Hermene Hartman, a distinguished media pioneer and one of a few African American publishers, has produced a five-part television series for Black History Month airing on NBC 5 Chicago.
“I am excited to be sharing with audiences the innovative, compelling, history-making and sometimes controversial stories of Black leaders that for too long, and too often are missing,” said host Hermene Hartman, multiple Emmy Award nominee for best interview/discussion content.
Hermene whose career began during the Civil Rights Movement and continues today fighting for human rights explores the unique and untold stories of people whose lives were deeply affected by the legacy of Rev. Martin King Jr., and the murder of Chicago’s Emmitt Till.
Here’s the Black History lineup, all programs are airing on NBC 5 Chicago at 1:00 A.M. CDT. All the shows are rebroadcast on Channel 25 in Chicago only, on Mondays at 8:00 P.M.; Wednesdays at 5:30 P.M.; and Saturday at 11 A.M.
January 27: “King, A Life”; Hermene hosts anexclusive in-depth interview with Jonathan Eig, on his New York Times best-selling and award-winning biography, “King, A Life.” Hermene and Eig will discuss growing up as “Michael,” the newly de-classified information from the government and much more that is encapsulated in the first biography written on Dr. King in over 35 years.
February 3: The Aftermath of Emmitt Till’s murder
Hermene talks with three men who were the same age as Emmitt Till when he was murdered in 1955 and gets them to share their very personal stories about how Till’s death changed their lives forever. The three men would go onto have successful careers in business, education, and human relations, however Till’s murder continues to shape and define their lives to this day.
February 10: Reparations
Hermene explores the topic of reparations through the lens of two Harvard graduates and professors. Her guests include John Palfrey, President of The MacArthur Foundation who looks at reparations from a philanthropic view. And Steve Rogers, author of A Letter to My White Friends and Colleagues, also an entrepreneur and economist, presents the economics argument of reparations.
February 17: Building a Cultural Community
Jackie Taylor, founder of the Black Ensemble Theater and a recent major grant recipient from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, joins Hermene to discuss the formula for creating a cultural community where people want to go to live, to work and to visit.
February 24: Dr. Cornel West
Dr. Cornel West, a scholar and 2024 presidential candidate talks with Hermene about the recent verdict on affirmative action, banning books, race, jazz, and politics.
About Hermene D. Hartman:
Hermene is the founder of N’DIGO, Chicago’s leading African American magapaper and one of the few African American women in publishing. Her career began during the Civil Rights movement working for Operation Breadbasket with Rev. Jesse Jackson. She coordinated the organization’s Black Expo and moved into producing public service programming for WBBM-TV Chicago and then publishing following her tenure as the first-ever woman to serve as vice-chancellor of the City Colleges of Chicago. During this time, Hermene recognized the need for honest representations rather than stereotypical images of African American culture in mainstream media so in 2018 Hermene launched a television production company, N’Digo Studio.
Previously she launched N’DIGO in 1989, Hermene has become well known for her publisher’s page and its insightful social commentary about important social issues and contemporary topics confronting African Americans and reflecting the interests of Chicago’s Black middle class. She earned graduate degrees in sociology and philosophy of education as well as an MBA from the University of Illinois.
