OWN airing monthlong celebration honoring civil rights legends

Throughout January, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network will be airing a month of programs honoring civil rights legends as the 50th anniversary of the historic Selma to Montgomery marches led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. nears.

oprah-selma

On Jan. 4, at 9pm ET/PT, Oprah will host a special episode of Oprah Prime, celebrating the life of Dr. King and the Selma marches. The episode features a conversation with David Oyelowo, who portrays Dr. King in the new movie Selma, along with the film’s director, Ava DuVernay. The episode also looks at stories of those impacted by the march and their reflections on that time in American history. This program is followed at 10pm by Oprah’s Master Class, featuring firsthand accounts from iconic “masters” such as Berry Gordy Jr., Cicely Tyson, Dr. Maya Angelou, Diahann Carroll (featured in video below) and more.

On Jan. 18, the centerpiece of OWN’s civil rights programming will air at 9pm — Oprah Winfrey Presents: Legends Who Paved the Way. Here, Oprah hosts a gala of events honoring some of the men and women of the civil rights movement and the arts and entertainment. Honorees include Ambassador Andrew Young, Berry Gordy, Jr., Rev. C.T. Vivian, Diane Nash, Dick Gregory, Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., Congressman John Lewis, Rev. Joseph Lowery, Juanita Jones Abernathy, Julian Bond, Marian Wright Edelman, Myrlie Evers-Williams, Quincy Jones, Sidney Poitier and Harry Belafonte.

In addition, the world television premiere of the OWN original documentary Light Girls will air on Monday, Jan. 19 at 9 p.m. ET/PT featuring an in-depth look into colorism and the untold stories of lighter-skinned women around the globe. The documentary features interviews with notable celebrities including Russell Simmons, Soledad O’Brien, Diahann Carroll, India Arie, Iyanla Vanzant, Michaela Angela Davis, Kym Whitley, Salli Richardson-Whitfield and more.

OWN CIVIL RIGHTS PROGRAMMING (ALL TIMES EASTERN)

SUNDAY, JAN. 4

9pm: Oprah Prime: Celebrating Dr. King and The Selma Marches 50 Years Later

10pm: Oprah’s Master Class: Civil Rights Special 

SUNDAY, JAN. 18

9pm: Oprah Winfrey Presents: Legends Who Paved The Way

MONDAY, JAN. 19

9pm: Light Girls

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Photo courtesy of Harpo Studios, Inc.