AFROPOP
For 15 years, AfroPoP: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange has featured contemporary stories reflecting the spirit, ingenuity and resilience found among people of the African diaspora.
Across Season 15’s five episodes of AfroPoP: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange viewers will encounter dynamic people whose work in the arts has shaped our world in extraordinary ways. Scroll down to watch episodes on demand from the current season as well as seasons 13 and 14. Also, check out our season Discussion Guide for more information about the filmmakers and the films.


In celebration of our 15th season of AfroPoP: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange, Black Public Media is proud to introduce AfroPoP Digital Shorts, a series of short films (nonfiction and narrative) shedding light on a variety of topics from the Black perspective. The Digital Shorts are available to stream below on demand and on the BPM YouTube channel.

Can You Bring It: Bill T. Jones and D-Man in the Waters – AfroPoP Season 15 | Full Episode
Filmmakers Rosalynde LeBlanc and Tom Hurwitz trace the history and legacy of choreographer-dancer-director Bill T. Jones’ ballet, “D-Man in the Waters.” Emerging in the age of AIDS, the 1989 ballet gave physical manifestation to the fear, anger, grief, and hope for salvation that Jones and colleagues experienced as AIDS took the life of their beloved co-founder Arnie Zane and other troupe members.

Queen Kidjo – AfroPoP Season 15 | Full Episode

Bill Traylor: Chasing Ghosts – AfroPoP Season 15 | Full Episode

The Sound of Masks – AfroPoP Season 15 | Full Episode

Rewind & Play – AfroPoP Season 15 | Full Episode

Everything: The Real Thing Story – AfroPoP Season 14 | Full Episode

She Had a Dream – AfroPoP Season 14 | Full Episode
Ghofrane, a young Black Tunisian woman, is an activist who speaks her mind. The film follows her path into politics in a country seeking to forge a new identity while shining a light on the often insurmountable prejudices faced by Black women.

Downstream to Kinshasa – AfroPoP Season 14 | Full Episode
In 2000, thousands in Kisangani were killed or injured – the surviving victims of the Six-Day War have since been fighting for recognition and compensation. Tired of unsuccessful pleas, they embark to Kinshasa to voice their claims.

Restitution? Africa’s Fight for its Art – AfroPoP Season 14 | Full Episode

Revolution from Afar – AfroPoP Season 14 | Full Episode

Mama Gloria – AfroPoP Season 13 | Full Episode

Finding Sally – AfroPoP Season 13 | Full Episode

Professional Black Girl – AfroPoP Season 13 | Full Episode

Shorts Collection – AfroPoP Season 13 | Full Episode
Pushing boundaries for 70 years, this portrait of artist Betye Saar shows she isn’t done fighting inequality in her personal and powerful work. Inside her LA studio, Saar talks about collecting objects, African American history, art as a weapon, and making people think. Man of the People is a political thriller surrounding the legacy of Chicago mayor Harold Washingston.

BAKOSÓ: AfroBeats of Cuba – AfroPoP Season 13 | Full Episode

CoVID Conversations | AfroPoP: Digital Shorts | Episode 1
COVID-19 has forced us to change how we approach most of our foundational norms. Yet, despite medical professionals, public health organizations, and patients’ efforts to promote the importance of COVID-19 vaccinations, there has been an acceleration of misinformation, especially targeting Black communities. The uncontrollable spread of misinformation only adds to the African American community’s historical distrust of the public health system. This four-part series uncovers the raw, uncut, and unfiltered opinions of a collection of individuals who represent the fabric of Black Baltimore’s diverse communities.

Betye Saar: Taking Care Of Business | AfroPoP: Digital Shorts | Episode 2
There’s no stopping legendary artist Betye Saar, now in her nineties, whose intricate collage and assemblage works explode stereotypes of Black femininity.

Black Folk Don’t… Go Green | AfroPoP: Digital Shorts | Episode 3
Are black folk green? What does going green even mean? BLACK FOLK DON’T is a web series exploring the grey areas between truth and stereotype.

Inner Wound Real | AfroPoP: Digital Shorts | Episode 4
Inner Wound Real relays the story of three BIPOC folks who self-injure, then find new ways to cope. The animated documentary short has 3 different visual styles, one for each participant.

The Black Disquisition | AfroPoP Digital Shorts | Episode 5
THE BLACK DISQUISITION is an affecting true story of the traumatic event in a boy’s life that fractures his self-image and the difficult conversation his parents must have with him about race in America. With its avant-garde narrative structure and rotoscope animation, this film illuminates how a brief childhood encounter can alter a life well into adulthood.

Midnight Oil | AfroPoP Digital Shorts | Episode 6
For nearly fifteen years, Bilal worked as a steelworker at the area’s largest oil refinery. His documentary film, Midnight Oil, draws on this experience. The film chronicles his struggle to reconcile his love and kinship for his distressed refinery brothers and sisters and his growing awareness of the surrounding communities of color, fighting for environmental justice. Midnight Oil was a 2020 Official Selection at the BlackStar Film Festival and a Doc Society NYC grantee. The film can be seen on the new streaming platform, ARGO.

Portal | AfroPoP Digital Shorts | Episode 7
PORTAL is a documentary short about the lack of touch for single people during the first year of COVID-19 and how two queer, BIPOC friends sustain each other through verbal communication and connection.

Lakeside’s Treasure | AfroPoP Digital Shorts | Episode 8
In this captivating film portrait, we are introduced to Betty McDaniel, the spirited owner of Lakeside Treasures, an antique and vintage shop nestled in Rogers Park, Chicago, IL. What began as a post-retirement dream has blossomed into a cherished establishment that has served as an essential part of Betty’s life and the vibrant community of Rogers Park, as well as the wider Chicago area. With unwavering determination, unyielding devotion, and an abundance of heart, Betty personifies the essence of perseverance.
Featuring: Brit Fryer (he/him), Sharon Kidd Fryer (she/her), Janelle “Jei” Lawrence (they/them),
Maya Thompson (she/them), and Einstein (dog). | Music: APM Music Library | Advisory Committee: Dr. Aymar Jean
Christian (he/they), Carrie Hawks (they/them), Kirya Traber (she/her)
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