As part of HBCU Week NOW, PBS will spotlight History Of A National Treasure: Morgan State University, a dramatized documentary chronicling the esteemed institution’s 150-year history.
Morgan State’s journey, from its founding in 1867 as Centenary Biblical Institute to its current standing, is just one of the many stories PBS will showcase during its dedicated programming. HBCU Week, which kicked off on Sept. 2 and runs through Sept. 8.
This year’s HBCU Week features 30 hours of programming, including 12 premiere films across our TV, social media, and online platforms. It also expanded its themes beyond history and education to include films on HBCU contributions to the arts, music, and sports.
According to Afro News, the documentary made its debut on Aug. 27 at Maryland Public Television’s studio in front of key university leaders, including Morgan State University President Dr. David K. Wilson, Board of Regents Chair Congressman Kwesi Mfume, Regent Dr. Linda Gilliam, and Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown.
The origins of the documentary stem from a significant gap Dr. Wilson discovered while searching Morgan State’s library. He could not find a comprehensive history of the university until former Regent and Dean Emeritus Dr. Burney J. Hollis helped uncover the university’s founders’ stories.
One poignant example is that of Rev. Samuel Green Sr., a university founder who was imprisoned in 1857 for possessing Uncle Tom’s Cabin, which was considered illegal abolitionist material. Upon his release, Rev. Green, alongside Rev. Benjamin Brown, Rev. Elijah Grissom, Rev. James Harper, and Rev. James Peck, established the university with the mission of educating the formerly enslaved.
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Travis Mitchell, Senior Vice President and Chief Content Officer for Maryland Public Television, emphasized the importance of continuing to tell the stories of HBCUs. “When we tell our story, not only do we remember who we are, but we empower a new generation of young people with the knowledge of who they are called to become. Morgan is only one of 107 HBCUs, and each school has thousands of untold stories in its history, students, and alumni,” Mitchell told Afro News.
Led by DeWayne Wickham, Morgan State University’s Inaugural Dean Emeritus and the film’s writer and producer, 37 students from the School of Global Journalism and Communication contributed to the 37-minute documentary. Wickham, who also founded the National Association of Black Journalists, praised the students’ dedication and hard work in bringing the project to life.
Rep. Mfume, who spoke at the screening, reflected on his time as a student at Morgan State. “It was like a dream come true. It did for me then what it continues to do for so many young people now. That is to meet them where they are, lift them up, and remind them that they are indeed somebody,” he said.
History Of A National Treasure: Morgan State University is a profound testament to the university’s resilience and ongoing commitment to academic excellence. Its story reflects the larger narrative of HBCUs in shaping generations of Black scholars and leaders.
The documentary is available to stream on YouTube.
