WHQR will continue its celebration of Black History Month with two programs airing on HQR News 91.3fm.
Witness History: Friday, February 26th, at 12pm, rebroadcast on Sunday, February 28th at 1pm
This special features eyewitness accounts of important moments in recent African American history. We hear from the daughter of the man named in the court case which became a turning point in the battle for civil rights, plus the sister of a teenage girl killed in a racist bomb attack. We learn how the winning performance of an all-Black basketball team helped change White American's attitude to segregation in sport. Later, hear about Rodney King, whose attack by police in 1991 was caught on camera and seen by millions - the later acquittal of the officers sparked days of rioting. Finally we hear from Bilal Chatman, who was sentenced to 150 years in prison under the 1994 'three strikes law' which disproportionately affected Black Americans. Presenter Max Pearson talks to Professor Gloria Browne-Marshall of John Jay College of Criminal Justice to help put it all into context.