Get On Up: The Triumph of Black America

Actor David Harewood takes us on a journey across America to meet his heroes and discover some of the true stories behind the incredible African American artists who captivated him, inspired him and changed the course of his life. Along the way, he discovers how these performers, filmmakers and writers have come to transform popular culture around the world.

In the first episode, David takes us from the decade of his birth, the 1960s, to the birth of hip-hop in the 1990s. He explores the creation of Motown and its long-term effects on integration, Sidney Poitier's stand against racism during the production of In the Heat of the Night, how the series Roots helped to force America to reckon with its past, and how blaxploitation films redefined the film business.

David Harewood takes us from the birth of hip-hop in the early 1980s to the present day, exploring how a new generation of producers and performers increasingly began to own their 'creative capital', and became billionaires with lifestyles to match.

He explores the influence of hip-hop on 90s film with director Allen Hughes, meets The Wire actor Jamie Hector, learns about the bling and excess of Puff Daddy's parties from his in-house photographer Johnny Nunez, talks with choreographer Sherrie Silver about her work on Childish Gambino's This Is America video, and meets Black Panther star Florence Kasumba.