Ep 1. Eyes on the Prize (Parts 1 & 2): Awakenings, Fighting Back

In the first two parts of the groundbreaking documentary series "Eyes on the Prize," viewers are taken on a journey through the Civil Rights Movement that changed America forever. "Awakenings" chronicles the struggle for equal rights beginning with the murder of Emmett Till in 1955 and the subsequent trial of his killers. This event galvanized the fledgling Civil Rights Movement and set in motion a wave of protests and demonstrations that would eventually lead to the passage of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The episode also examines the role of Rosa Parks in the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which lasted from 1955 to 1956 and was a turning point in the fight for desegregation. Parks' refusal to give up her seat to a white man ignited a firestorm of protest that would eventually force Montgomery to integrate its buses.

"Fighting Back" picks up where "Awakenings" left off, tracing the growing resistance of African Americans to institutionalized racism. The episode goes on to highlight Martin Luther King Jr.'s rising prominence as a leader in the movement, beginning with his leadership of the Montgomery Bus Boycott and culminating in his famous "I Have a Dream" speech delivered at the March on Washington in 1963.

Central to the episode are the courageous actions of everyday people who stood up to oppression, often at great personal risk. One of the most striking segments of "Fighting Back" chronicles the Freedom Riders, a group of activists who challenged segregation on interstate buses and in bus terminals in the South. These activists, many of them college students, rode buses straight into dangerous territory, experiencing brutal violence at the hands of white mobs and sundown towns.

Through powerful archival footage and firsthand accounts from some of the movement's most important leaders and participants, "Eyes on the Prize" explores the motivations and strategies of those who fought for their rights in the face of fierce opposition. The series also provides context for the historical events by examining the social and political climate of the time.

Ultimately, "Eyes on the Prize" paints a vivid portrait of a pivotal moment in American history, illustrating the power of ordinary people as they fought to change the country for the better. This season marks the return of a landmark documentary series that uses historical footage and contemporary interviews to chronicle the Civil Rights Movement.