Take The Message Everywhere/Gospel's Second Century
In GOSPEL’s hour 3, gospel family dynasties dominate the charts while other children of the church use their musical prowess to influence soul music. Black pastors also distinguish their sound with prophetic voices and sermonettes.

Gospel’s Platinum Age reflected a new generation embracing secular rhythms to modernize the gospel sound. GOSPEL’s hour 4 explores the movement that brought songs about faith to millions at clubs, on cable TV and on urban radio.

Dig deep into the origin story of Black gospel music, coming out of slavery, blending with the blues tradition, and soaring to new heights during the Great Migration. From Mahalia to Kirk Franklin, in the last century, gospel music has become the dominant form of African American religious expression and provided a soundtrack of healing and uplift to those at the front lines of protest and change. GOSPEL, the latest history series from Henry Louis Gates, Jr., digs deep into the origin story of Black spirituality through sermon and song.