Dr. Maya Angelou's Blacks, Blues, Black!

As Dr. Angelou puts it: "What is Africa to me?" Includes scenes of Dr. Angelou in the studio discussing "positive Africanisms": children's games, dance, poetry, religion and the blues.

Dr. Angelou is in the studio discussing issues relating to "negative Africanisms," which she characterizes as modes of behavior which were neccesary as survival tactics for African Americans.

Dr. Angelou is in the studio reflecting on Africa's history and rich cultural legacy, using poetry, dance, analysis of the oral tradition and an interview with South African poet Willie Kgositsi.

Dr. Angelou discusses the function of music in Africa (used to communicate, entertain and instruct) and how slavery influenced the evolution of African American spiritual music.

Dr. Angelou is in the studio explaining why she feels it's essential to teach students a fully balanced account of African history.

Dr. Angelou reflects on how education has the power to transform or destroy the lives of African Americans.

Dr. Angelou argues that it's useless for African Americans to try and conform to white middle-class values, if they want to lead a productive and fulfilling life.

Dr. Angelou discusses "black art and black literature," with performances by Preston Webster (with Charles Hester), the Danny Duncan Dancers and students from the Martin Luther King School.

Dr. Angelou reflects on "violence in the black American world." She declares that: "I dedicate this program to the memory of Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Denmark Vesey ... to Dr. DuBois ... to the men and women who are nameless ... whose blood, whose agony we inherit."

Dr. Angelou recaps on subjects covered in the previous nine episodes and also provides a selected reading list (which appears on-screen) of books she feels will assist viewers for their own personal research. Ends with Dr. Angelou reading Margaret Walker's poem 'For My People', first published in 1942.