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New York, NY – February 1, 2022 – AMC Networks is celebrating Black History Month with the rollout of its 9th annual, award-winning Black History Month Public Service Announcement campaign, in partnership with members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) and Color of Change, the nation’s largest online racial justice organization. The spots will begin airing on February 1st across the company’s national networks, including AMC, BBC AMERICA, IFC, SundanceTV, WE tv, AVOD/FAST channels, and streaming service ALLBLK, and run throughout February.
Under the overall theme “A Closer Look at the Black Experience,” the PSA campaign features eight U.S. Members of Congress from the CBC addressing pressing issues that impact the Black community, ranging from safeguarding voting rights, the importance of portrayals of Black joy and success in media, to protecting Black health and wellness.
Members of Congress featured in this year’s PSA campaign include CBC Chairwoman Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-OH), House Majority Whip Rep. James E. Clyburn (D-SC), Rep. André Carson (D-IN), Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL), Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA), Rep. Lucy McBath (D-GA), Rep. Don Payne Jr.(D-NJ), and Rep. Nikema Williams (D-GA).
“We are honored to continue our longstanding partnership with the Congressional Black Caucus, along with our partner Color of Change, to reflect on and amplify the Black experience and important issues impacting the Black community,” said Aisha Thomas-Petit, Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer at AMC Networks. “AMC Networks is committed to celebrating and highlighting Black history and culture all year long. We focus on increasing diverse representation throughout our business and creative process and use our platforms to share stories for and about people who have historically been underrepresented.”
“Honest representations of Black people, in all of our complexity, are important building blocks to change people’s behavior and build a less hostile, more human world for Black people in our country,” said Amity Paye, Senior Director of Communications at Color Of Change. “Partnering with AMC Networks and the Congressional Black Caucus on the Black History Month Public Service Announcement campaign is a powerful opportunity to uplift our stories—our whole truths—as Black people in ways that are radically authentic and inclusive. Allowing us to tell new stories and shape new narratives, from voting rights to Black joy and protecting our mental health, is how we change culture and build our power.”
This year’s PSA series contains four thematic spots that will air throughout February, including:
- “Our Power, Our Message”: How can the Congressional Black Caucus’ 2022 theme of “Our power, our message” be applied to the everyday experience of Black and brown communities? Featuring Representatives Nikema Williams, Danny Davis, Joyce Beatty, André Carson, Hank Johnson, and Lucy McBath.
- “Voting Rights”: Over 50 years ago, civil rights leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. fought for Black people to have the right to vote. While we’ve made great strides from the 1960s, we have also seen several states introduce a wave of bills that restrict these rights and make voting more challenging for disenfranchised communities. Featuring Representatives Danny Davis, Joyce Beatty, Nikema Williams, and André
- “Black Joy in Media”: A discussion of the importance of media celebrating Black success and happiness while still acknowledging trauma and hardship. Featuring Representatives Joyce Beatty, Hank Johnson, Nikema Williams, Lucy McBath, and Danny Davis.
- “Protecting Health”: Challenging social issues in America tend to have a greater effect on Black and brown communities. A look at how Black and brown people can protect themselves physically and mentally as they navigate the difficulties plaguing our communities and our country. Featuring Representatives Lucy McBath, Donald Payne Jr., and André Carson.
Additionally, AMC Networks will celebrate Black History Month across its linear networks and streaming platforms with special programming events, collections, and custom digital content.
On streaming, AMC+ will host “Black Stories & Storytellers,” a collection of critically acclaimed documentaries and feature films that will air all month long. The collection includes AMC+’s original series “Anne Boleyn,” starring NAACP Image Award nominee Jodie Turner-Smith, film classics like “The Hurricane,” and “A Raisin in the Sun,” and celebrated documentaries “The Stand: How One Gesture Shook the World,” and “Natural Hair: The Movie.” ALLBLK, the company’s streaming service dedicated to Black content and creators, will celebrate Black love, with a video series featuring ALLBLK talent answering questions about love and relationships. The spots will roll out weekly throughout the month of February.
Programming across its national networks will include: the AMC premiere of anthology “Horror Noire” showcasing stories of Black horror from Black directors and screenwriters; a special Black History Month Celebration on IFC featuring episodes of “Sherman’s Showcase” and the channel’s premiere of Boots Riley’s “Sorry to Bother You;” and programming on SundanceTV, including TV mini-series “Queen,” and films “Malcolm X,” “Ghosts of Mississippi,” ”Rosewood,” ”The Color Purple,” and the latest installment in the “Can We Talk About This?” documentary series featuring “The Witness: From the Balcony of Room 306.” WE tv will celebrate Black History Month with a Black History Month 2022 Power Playlist on Spotify, featuring powerful music from Black artists; a special “How to Celebrate Black History Month – Virtually!” blog post on WEtv.com; special “WE tv History Makers” and “Black History Makers video vlogs shared across WE tv’s social media featuring WE tv talent and others who have made history; and a social media video series featuring “Growing Up Hip Hop” cast members answering questions and discussing the importance of Black History Month.
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About AMC Networks
AMC Networks (Nasdaq: AMCX) is a global entertainment company known for its popular and critically-acclaimed content. Its brands include targeted streaming services AMC+, Acorn TV, Shudder, Sundance Now, ALLBLK, and the newest addition to its targeted streaming portfolio, the anime-focused HIDIVE streaming service, in addition to AMC, BBC AMERICA (operated through a joint venture with BBC Studios), IFC, SundanceTV, WE tv and IFC Films. AMC Studios, the Company’s in-house studio, production and distribution operation, is behind some of the biggest titles and brands known to a global audience, including The Walking Dead, the Anne Rice catalog and the Agatha Christie library. The Company also operates AMC Networks International, its international programming business, and 25/7 Media, its production services business.