked the movement that shifted the experience from clandestine conversation to outright civil disobedience and ultimately the shift that rocked this country off its ill base.
In “Behind the Movement”, you’ll see the events that led up to Mrs. Parks’ decision and the tense days and months that followed. After you watch, tweet our editor and let’s talk about it!
TV ONE PREMIERES HIGHLY-ANTICIPATED SOCIAL JUSTICE LIMITED SERIES TWOSIDES ON MONDAY, JANUARY 22 AT 10 P.M. ET
Four-Part Docu-Series Executive Produced and Narrated by Viola Davis Examines Both Sides of the Fatal Police Encounters Involving African American Citizens Eric Garner, Ezell Ford, John Crawford and Sandra Bland That Sparked Nationwide Protests
TwoSides is a landmark limited four-part docu-series exploring watershed moments for law enforcement and the Black community at the crossroads between life and death, premiering Monday, January 22 at 10 p.m. ET on TV One. Executive produced by Academy Award® winner Viola Davis, Julius Tennon(JuVee Productions) and Lemuel Plummer (L. Plummer Media) with narration by Davis, each one-hour episode of TwoSides offers an in-depth, comprehensive look into disturbing cases of officer-involved deaths.
Focusing on four headline-grabbing fatal police encounters during 2014 – 2015, the series analyzes and presents multiple points of view of the highly charged cases involving Eric Garner(New York), Ezell Ford (California), John Crawford (Ohio), and Sandra Bland (Texas). Their tragic deaths sparked grassroots social justice movements such as Black Lives Matter, inspired protests by high profile personalities, and immortalized their names as tragic figures in the polarizing debate on police brutality and race.
“Two Sides continues TV One’s mission to represent the issues and concerns of the importance to the Black community,” says D’Angela Proctor, TV One Head of Original Programming and Production. “Inspired by courageous acts such as NBA Champions LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers who donned ‘I Can’t Breathe’ shirts in honor of Garner during pregame warm-ups, and the NFL’s Colin Kaepernick who kneeled during the anthem prior to games for an entire season to raise awareness of police brutality, we wanted to utilize our platform to shine a light on this pressing issue. We’re honored to work with Viola and Julius who have been active voices in the fight for equality to explore both sides of this dynamic equation, which continues to dominate social and political discourse in America.”
JuVee executive producers Davis and Tennon both hope the show can help expand the dialogue around these incidents and provide an opportunity for real change to occur.
“With TwoSides you’ll hear how the incident transpired and how it affected change, or did not affect change. And, how the families are still being affected,” said Davis and Tennon in a joint statement. “This is a way for us to humanize these victims and not make them just a statistic. We also have to look at the other side of the story – our law enforcement’s point of view. Let’s come together and have a conversation around these issues so that we can come up with real solutions that will lead to positive change.”
In addition to discussing the circumstances leading to the victims’ fateful encounter with police, in each episode ofTwoSides family and friends share their heart-breaking accounts of where they were when their loved ones died, along with fond memories and recollections of their young lives. Law enforcement experts and independent commentators offer expertise and opinions on each incident with explanations of police regulations and procedures, as well as an analysis of the many factors involved in each of these four unique events.
The series also features commentary from high profile contributors such as activist Rev. Al Sharpton, Congresswoman Maxine Waters and attorney Christopher Darden, as well as representatives from various law enforcement agencies and other notable pundits.
“There are twosides to every story,” says Rev. Al Sharpton in the premiere episode. “I believe the policeman has a side; I believe the victim has a side; But there is only one truth.”
“These cases sparked controversy that ignited a necessary movement throughout our country,” says TV One General Manager Michelle Rice. “The relationship between law enforcement and the African American community has been a precarious one for far too long and the conversation around reform must continue. There is a historical and deep divide that needs to be mended. We are privileged to present this unique series which offers an in-depth look into each story from two different perspectives, and hopefully influences an honest dialogue on the fractured state of police-community relations.”
FEATURED CASES:
ERIC GARNER (43) — STATEN ISLAND, NY In the summer of 2014, Eric Garner was choked and killed by NYPD officers while being arrested. The 43-year-old was standing outside of a beauty supply store in Staten Island, New York when police tried to arrest him for allegedly illegally selling loose cigarettes. The video of Officer Daniel Pantaleo putting Garner in a chokehold went viral. Although the medical examiner ruled his death a homicide, a grand jury has thus far declined to indict Pantaleo.
EZELL FORD (25) — LOS ANGELES, CA Ezell Ford died at 25-years-old in August 2014 after being shot three times in the back during a scuffle with Los Angeles Police Department Officers Sharlton Wampler and Antonio Villegas. Competing accounts of the events surrounding Ford’s death sparked unrest and demonstrations. Almost two years later, in June 2016, the Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners concluded that only one of the officers was justified in the shooting. Upon receiving the ruling, the Ford family filed a lawsuit against the LAPD claiming $75 million in damages; the case was eventually settled out of court.
