New York Noir: The History of Black New York

Originally aired on PBS, this documentary offers a brief overview of the history and accomplishments specific to black New Yorkers, from 1613 to the ’70s. Chapters focus on broad themes, such as “Early History,” which focuses on the slave trade; “Heroes,” which explores blacks’ role in the military during the 1863 draft riots through World Wars I and II; and “Politics & Civil Rights,” which profiles such prominent New Yorkers as Marcus Garvey and Jackie Robinson. Because of the brief running time, however, nothing is too deeply explored, and 20 years of history is sadly left out.

Shelf Talk: Viewers today are used to documentaries that educate and entertain, and unfortunately, New York Noir is not one of them. But for libraries and schools, this is a good, short history lesson that can be utilized during February, which is Black History Month.