On this day, January 21, 1987, the groundbreaking civil rights documentary series Eyes on the Prize premiered on PBS. This 14-episode series provided a detailed, unflinching look at the American civil rights movement from the 1950s to the 1980s, chronicling key events and figures in the fight for racial equality.
Created and produced by Henry Hampton, Eyes on the Prize combined archival footage, interviews, and compelling narration to document the courage, struggles, and triumphs of individuals and communities that shaped the civil rights movement. The series remains one of the most important documentaries in American history and continues to educate new generations about this pivotal period.
Fun Fact: The series was divided into two parts: the first, Eyes on the Prize: America’s Civil Rights Years (1954–1965), and the second, Eyes on the Prize II: America at the Racial Crossroads (1965–1985), which aired in 1990.
Trivia Question: Which major 1955 event, widely considered a catalyst for the civil rights movement, is prominently featured in the first episode of Eyes on the Prize?
Created and produced by Henry Hampton, Eyes on the Prize combined archival footage, interviews, and compelling narration to document the courage, struggles, and triumphs of individuals and communities that shaped the civil rights movement. The series remains one of the most important documentaries in American history and continues to educate new generations about this pivotal period.
Fun Fact: The series was divided into two parts: the first, Eyes on the Prize: America’s Civil Rights Years (1954–1965), and the second, Eyes on the Prize II: America at the Racial Crossroads (1965–1985), which aired in 1990.
Trivia Question: Which major 1955 event, widely considered a catalyst for the civil rights movement, is prominently featured in the first episode of Eyes on the Prize?