Black History Month Programming-Must See...

This list is a little overwhelming all in one month, but this happens every year. Watch what you can and recommend those programs that are particularly good. NBC Feb. 20: "Little Richard." NBC original movie stars Leon, Garrett Morris and Carl Lumbly in a biographical account of the rock 'n'roll icon. Robert Townsend directs! PBS Feb. 16: "Great Performances" presents "Aida's Brothers andSisters: Black Voices in Opera." Documentary salutes AfricanAmerican opera stars, including Sissieretta Jones, an ex-slave who performed for four U.S. Presidents. Feb. 16: "Nadro." Documentary about the African artist. Feb. 17: "Ellis Marsalis: Jazz is Spoken Here." This special profiles jazz great Wynton's father, who also happens to be a pianist, teacher and role model. Feb. 18: "I'll Make Me a World: A Century of African-American Arts." Parts 3 and 4 take a look at racial barriers being broken. Feb. 20: Independent Lens (10:00-11:00 p.m. ET)"Hip Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes"This film takes an in-depth look at machismo in rap music and hip-hop culture ­ where creative genius, poetic beauty and mad beats collide with misogyny, violence and homophobia. By Byron Hurt http://www.pbs.org/independentlensFeb'>http://www.pbs.org/independentlens">http://www.pbs.org/independentlens Feb. 21: "A Walk through Harlem with David Hartman andHistorian Barry Lewis." An exploration of New York's mostfamous neighborhood. Feb. 21: Ralph Ellison's "King of the Bingo Game." A dramaticadaptation of Ellison's short story. Feb. 23: "Black Women On: The Light, Dark Thang." Thisdocumentary explores racial prejudice in the Black communityfrom the female perspective. Feb. 24: "Great Performances" presents "Dance in America:A Hymn for Alvin Ailey." Dancer/choreographer Judith Jamisonand performance artist Anna Deavere Smith. Feb. 25: "I'll Make Me a World: A Century of African-AmericanArts." The last two parts profile African-American artists from the1960s to the present. Feb. 27: "All God's Children." A documentary on the alienation of the gay community. Feb. 27: The Kennedy Center Presents: "A Tribute to Muddy Waters, King of the Blues." Billy Dee Williams hosts; Bo Diddley, Phoebe Snow, Peter Wolf and others. Feb. 28: "The America Experience" presents "John Brown's Holy War." Joe Morton narrates this documentary aboutBrown's crusade against slavery.