1/3. Black Panther activist-turned-pop-producer Nile Rodgers acknowledges the 40th anniversary of the signing of the American Civil Rights Act, which outlawed segregation following over a century of discrimination, abuse, powerlessness and suffering for black people, most notably in the Deep South. The series recalls the landmark events that galvanised the civil rights movement, from the murder of 14-year-old Emmett Till to Rosa Parks's refusal to surrender her bus seat to a white man. Featuring a soundtrack to the era - from Mahalia Jackson to Bob Dylan - and countless interviews with the likes of the Rev Jesse Jackson and Diane Nash, who led the lunch-counter sit-ins in Nashville.

[Photo caption] Teenager Emmett Till, who was beaten to death in 1955 for whistling at a white woman in Mississippi

Walking with the Wind 8.30pm R2
In light of the recent D-Day memorial services, it comes as a shock to learn in this programme that when the Second World War finished, many black GIs found that the dream of freedom they'd been fighting for in Europe wasn't a reality at home. Worse still are stories like that of the brutal murder of a teenager called Emmett Till, who made fatal mistake when he went to stay with his uncle in Mississippi in the summer of 1955. He whistled at a white woman. Her husband and half-brother beat him to death but were cleared of his murder by an all-white, all-male jury. This tragedy shocked America into finally recognising the evil injustices being perpetrated in the South. Over the next three weeks, the musician and producer Nile Rodgers presents a documentary on the struggle for black civil rights in 60s America, illustrated throughout with songs that contributed to the movement.

Contributors

Presenter:: Nile Rodgers
Interviewee:: Rev. Jesse Jackson
Interviewee:: Diane Nash
Producer:: John Leonard
Producer:: Vince Hunt

Source: Radio Times

21:30

Empress of the Blues

BBC Radio 2

Tue 6^th Jul 2004, 21:30 on BBC Radio 2

6/6. George Melly concludes an affectionate profile of the great blues and jazz singer Bessie Smith. The series winds down with a look at Smith's roots, her continuing influence and a further evaluation of her 20s and 30s recordings. Guests include Bill Wyman, biographer Chris Albertson, singer Corinne Drewery and writer Edward Albee.