KCET's SoCal Connected Honors Martin Luther King Jr. Day With Discussion of Politics, Entertainment and Living in a 'Post Racial Society'
Guests to Include Joe Hicks, Erin Aubry Kaplan, John Ridley,
Charmaine Jefferson, Frank Gilliam and Fernando Guerra
BURBANK, CA - January 16, 2013 - Following President Barack Obama's Official Inauguration this weekend, SoCal Connected will air a special episode in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. on MLK Day, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013. The show will be divided into three separate discussions focused on politics, arts & entertainment, and living in a "post-racial society."
Panel topics include: the state of the African American population in terms of demographics and jobs in Southern California; the portrayal of African Americans in TV and film - both in front of and behind the camera; the influence of African Americans on popular music and other art forms; and the changing scenery of politics, both on state and national levels. The panels will be moderated by SoCal Connected host Val Zavala and special correspondent Madeleine Brand.
Viewers can tune in on Monday to hear the expert panelists discuss such issues as what the reelection of President Barack Obama signifies in terms of the country's racial tolerance; what it means to live in a "post-racial society"; and the current status of African Americans in the entertainment industry.
The following special guests will weigh in on the discussions:
Joe Hicks: Vice President, Community Advocates Inc., former Executive Director, Los Angeles City Human Relations Commission and Co-Founder & Executive Director of the Multi-Cultural Collaborative
Erin Aubry Kaplan: Los Angeles Times contributing editor
John Ridley: Author and screenwriter
Charmaine Jefferson: Executive Director, California African American Museum and Executive Vice President, Friends, the Foundation of the California African American Museum
Frank Gilliam: Professor of Public Policy & Political Science and Dean, Luskin School of Public Affairs, UCLA
Fernando Guerra: Director of the Thomas and Dorothy Leavey Center for the Study of Los Angeles and Professor & Chairman, Political Science & Chicana/o Studies, Loyola Marymount University
Monday's episode airs at 5:30 p.m. and repeats at 10 p.m.
ABOUT SOCAL CONNECTED
SoCal Connected, winner of the Peabody and two duPont-Columbia awards, 17 Emmy® Awards, 19 Golden Mikes, 41 LA Press Club Awards, two Gracie Awards, and three regional Edward R. Murrow Awards, including Best News Documentary and Los Angeles Magazine's "Best New Local TV Program" of 2009, airs nightly at 5:30 p.m. with an encore at 10 p.m. (beginning Dec. 17) exclusively on KCET. For more information, to view episodes online or to leave comments, please visit www.socalconnected.org.
SoCal Connected is made possible through the generous support of The Ahmanson Foundation serving the Los Angeles community since 1952; Jim and Anne Rothenberg; the Maddocks Brown Foundation; The John Randolph Haynes and Dora Haynes Foundation; and The California Endowment.
ABOUT KCET
On-air, online and in the community, KCET plays a vital role in the cultural and educational enrichment of Southern and Central California. KCET offers a wide range of award-winning local programming as well as the finest public television programs from around the world. KCET currently produces the Emmy®, duPont-Columbia and Peabody Award-winning SoCal Connected, a hard-hitting prime-time nightly television news program that examines the issues and people of Southern California. Throughout its 48-year history, KCET has won hundreds of major awards for its local and regional news and public affairs programming, its national drama and documentary productions, its quality educational family and children's programs, its outreach and community services and its website, kcet.org. KCET is a donor-supported community institution. For additional information about KCET productions, web-exclusive content, programming schedules and community events, please visit kcet.org.
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