Independent Lens Season 14 Episode 8 The Powerbroker: Whitney Young's Fight for Civil Rights

In the 1960s, America was facing heightened civil rights struggles. Speaking to the context of this time, Independent Lens' season 14 episode 8, The Powerbroker: Whitney Young's Fight for Civil Rights, follows Whitney Young, Jr. who became an unsung hero of the Civil Rights Movement. The documentary examines Young's rise to become head of the National Urban League, his work with Martin Luther King Jr., his relationship with the Johnson administration, and his portrayal in the media. The Powerbroker tells Young's story, offering an essential, past-tense perspective on the Civil Rights Movement and an intimate look at his personal frustrations, power struggles, and moments of triumph. Through a blend of archival material and contemporary interviews with several prominent Black Americans, including Jesse Jackson and Vernon Jordan, The Powerbroker showcases an often overlooked or unknown figure who had a profound impact on American history.