Boston, MA - July 20, 2023 - GBH, the leading public media organization in America, will be the exclusive public media partner for the NAACP's 114th National Convention, taking place in Boston from July 28 to August 1. GBH will provide extensive on-site coverage of the landmark gathering with Boston Public Radio and Basic Black, the longest-running program on public television focusing on the interests of people of color. AMERICAN EXPERIENCE, which is produced at GBH, will preview a compelling new documentary, "The Busing Battleground," a powerful telling of the tumultuous integration of the Boston Public Schools through a court-mandated busing plan in the 1970s.
"At GBH, we are committed to covering important events, being present in our community, and representing our audiences, both in the stories we tell and how we tell them," said Susan Goldberg, President and CEO of GBH. "We are excited to welcome the NAACP to Boston and are proud to be a part of the exchange of ideas in our hometown."
On Friday, July 28, from 11-5 pm, GBH News will be live from The Hub, the convention's social focal point, which is free and open to the public. From
11 am - 2 pm, the GBH News radio show Boston Public Radio will broadcast a special live episode. Hosts Jim Braude and Margery Eagan will conduct live interviews with prominent convention guests and attendees to give listeners a first-hand experience of the convention. This program will air on GBH 89.7 and stream on YouTube. In addition, BPR will record conversations to air on Monday, July 31.
Following the live episode of Boston Public Radio, GBH audiences will also be welcomed into the heart of the action through a live-streamed special episode of Basic Black. NAACP Boston President, attorney and civil rights leader Tanisha Sullivan will host the program for the first time. Basic Black, originally called Say Brother, was created in 1968, during the height of the civil rights movement, as a response to the demand for public television programs reflecting the concerns of communities of color.
Finally, following the live stream of Basic Black, GBH News Reporter Saraya Wintersmith will host a panel discussion about reparations, drawing from her extensive experience covering the national issue.
On Sunday, July 30, at 2:30 pm on The Hub stage, AMERICAN EXPERIENCE Executive Producer Cameo George will host a preview of the upcoming documentary, "The Busing Battleground." Using eyewitness accounts, oral histories and news footage that hasn't been seen in decades to pull back the curtain on the volatile effort to end school segregation, "The Busing Battleground" details the decades-long struggle for educational equity that preceded the crisis. The preview will feature select clips from the film along with a discussion with filmmakers Sharon Grimberg and Cyndee Readdean.
“The NAACP is excited to have GBH as a media partner for this first-of-its-kind NAACP National Convention media experience,” said Trovon Williams, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications. “In order to foster meaningful dialogue, we must have media outlets who are consistently amplifying diverse voices. Our partnership with GBH is further evidence of a collective commitment between our organizations to innovatively advance progress. We look forward to the profound impact this partnership will have on our Greater New England community and all NAACP Convention attendees.”
GBH News reporters will be on-site to cover the convention, reporting for the multiplatform coverage on GBH 89.7FM, www.gbhnews.org and social media. GBH will also attend the convention’s Career Fair at The Hub on Saturday, August 1, from noon to 4 pm. For more information about GBH and the NAACP Convention, visit gbh.org/NAACP23.
About GBH
GBH is the leading multiplatform creator for public media in America. As the largest producer of content for PBS and partner to NPR and PRX, GBH delivers compelling experiences, stories and information to audiences wherever they are. GBH produces digital and broadcast programming that engages, illuminates and inspires, through drama and science, history, arts, culture and journalism. It is the creator of such signature programs as MASTERPIECE, ANTIQUES ROADSHOW, FRONTLINE, NOVA, AMERICAN EXPERIENCE, Arthur and Molly of Denali and a catalog of streaming series, podcasts and on-demand video. GBH’s television channels include GBH 2, GBH 44, GBH Kids and national services WORLD and Create. With studios and a newsroom headquartered in Boston, GBH reaches across New England with GBH 89.7, Boston’s Local NPR; CRB Classical 99.5; and CAI, the Cape and Islands NPR station. Dedicated to making media accessible to and inclusive of our diverse culture, GBH is a pioneer in delivering media to those who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind and visually impaired. GBH creates curriculum-based digital content for educators nationwide with PBS LearningMedia and has been recognized with hundreds of the nation’s premier broadcast, digital and journalism awards. Find more information at gbh.org.
About NAACP
The NAACP advocates, agitates, and litigates for the civil rights due to Black America. Our legacy is built on the foundation of grassroots activism by the biggest civil rights pioneers of the 20th century and is sustained by 21st century activists. From classrooms and courtrooms to city halls and Congress, our network of members across the country works to secure the social and political power that will end race-based discrimination. That work is rooted in racial equity, civic engagement, and supportive policies and institutions for all marginalized people. We are committed to a world without racism where Black people enjoy equitable opportunities in thriving communities.
