Plot Synopsis

In a series of independent films, AMERICA REFRAMED takes an unfiltered look at relevant domestic topics -- healthcare, immigration, the workplace, and politics -- with personal stories highlighting how America's diverse culture has transformed. Films include: "Chisholm '72," telling the story of the first black woman to run for President in 1972; "Street Fight," which covers the turbulent campaign of a young graduate running for Newark, New Jersey mayor against the four-term incumbent; "La Americana," highlighting an immigrant who came to America to support her disabled daughter back in Colombia; "Push: Madison v Madison," which followed a Massachusetts high school basketball coach who became a father figure to his students; "Passionate Politics," the biography of Charlotte Bunch, a feminist activist and writer impassioned by global human rights; "Trust," which shows how Chicago inner-city youth have faced abuse and trauma and used art and theatre as a form of therapy; "Skydancer," featuring a story of the Mohawk tribe in upstate New York and their involvement in the construction of modern sky scrapers; and 19 more documentaries in the first season.

On Tuesday, September 10, 2013, AMERICA REFRAMED returned for its second season, as World presented the Season 2 debut documentary, "Building Babel," which follows a year in the life of Sharif El-Gamal, developer of the Ground Zero Mosque, a Muslim-led community center two blocks from the World Trade Center.

On Tuesday, February 22, 2022 at 9pm (check local listings), PBS debuted "Fannie Lou Hamer's America," the Season 10 premiere of AMERICA REFRAMED. This 90-minute program focuses on the incredible life of one of the Civil Rights Movement's greatest leaders and the injustices that made her work essential. Airing during Black History Month, the film is produced by Hamer's great-niece Monica Land and Selena Lauterer and directed by Joy Davenport. Other confirmed titles explore mental health, substance use, refugee experiences and transracial adoption, with community spotlights on the saltwater Geechee of Georgia's Sapelo Island and intergenerational perspectives on San Francisco's Chinatown. Additional programs to be announced, with year-round encore presentations on broadcast and streaming.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On Monday, January 8, 2024 at 10pm (check local listings), PBS premiered "The Cost of Inheritance," a special one-hour AMERICA REFRAMED special. This program explores the issue of reparations in the U.S. with a focus on historical injustices, systemic inequities, and critical dialogue. Through narratives, inquiries, and insights, the film aims to inspire understanding of the scope and rationale.