JOHN CRAWFORD (22) — DAYTON, OH John Crawford III was shot by officers while carrying a BB gun at a Wal-Mart store in Beavercreek, Ohio. Crawford was only 22-years-old at the time of his death in August 2014. A grand jury failed to indict Officer Sean Williams and Sgt. David Darkow, leading to protests by members of the Black Lives Matter movement.
SANDRA BLAND (28) — HEMPSTEAD, TX In the summer of 2015, Sandra Bland was found hanging in her jail cell after being arrested at a traffic stop three days prior. Her death was ultimately ruled a suicide but Bland’s family disagrees. The dispute over Bland’s cause of death led to unrest in communities across the nation.
Two Sides is produced for TV One by L. Plummer Media in partnership with JuVee Productions. Lemuel Plummer and Jason Tolbert of L. Plummer Media and Viola Davis, Julius Tennon and Andrew T. Wang of JuVee Productions serve as Executive Producers. For TV One, D’Angela Proctor is SVP, Original Programming & Production and shares executive in charge of production duties with Robyn Greene Arrington, VP, Original Programming & Production.
Terrence J Returns to Host and Serve as One of The Producers for the Red Carpet Live! Pre-Show, Joined by Special Correspondent Tanika Ray at 8 p.m. ET
Tai Beauchamp and Chris Spencer To Host Ford Backstage Pass
TV Oneis joining forces with a distinguished team of sponsors supporting the 49th NAACP Image Awards: Red Carpet Live! pre-show onMonday, Jan. 15 at 8.00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. CT.and the subsequent live telecast of the 49th NAACP Image Awards onTV Oneat 9 p.m. ET/ 8 p.m. CT. Sponsors include Ford Motor Company, AT&T, American Family Insurance, Black Radiance, Curls, Disney Pictures, McDonald’s, Walmart and Toyota.
“As we recognize black achievement on a day as auspicious as the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, TV One is proud to partner with a dynamic group of companies which understand the importance of representing the dream within their communities and across the nation,” says Rahsan-Rahsan Lindsay, TV One EVP of Ad Sales and Marketing.
For the fifth consecutive year, TV One is the television home for the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organization’s award show, the 49th NAACP Image Awardshosted by Golden Globe-nominated actor Anthony Anderson.
Additionally, actor and TV personality Terrence J (Think Like A Man) will return to host and serve as one of the producers for the 1-hour live TV One Red Carpet Special with correspondent Tanika Ray (Extra) and chat with the stars as they grace the carpet at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. The telecast will feature the latest, fully loaded Toyota Camry on the carpet. Toyota will also present the digital red carpet promotional category on HelloBeautiful.com. Following the arrivals, special guests will indulge on festive fair in the Walmart VIP Gold Room, complete with food, drinks and photographs to capture the occasion.
Ford Motor Company returns as the lead telecast sponsor to present the Backstage Pass, hosted by celebrity influencer Tai Beauchamp and comedian/actor/producer Chris Spencer. The in-show segments offer exclusive interviews with award presenters and winners throughout the night. Ford will also sponsor the Entertainer of the Year Award category, which boasts a tight field of nominees including Chadwick Boseman, Ava DuVernay, Bruno Mars, Issa Rae, Chance The Rapper and Jay-Z.
McDonald’s has signed on as sponsor of the newly created “Music Makes A Difference Honor,” which recognizes exceptional individuals whose work and foundations strive to create a force of development, change and inspiration in the lives of our communities. The recipient is to be announced. Also, McDonald’s will sponsor the digital music recording promotional category as featured on HelloBeautiful.com.
AT&T’s sponsorship of the Countdown Clock during the red carpet special will help build anticipation leading up to the live broadcast of the Awards show, while their support of the TV One after party with show participants, winners and other special guests will help continue the celebration after the last trophy is awarded.
American Family Insurance and Black Radiance Curls will sponsor the first-ever NAACP Image Awards Red Carpet Fan Zone, where 100 lucky fans can watch their favorite stars walk the red carpet as well as experience all the glitz and glamour of the celebrity arrivals. Disney Pictures will build excitement for their new films A Wrinkle In Time and Black Panther with exclusive content from the upcoming releases during the telecast. Beauty brand Black Radiance Curls will also sponsor activationson-site during the Red Carpet Live! pre-show.
TheNAACP Image Awards honors individuals or groups who promote social justice through creative endeavors and celebrates the accomplishments of people of color in the fields of television, music, literature and film. For the first time in its award show history, the public was invited to vote for their favorite nominees in 36 categories, which is certain to make for an even more meaningful win for this year’s honorees.
