By Whatever Means Necessary: The Times of Godfather of Harlem

Inspired by the music and subjects featured in the series “Godfather of Harlem,” this documentary series brings alive the dramatic true story of Harlem and its music during the 1960s, and connects that history to our present moment.

Documentary

Seasons

1. Mecca

Air Date: 2020-11-08

The 'cultural capital of Black America,' 1960s Harlem faces problems and rising tensions as all over the country, civil rights protests proliferate. As the decade unfolds, music gives voice to a community fighting for justice.

2. Freedom Songs

Air Date: 2020-11-15

A musical, political and spiritual revolution gains momentum across Black America, inspiring Jazz greats John Coltrane, Charlie Mingus and Max Roach to express their activism through their instruments, and Abbey Lincoln to vocalize her pain in song.

3. Crossroads

Air Date: 2020-11-22

The rich diversity of the Harlem population shapes new forms of music that draw on different sounds and styles heard around the neighborhood, like R&B, jazz, soul, mambo, blues, and 'boogaloo,' all of which reflect the common goal of racial justice.

4. Power

Air Date: 2020-11-29

New voices like the Black Panthers offer a message to Black America: reform is not enough; it's time for revolution. The call for Black Power sparks a cultural shift not just in Harlem, but around the world, as Black music infiltrates the mainstream.

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