Three New Original Programs for Black History Month Premiering on Redbox and Crackle Apps
February 21, 2023
Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment is celebrating Black History Month with the premiere of three new original programs. The docuseries “HBCU Homecomings: The Journey to the Yard,” presented by American Family Insurance, “The HBCU Honors Award Show” and the historical documentary Miami’s Richmond Heights: The Black Shangri-La are now available to stream for free through the Redbox and Crackle apps.
The titles were produced by Hip Rock Star, an award-winning, socially-conscious media production and 360 agency, and are part of an ongoing relationship with Publicis Media’s APX Content Ventures to create quality content that elevates diverse voices and storylines, according to Chicken Soup.
“We’re thrilled to be working with Hip Rock Star and APX Content Ventures to bring these amazing series to our viewers,” Phil Oppenheim, chief content officer of Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, said in a statement. “I know our audience will find them inspiring and insightful.”
“The debut of these highly anticipated series parallel so harmoniously with the importance of telling and preserving Black history,” Jessica Garrett Modkins, CEO and founder of Hip Rock Star and the docuseries’ executive producer, director and writer, said in a statement. “It is our mission to be a catalyst for truth — to provide intentional documentation of our Black experience. APX’s support of black content curators is unprecedented and provides an opportunity for filmmakers to continue to validate the life experiences of Black people. Telling these stories and honoring the amazing individuals in our projects is essential to preserving our history. I am honored that we can give viewers distinctive, meaningful, and comprehensive content and entertainment that elevates our unique experiences, voices, and timeless stories surrounding the black community.”
“HBCU Homecomings: The Journey to the Yard,” through narration, interviews, archival photographs, videos and much more, showcases the exhilarating journey of homecomings at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). From packing and missed flights to cars towed and late-night parties, the series provides an authentic walk through the HBCU experience and culture. Schools featured include Bethune Cookman University, Florida A&M University, Grambling State University, Hampton University, Howard University, North Carolina A&T State University and Jackson State University.
The inaugural “HBCU Honors Award Show” showcases the “Who’s Who of HBCUs,” and celebrates the best and brightest HBCU alumni across various industries. The event was held at the Black Archives-Historic Lyric Theater in Miami, Fla. Emmy award-winning actress and producer Wendy Raquel Robinson, a Howard University alumna, hosted the all-star night of Black Excellence. HBCU Honors salute game-changers, innovators, legends and history-makers. The event pays tribute to HBCU alumni who have made an indelible mark on the Black community and beyond. With recent HBCU historical firsts, including the inauguration of United States Vice President Kamala Harris, these institutions of higher learning have been placed on the world’s center stage. Eight esteemed HBCU alumni were lauded during the awards ceremony who excelled at the highest levels in aerospace and aviation, business, entrepreneurship, public service, media, entertainment, and academia.
Based on the book “Images of America: Miami’s Richmond Heights” by co-authors Patricia Harper Garrett and The Historical Society’s founder and executive director Jessica Garrett Modkins, Miami’s Richmond Heights: The Black Shangri-La explores the lives of early black World War II veterans in detail and the rationale of the white developer Capt. Frank C. Martin who perpetuated social change during Jim Crow. Martin made a bold and unpopular decision in 1949 to build a self-contained community for these veterans. The documentary introduces the grandchildren of the 1949 black World War II veteran homeowners. It explores how the tight-knit community propelled them to their chosen professions and how the legacy continues today. The documentary also takes a closer look at the socioeconomic fabric of this time, segregation and civil rights.
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Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment’s Crackle and Redbox streaming services are distributed through nearly 160 touchpoints in the United States on platforms including Amazon Fire TV, RokuTV, Apple TV, smart-TVs (Samsung, LG, Vizio), gaming consoles (PS4 and Xbox One), Plex, iOS, Android mobile devices and on desktops at Crackle.com and Redbox.com.