“For the first time in our history, voting for the 49th NAACP Image Awards was open to the public,” said Derrick Johnson, NAACP President and CEO. “Through our Hollywood Bureau, the NAACP fights for diversity and inclusivity in front of and behind the lens. Engaging the public in the selection of the Image Awards winners is a natural extension of that mission. I am thrilled but not surprised that more than a million individual votes were cast for nominees in 36 categories. We look forward to celebrating the winners they selected on January 15th.”
TV One will drive conversation around MLK Jr. Day and the 49th NAACP Image Awards by encouraging its social audience to share how they ‘REPRESENT’ Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream today. Nominees, celebrities, influencers, notable dignitaries and the social community will use the hash tag #RepresentTheDream to create an emotional and powerful campaign that will remind viewers of the power of “The Dream.” Viewers can find each thought-provoking #RepresentTheDream testimonial on www.TVOne.tv/ImageAwards or on Instagram during the Red Carpet Live! pre-show.
For all information and latest news, please visit the official 49th NAACP Image Awards website at http://www.naacpimageawards.net. Viewers can also join the conversation on TV One’s upcoming live telecast of the 49th NAACP Image Awards by visiting www.tvone.tv/imageawards and connecting via social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@tvonetv) using the hash tags #ImageAwards and#RepresentTheDream.
About NAACP Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation’s oldest and largest nonpartisan civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities. Read more about the NAACP’s work and our six “Game Changer” issue areas at NAACP.org.
About TV One Launched in January 2004, TV One serves 59 million households, offering a broad range of real-life and entertainment-focused original programming, classic series, movies and music designed to entertain and inform a diverse audience of adult black viewers. The network represents the best in black culture and entertainment with fan favorite shows Unsung, Rickey Smiley For Real, Fatal Attraction, and The NAACP Image Awards. In addition, TV One is the cable home of blockbuster drama Empire. In December 2008, the company launched TV OneHigh Def, which now serves 14 million households. TV One is solely owned by Urban One, Inc., formerly known as Radio One, Inc. [NASDAQ: UONE and UONEK, www.urban1.com], the largest African-American owned multi-media company primarily targeting Black and urban audiences.
TWO-HOUR SPECIAL WILL BE HOSTED BY ANTHONY ANDERSON AIRING LIVE ON TV ONE DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. HOLIDAY MONDAY, JANUARY 15, 2018
Telecast will also include a Pre-Show Airing Live from the Red Carpet The surviving 1968 sanitation workers – some of them are still on the job – were presented with the prestigious NAACP Vanguard Award in conjunction with the 49th NAACP Image Awards at the historic Lorraine Motel in Memphis, TN, now the site of the National Civil Rights Museum.
This honor is presented in recognition of the groundbreaking work that has increased understanding and awareness of racial and social issues. Previous honorees include Clive Davis, Wyclef Jean, Tyler Perry, Russell Simmons, Aretha Franklin, Stanley Kramer, Steven Spielberg, and George Lucas.
“It is a rare privilege for the NAACP to present our Vanguard Award to outstanding trailblazing individuals who gave voice and projected attention to the struggle for racial and economic justice,” stated Leon W. Russell, Chairman of the NAACP National Board of Directors. “50 years after the 1968 Memphis Sanitation Workers Strike, the NAACP continues the fight to ensure living wages, health care benefits, and job safety. I am personally inspired by their individual and collective activism. The NAACP is proud to honor all surviving sanitation workers.”
On April 3, 1968, Dr. King stood in the pulpit of Mason Temple in Memphis and delivered the prophetic “Mountaintop Speech.” He addressed a sanctuary overflowing with community members and African American sanitation workers – members of AFSCME Local 1733 – whose strike for dignity and respect grew into a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement. Less than 24 hours later, he was tragically assassinated. April 2018 marks the 50th anniversary of The Mountaintop Speech, Dr. King’s death, and the Memphis sanitation workers’ strike.
“Despite threats to their lives and livelihoods, the sanitation workers made the brave decision to strike, armed with the simple, powerful slogan, ‘I Am a Man’,” said Derrick Johnson, NAACP president and CEO. “They knew the urgency of their demand for dignity and justice, but little did they know how relevant their peaceful protest would remain come 2018. It is now up to us to confront modern-day challenges to civil rights with the same courage and determination. The NAACP is honored to present the Vanguard Award to the surviving sanitation workers for their fight for racial and economic justice. We are inspired by their individual and collective activism.”
