The series begins at a turning point in American history: the Selma marches and Watts riots that marked a new phase in the black struggle. Gates explores the rising call for Black Power, redefining American culture, politics, and society.

The second hour dramatizes the diverging paths for African Americans and outbursts of white backlash that emerged in the 1970s and early ‘80s. Gates explores how African Americans found new sources of hope from the creation of hip-hop.

The third hour reveals profound fissures within the country—and within black America—that deepened through the 1980s and ‘90s, just as African Americans were becoming more visible than ever.

The final hour brings the story up to the present day. Gates celebrates how far African Americans have come toward equality and raises hard questions about the obstacles that remain.