Related > Cover Story: Rise Up
Disney XD: The net launched an initiative Feb. 1 that began with the story of acclaimed African-American pilot Charles Alfred “Chief” Anderson Sr., known as the “Father of Black Aviation” for his brave leadership as the chief civilian flight instructor for the Tuskegee Airmen. The story, hosted by Nathaniel Potvin (Disney XD’s MECH-X4), originates from the nonprofit Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum in Compton, Calif., and includes the museum’s founder and executive director, Robin Petgrave; Ted Lumpkin of the 100th Fighter Squadron; and Kimberly Anyadike, the youngest African-American woman to pilot an airplane across the United States.
Nickelodeon: The kids-targeted network is celebrating Black History Month with a series of PSAs honoring influential African-Americans who are making history today. Nick’s original 30-second spots will highlight the accomplishments of Gordon Bellamy, a game and interactive entertainment executive; Elaine Welteroth, editor in chief of Teen Vogue; Misty Copeland, principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre; and Marcus Samuelsson, celebrity chef and restaurateur. The interstitials show how these individuals are breaking boundaries, achieving remarkable success in their respective fields and encouraging kids to make history.
Related > Black History Month: What to Watch
Disney Junior: For younger viewers (age 2-7), Doc McStuffins, the title character from the acclaimed animated series, introduces notable women and men in a series of interstitials launching on Disney Junior Feb. 8. They are: Stephanie R. Grant, a pilot who led the first all-women African-American flight crew to operate a commercial airliner; Disney legend Floyd Norman, who in the 1950s was one of the first African-American animators at Walt Disney Studios; and Dr. Myiesha Taylor, an emergency doctor and founder of the Artemis Medical Society, an organization comprising more than 4,700 women physicians of color from around the world.
Related > MCN Original Video: John Legend Discusses 'Underground' Season 2 in a Multicultural Perspectives Segment
Disney Channel: The Mouse network has created interstitial segments honring notable African-Americans who have influenced and inspired kids and families, including Martin Luther King Jr., former President Barack Obama, Jackie Robinson, Maya Angelou, Ella Fitzgerald, Lee Daniels, Viola Davis and others. Among the featured segments: The story of Descendants star Cameron Boyce and his personal connection to The Clinton 12, the historical African-American teens who in 1956 were first to integrate a public school in the South. Boyce’s grandmother, Jo Ann Allen Boyce, was among The Clinton 12.