On April 4, 2018, all eyes will turn to Memphis, Tennessee and the National Civil Rights Museum to remember the tragic event that occurred 50 years prior. Our nation’s greatest peacemaker was snatched from us by a sniper’s bullet. That shot would reverberate throughout the world, and on April 4, 2018, the world remembers the event that occurred at approximately 6:01 p.m. CT. The National Civil Rights Museum wants to help the world reflect, not linger on the past, and use that horrific event to propel us forward. MLK50: Where Do We Go From Here? is the theme for the year-long commemoration of Dr. King’s assassination. This was the title of Dr. King’s final book as well as the title of the speech he delivered August 16, 1967 at the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
“In 2018, our desire is not simply to reflect and recount the history, but to connect the history to contemporary issues. The theme is most appropriate for this commemoration, to focus on making a positive impact on the future. The sub-themes for the events will be poverty/economic equity, education, justice and nonviolence,” said National Civil Rights Museum President Terri Freeman. “Over the course of 50 weeks, we’ll send individuals that take the MLK50 Pledge – A Call to Peace and Action – 50 achievable actions that realize Dr. King’s legacy of peace.” For more information, visit www.mlk50.civilrightsmuseum.org.
The NAACP Image Awards is the preeminent multicultural awards show celebrating the accomplishments of people of color in the fields of television, music, literature and film, and also honors individuals or groups who promote social justice through creative endeavors. Winners will be announced during the two-hour star-studded event hosted by Anthony Anderson, which will be broadcast LIVE on TV ONE on Monday, January 15, 2018 at 9pm/8c, the federal holiday honoring the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. A one-hour pre-show will air live from the red carpet at 8pm/7c.
For all information and the latest news, please visit the official NAACP Image Awards website at: http://www.naacpimageawards.net.
TV One has announced that after four years of award-winning programming and distinguished service to viewers as the only Black daily newscast on television, the network has decided to suspend the production of NewsOne Now as a daily morning news show. The final live show is scheduled on Thursday, December 21, at 7 a.m. ET.
TV One premiered NewsOne Now in 2013, to provide a daily voice to Black America on important political and social issues impacting our community. The foray into daily news was the idea of TV One CEO Alfred Liggins.
“Providing a platform for Black voices is in the DNA of our entire company,” said Liggins. “As a Black-owned multi-media company, Urban One (parent company of TV One) engages Black America daily, not just on television, but radio and also online via NewsOne.com and on 77 digital platforms. We know there is a void in mainstream media and we plan to continue to be an outlet for Black news. Roland Martin will be a part of that plan.”
TV One Interim General Manager Michelle L. Rice added, “We had to make a tough decision to suspend a show we all love. Despite the best efforts of the many talented people who work on this amazing show day to day, NewsOne Now struggled to attract a wide audience. Like any other network, we had to make a difficult choice.”
The network invested in the production of NewsOne Now for the past four years. In an effort to save the program, adjustments were made to the format this quarter. Despite the network’s commitment and investment, NewsOne Now did not gain traction with advertisers and viewers.TV One is working to restructure NewsOne Now in 2018 under a new format that will better serve its audience and advertisers.
Although some staff cuts resulted from the show’s suspension. Roland Martin, NewsOne Now Host and Managing Editor will continue to be heard across all Urban One platforms examining issues of importance to the Black community. No other TV One staff will be impacted.
“I’d be remiss not to express my immense gratitude to Roland, executive producer Susan Henry, and the entire NewsOne Now production team for their fierce dedication and tireless commitment to representing journalistic excellence every day,” said Rice. “I’m extremely proud of all that we’ve accomplished together.”
“I am undoubtedly saddened by NewsOne Now ending daily production,” said Martin. “We set out to give America, specifically Black America, a show that spoke to our issues, concerns and unique perspective. And we did just that.”
Roland also shared appreciation for his staff, viewers and network, stating, “I am immensely proud of this staff, and thank you to TV One CEO Alfred Liggins for launching this show in 2013. I cannot express how humbling it has been to have African Americans of all ages show me their appreciation for our work. I promise to ‘keep giving them hell,’ so stay tuned.”
V One will premiere Behind The Movement as the centerpiece of its 2018 Black History Month offerings on Sunday, February 11 at 7 p.m. ET. The original film, starring Meta Golding, Loretta Devine, Isaiah Washington and Roger Guenveur Smith, features the actual bus where Rosa Parks’ refusal to give up her bus seat to a white passenger on December 1, 1955 spiraled into the historic Montgomery Bus Boycott. The made-for-television movie honors the contributions of many unsung heroes in the Civil Rights struggle and recounts the meticulous planning and preparation that took place during three intense days between the fateful evening when Parks was arrested for “breaking the law” to the launch of this significant protest. Behind the Movement is written by and directed by Aric Avelino. It is produced by Swirl Films for TV One.
