Before Social Media, They Had This Raw Debate on Live TV

This informal discussion aired on PBS in 1968 as part of a series focused on presenting Black American life and perspectives through a Black lens. The program was executive produced and directed by Bill Greaves, and most of the production team was Black.

The reporter featured in the program was from the Chicago Daily Defender, then the largest Black newspaper in the country. Her segment explored the rise of the “new Black woman” during a period when conversations around Black consciousness, “Black is beautiful,” Black power, and the dynamics between Black men and women were taking center stage. People were openly discussing the structure of the Black family and the roles and expectations placed on both men and women.

The production team brought Black men and women together for a candid discussion, creating a moment in time that still feels striking to watch today, especially when reflecting on how those conversations connect to what has happened within the Black family over the years.