Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance are teaming up on a new docuseries, One Thousand Years of Slavery – The Untold Story, and the Smithsonian Channel has revealed a first look before it’s premiere during Black History Month.
The four-part documentary will feature stories from individuals, detailing the lasting personal impact of slavery. Celebrities and community leaders such as Dr. Bernice King, Debbie Allen, Valerie Jarrett, Lorraine Toussaint, Soledad O’Brien, CCH Pounder, and Sen. Cory Booker will be appearing in the series, per Shadow and Act, with Vance narrating and producing alongside Bassett via Bassett Vance Productions.
“As an executive producer on One Thousand Years of Slavery, Bassett Vance Productions wanted to tell the globally comprehensive history of slavery,” Bassett said. “Finding the right partner and audience who share common beliefs and values was absolutely imperative as we navigate a topic that still haunts us decades later. One Thousand Years of Slavery stretches the canvas beyond the 400 years we’ve traditionally learned about, and I’m thrilled to bring this storytelling to life with Smithsonian Channel.”
The series will take a look at slavery in Africa, the Caribbean, the U.S., and Istanbul, in collaboration with MTV. Vance adds of the doc, which premieres on the Smithsonian on Feb. 7 at 8 p.m. ET, that the pair “couldn’t think of a better outlet to tell this important and increasingly relevant history.”
Take a look at the new trailer up top.