Film Discussion: Mr. SOUL!

This is a panel discussion of the documentary. Watch the film ahead of time. It will be broadcast on PBS the evening of 22nd February and will be available to stream for free on PBS.org 23rd February.

Before Oprah, before Arsenio, there was Ellis Haizlip — Mr. SOUL! On the heels of the civil rights movement, the public television variety show SOUL!, offered an unfiltered, uncompromising celebration of Black literature, poetry, music, and politics—voices that had few other options for national television exposure.

Guided by the enigmatic producer and host Ellis Haizlip, the series was among the first to provide expanded images of Black Americans on television and recognise the vibrancy of the Black Arts Movement.

The film celebrates the groundbreaking PBS series against the backdrop of a swiftly changing political and social landscape, while profiling Haizlip, the charismatic man behind one of the most culturally significant and successful TV shows in U.S. history. With participants’ recollections and archival clips, Mr. SOUL! captures a critical moment in culture whose impact continues to resonate.

Panellists include Dr. Tani Sanchez of University of Arizona, Dr. Jacqueline Trimble of Alabama State and Cornelius Moore of California Newsreel.

Date & time:
25th Feb 2021 @ 9am – 10.30am (+08 UTC)