*Ahead of its Feb 21, 8 p.m. premiere, PBS has released clips and extras from its incredible new American Masters offering, “Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise.”
Filmmakers Bob Hercules and Rita Coburn Whack use never-before-seen footage, rare archival images and the late author’s own words in what is inexplicably the first ever feature-length documentary on the celebrated national treasure.
Viewers are taken through her upbringing in the Depression-era South and her early performing days (1957’s “Miss Calypso” album and movie “Calypso Heat Wave,” Jean Genet’s 1961 play The Blacks), and through her work with Malcolm X in Ghana and literary successes, including her inaugural poem for President Bill Clinton.
The two-hour film also includes interviews with Dr. Angelou, her friends and family, including Clinton, Oprah Winfrey, Common, Alfre Woodard, Cicely Tyson, Quincy Jones, Hillary Clinton, Louis Gossett, Jr., John Singleton, Diahann Carroll, Valerie Simpson, Random House editor Bob Loomis and Dr. Angelou’s son, Guy Johnson.
“American Masters – Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise,” premieres nationwide Tuesday, February 21 at 8 p.m. on PBS (check local listings) as part of Black History Month and the 31st season of THIRTEEN’s American Masters series. PBS Distribution will release the film on DVD the same day, with additional bonus features, and on Digital HD February 22.
View clips and extras from the film below:
