The 400 Hour – 400 Years of African American History Commission

The 400 Hour is a series of programs highlighting issues of interest to the community. Episodes include stores about a Miss Black USA Luncheon, the launch of the I Fear for My Life campaign, that examines the strained relationship between communities of color and law enforcement, reparations, and recovering lost histories of African American military heroes. The 400 Hour is a must-see program that represents Black Excellence and promotes contributions African Americans have made and continue to make to this country.

Episode 5: African American Fallen Heroes

Premiering May 29th...

In this special program, we honor some of the contributions of African American fallen heroes whose stories have gone untold and uncelebrated for far too long. From the Civil War to Desert Storm. Even though they weren’t always recognized as full citizens, people of color have fought and died for this country and the freedoms that this democracy promises. Interviews include the descendants and advocates of some of those Fallen Heroes; Evelyn Byrd, great, great, great niece of the only Medal of Honor Recipient from Harford County during the Civil War, Alfred B. Hilton; Michael Stewart, son of Capt. Samuel Stewart, who was killed in Vietnam during the TET Offensive; and Ret. Army Col. Edna Cummings, advocate for the 6888, better known as the Six Triple Eight, the all black female unit who served in WWII and the three women who lost their lives in Normandy.
Click here to watch the program live Monday, May 29th at 7pm!

Episode 4: Black Coal Miners of Appalachia

In this episode...

Black Coal Miners of Appalachia is a Special presentation of the 400 HOUR that will look at the history of African Americans who worked the coal mines of Appalachia and will feature former coal miners diagnosed with coal workers’ pneumoconiosis commonly known as “black lung disease,” or progressive massive fibrosis (PMF), a late-stage chronic form of CWP. Experts on the program include Dr. David Blackley, an epidemiologist with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and Dr. William Turner, author of The Harlan Renaissance: Stories of Black Life in Appalachian Coal Towns. It also includes an interview with Howard Berkes, a former NPR reporter and co-producer of the PBS Frontline documentary Coal’s Deadly Dust.

Episode 3: Justice Sunday, 1/9/2023

In this episode...

This episode previews Justice Sunday: Service Around the Clock, hosted by acclaimed actor/producer Ernie Hudson and featuring award-winning African American icons from music, advocacy, and politics. We also introduce the film “Aberdeen Gardens 158: Built By Us For Us,” funded by a 400 grant, and give you a taste of Atlanta’s incredible Apex Museum. Finally, we celebrate the 400’s award from the National Black Caucus of State Legislators as a 2022 National Nation Builder, along with Congressman Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Melanie Cambell (President and CEO of the National Black Coalition of Black Civic Participation), and Prime Minister of Jamaica Andrew Holness.

Episode 2: Reparations

In this episode...

The focus of this episode is on Reparations. It was shot on location at the Great Black and Wax Museum in Baltimore, MD and includes an interview with Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee who is garnering support for HR40, initially submitted by Congressman John Conyers, to investigate the case for reparations for African Americans in this country. A conversation between Commissioner Rev. Joseph Green and Univ. of Maryland Professor Dr. Rashawn Ray about the case for reparations. It also includes some historic context to the reparations debate from Commissioner Prophet Anyanwu Cox. We share a clip from the film “Elevating the Black Wall Street Mindset”, a commission film that can be seen on their streaming channel. And a discussion with Commissioner Ted Ellis and Dr. Carmaletta Williams, CEO of the Black Archives of Mid America museum that produced a film called “Inconceivable Journey” and that works with young people in Kansas City, MO to research and disseminate information about the contributions African Americans have made to this country.

Episode 1: Series Premiere, 9/6/22

In this episode...

Taped on location at the Mitchell Center for African American Heritage in Wilmington, DE, this segment includes a luncheon hosted by the Commission for Ms. Black USA Scholarship Pageant contestants and the introduction of the Stronger Than Campaign to the organization that will partner in future Stronger Than endeavors. The introduction of the I Fear For My Life project at the National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice annual conference in Charlotte, NC and the launch of the Ifearformylife.org website. Introduction of the 4 part series “Revitalizing America’s Historic All-Black Towns”. Introduced Elizabeth Eckford, one of the Little Rock Nine students whose complete interview can be seen in the Stronger Than video on the streaming channel. It also includes a piece on Bettey Soskin, 100 year old NPS Ranger whose complete interview can also be seen in the Stronger Than video. A clip from an interview with Sarah Collins Rudolph, one of the survivors of the 16th St. Baptist Church in Birmingham, AL. Her complete interview can be seen in a Justice Sunday moment. A story about the Reckoning exhibit at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in DC. And an introduction to the Commissions Freedom Forward event that is a part of their America 250 campaign.