Henry Louis Gates Jr. stands in front of stained glass at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. (Photo courtesy of McGee Media)
The history of Black Christianity in America came to television screens this month in a documentary series based on a new book by Henry Louis "Skip" Gates Jr., a Harvard University historian who is simultaneously an admirer and a critic of its influential role in American society.
Gates' book,
The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song, was released Feb. 16, the same day the four-hour documentary began a two-day run on PBS stations. (The documentary is available to stream for free on pbs.org.) Musicians John Legend and Yolanda Adams are featured in the series.