PBS SoCaL Presents to PBS Stations Nationally the Story of a Los Angeles Mayor Who Impacted Race and Politics in America

LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwired - Jan 14, 2016) - In celebration of African American History Month in February, Bridging the Divide: Tom Bradley and the Politics of Race will air on PBS stations nationally (check local listings). The film will also air on the WORLD Channel Friday, February 19 at 8pm ET/5pm PT.

Bridging the Divide: Tom Bradley and the Politics of Race tells the story of former Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley, the first African American mayor elected in a major American city with an overwhelmingly white majority. The film examines how Bradley's coalition of African Americans, Jews, white liberals, Latinos, and Asian Americans united a divided city, brought inclusion and access, and set the foundation for sustainable interracial coalitions.

Featuring never-before-seen footage and photographs, the film brings into focus the issues of police reform in minority communities, and the challenges facing lawmakers and residents, raising important issues about race, identity and coalitions, and is especially relevant at a time when the nation is at a tipping point in the struggle against racial injustice and police brutality. 

The film is produced by Academy Award®-nominated filmmaker Lyn Goldfarb and Emmy® Award-winning filmmaker Alison Sotomayor. PBS SoCaL is the presenting station for the film. National Black Programming Consortium is the co-presenter, with support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Major funding for the program was made possible by: National Endowment for the Humanities; California Humanities; California Community Foundation; Ralph M. Parsons Foundation; W.K. Kellogg Foundation; Los Angeles City Council Heritage Fund.

For more information please visit http://www.pbssocal.org/tv/programs/bridging-the-divide-tom-bradley-politics-of-race/

About PBS SoCaL
PBS SoCaL is the flagship PBS station for Southern California -- the only station providing the full PBS schedule to the region, and home to all PBS program premieres as they are released nationally. PBS SoCaL has three unique broadcast channels which educate, entertain and enlighten viewers throughout Southern California.

PBS SoCaL is Southern California's largest classroom, largest stage for the arts and a trusted source of information, and brings the community early education resources, access to a broad array of arts and culture experiences, and programs that are for, about and by the people of Southern California. Learn more at pbssocal.org.