Opens February 1, 2019

Wednesdays to Sundays 
LA: 12:00 to 5:00 pm 
NY: 12:00 to 6:00 pm; Thursdays until 8:00 pm 
Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

Please note in New York this exhibit will close early at 3:00 pm on February 6, 13, and 21; and at 5:00 pm on February 7.

Come to the Paley Center in New York and Los Angeles in February for the multifaceted experience, Shaping Our Nation's Story: African-American Achievements in Television Presented by Citi.

FREE and open to the public. Ticketed events are noted.

The monthlong celebration of Black History Month will take place at the Paley Center’s locations in New York City and Beverly Hills and will feature an interactive exhibit, family activities, and special screenings highlighting significant African-American moments in television. The activities are free and open to the public. The experience also includes a celebration of Motown at 60! with highlights of legendary Motown artists on television over six decades from the Paley Archive. You will see such iconic singers as Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, the Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, and the Jackson 5 performing early in their careers on TV, as well as highlights from two of Motown’s most illustrious and enduring specials, TCB and Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever. We invite you to also visit the Paley Center library to watch the full programs in our African-American Collection.

In the gallery you can watch exclusive Paley Center compilations of the television work of African-American actors, writers, producers, journalists, athletes, and musicians who had a powerful impact on American society and culture. We hope you will discover some inspiring facts about these artists that you did not know before. 

In the interactive video display, test your knowledge about our featured African-American achievers and quiz yourself on your Motown mojo. Plus, learn about the civil rights movement from its coverage on television. Rounding out the exhibit will be a special Paley Center collage where visitors can write what about the exhibit inspired them most on a Post-it and place it on a wall to create a collage, some of which will be shared on Paley social media channels.

PLUS a spotlight on the 100th Birthday Anniversary of Major League Baseball Icon Jackie Robinson.

Using the exhibit and screenings as inspiration, families are invited to celebrate the rich history of Motown’s musical talent by designing their own Motown album covers and baseball cards using art supplies and their imaginations, and pose on weekends for a free souvenir digital photo putting you in the spotlight with the mic! 

In New York, the Paley Center’s Education department will offer high school groups the following workshop free of charge during February’s Black History Month Celebration:

The Civil Rights Movement & Television

Please email eduny@paleycenter.org to schedule a class.

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