Out of a dire need for more programming focusing specifically on the global black experience, a group of aspiring producers and filmmakers created “AfroPop: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange,” to give viewers a unique portrait of black life other than what is widely portrayed in mainstream media.
AfroPoP is a public television show based in the U.S. featuring independent documentaries and short films about life, art and culture from throughout the African Diaspora which includes all of Africa, the Caribbean, Canada, South America, Europe, the U.S. and anywhere people of African descent have made a significant contribution to the culture. AfroPoP, according to its webpage, is the only series on American public television focusing solely on stories from the African Diaspora.
The independent documentary series is produced by Black Public Media (BPM), of which Leslie Fields-Cruz is executive director, distributed by American Public Television (APT), and partially sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
“Many complicated, opposing and controversial viewpoints are often presented about Africa. Perhaps because of this, Africa is one of the most fertile grounds in our modern age for new, fresh and exciting exploration,” says an AfroPop webpage.
Mariama Shepherd
Angela Tucker, AfroPop, Co-Executive Producer
Angela Tucker, an Emmy-nominated producer, writer and director, will also play a crucial in the production and dissemination of the content included in this season of AfroPop.
The documentary series co-executive producer is based in New Orleans and has an extensive background in filmmaking and producing.
Some of her most noteworthy directorial work includes: “Paper Chase,” a teen comedy in pre-production with Gunpowder and Sky; “All Styles,” a feature length dance film in post-production starring Fik-shun (“So You Think You Can Dance”); “Black Folk Don’t,” a documentary web series featured in Time Magazine’s “10 Ideas That Are Changing Your Life,” and (A)Sexual, a feature-length documentary that streamed on Netflix and Hulu for four years.
“Since I was young, I was always aware of there not being enough content that was about black life,” Tucker said of what sparked her to interest in black filmmaking.
“I really just always think about myself as a young person and how I really longed to see people that looked like me. From seeing people that looked like me in all different types of situations, you know you’re better able to understand yourself and the world that you live in.”
The Brooklyn, N.Y., native went to film school at Columbia University, and from there entered into the film industry working initially at a social issues documentary production company, which is when she met Fields-Cruz, the founder of AfroPop.
“We just sort of had a shared interest in finding more out… about black media,” Tucker said of the relationship that she and Fields-Cruz developed early on.
AfroPop is a documentary series in its 11th season. It will feature stories spotlighting the global black experience, and was created mainly to help bring stories of the African diaspora to American viewers.
Tucker saw the series as a means for providing further opportunities for black up-and-coming filmmakers.
“I think AfroPop allows or provides an opportunity for filmmakers to really grapple with complicated issues that are facing black people.”
Terrence Jennings
Danielle Brooks, AfroPop Hostess
Each season has a different celebrity host. This season, Danielle Brooks will be the hostess and will be chiefly responsible for uniquely introducing the series’ five episodes. Brooks was approached by Fields-Cruz and series director Duana Butler, and agreed to host without hesitation.
Previous hosts of AfroPoP have included Idris Elba; Anika Noni Rose; Wyatt Cenac; Gabourey Sidibe; Anthony Mackie; Yaya DaCosta; Jussie Smollett; Nikki Beharie; and Nicholas L. Ashe.
This season will premiere on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, January 21, 2019 at 8 p.m. on the WORLD Channel, which is offered on most cable television providers. New episodes will air every Monday through February 18, 2019.
Tucker, moreover, accentuated the necessity for cross-cultural understanding in regards to the enlightenment AfroPop will provide for those unfamiliar with black culture.
“And also for people who are not black, I think it’s important for them to have a better understanding of different aspects of black life, just to understand us better.”
Throughout AfroPop’s offseason, episodes from this season will be rebroadcast on various channels. Tucker has been with AfroPop since 2011. She explained how the series has evolved, especially in its delivery to diverse audiences.
“One thing I would say is the internet has played a big role in letting more people have a better understanding [and] know how to find the series, and kind of raise the profile of the series,” she said.
“I think every year more and more people know about that, and that only benefits not only the films but the filmmakers. And I think we’ve always been really fortunate to get talent who also kind of helped raise the profile of that.”
The main topics covered in the upcoming season of AfroPop will include a look into the genocide in Rwanda, black politicians in the U.S., “a law enforcement unit in charge of fighting against abuse of Congolese women and children” activism against apartheid in South Africa and black cultural identity.
The single greatest aspect of AfroPop, said Tucker, is that it sends a message that the black community is not monolithic.
“There’s no one set of experiences that are singular to the black community,” she said. “So what this season rolls out— you’re able to really see that first hand by traveling all over the world.”
Tucker said she expects the docuseries gives the black audience an experience it will never forget.
“I hope that [black America] not only gets to see different parts of the world, but also what different characters felt.”
Viewers can find more information on the series, by visiting www.blackpublicmedia.org, http://afropop.tv/ or following them on Twitter (@BLKPublicMedia) or on Facebook. For viewing information, check local listings or www.APTonline.org.