Presented by Illinois Public Media | Hosted by Kimberlie Kranich

Rated PG-13
60 Min

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In this special presentation by Illinois Public Media, watch the second hour of the acclaimed four-hour documentary series THE BLACK CHURCH, followed by a live performance of gospel music and a post-film discussion panel plus an audience Q & A.

We will discuss the state of the Black church in central Illinois with:

Professor Leonard McKinnis, Dept. of Religion, UIUC
Apostle Charlotte Blissit, True Pentecost Christian Church
Rev. Terrance Thomas, Bethel AME Church
Jeff Trask, founder, Champaign Co. Christian Health Center
Moderated by Illinois Public Media's Kimberlie Kranich with audience Q & A and special performance by Davion Williams

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"The Black church is the birthplace and the nurturing ground for the major social, cultural, educational, economic and political institutions that define Black America." - Henry Louis Gates Jr.

For many, it’s their house of worship. For some, it is an engine for social justice. For others, it’s a place of transcendent cultural gifts exported to the world, from the soulful voices of preachers and congregants to the sublime sounds of gospel music. For the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., going to church in America also was “the most segregated hour” of the week.

Executive Producer, Host, and Writer Henry Louis Gates, Jr. traces how this came to be in the 400 year-old story of the Black church in America, all the way down to its bedrock role as the site of African American survival and endurance, grace and resilience, thriving and testifying, freedom and independence, solidarity and speaking truth to power.









Described as limited-release, high-quality titles that have captured the imagination of movie lovers, the Virginia Theatre’s Arthouse Experience Film Series is programmed by special guest curator Sanford Hess.

The movies that Mr. Hess selects—a mix of award-winners, Ebertfest favorites, and recent classics—are presented one Friday each month on the Virginia’s 52-foot wide movie screen, with state-of-the-art surround sound.

Each film will be followed by a post-show discussion and in some cases an on-stage talk by directors, producers, and other special guests. Presented by Illinois Public Media, home of WILL-TV, WILL-AM, and WILL-FM.