The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song
  • Network: PBS
  • Series Premiere Date: Feb 16, 2021
Metascore
85

Universal acclaim - based on 7 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
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Critic Reviews

  1. IndieWire
    Reviewed by: Tambay Obenson
    Feb 18, 2021
    100
    The series informs viewers of how slaves passed on a centuries-old story tradition, all the way down to the church’s foundational role as a safe space for African American solidarity where they had no choice but to become one new people. ... It is clear that the Black church is evolving, whether as a competitive, uber-charged contest of thoughts about what it should be, or as a furthering of the civil rights divinatory dictum of social change.
  2. Newsday
    Reviewed by: Verne Gay
    Feb 12, 2021
    100
    First-rate and must-watch.
  3. The Oregonian
    Reviewed by: Kristi Turnquist
    Feb 19, 2021
    80
    “The Black Church” feels a bit rushed toward the end, as Gates tries to address the ongoing horrors of racial violence, police killings of unarmed Black men, and younger activists finding the Church doesn’t reflect their progressive views. But even with its flaws, “The Black Church” flows like a river, carrying viewers forward in the tradition of the glorious music that has been an essential element of worship for centuries.
  5. Time
    Reviewed by: Judy Berman
    Feb 18, 2021
    80
    Despite its traditional style, the series distinguishes itself through Gates’ candid interactions with interviewees who range from scholars and theologians to celebrities like Oprah and John Legend. He harmonizes with gospel singers, calls back to preachers and delves into his own faith. The Black Church is the kind of documentary that only someone with a personal connection to the material could make.
  6. Decider
    Reviewed by: Joel Keller
    Feb 16, 2021
    80
    The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song is a well-paced, well-researched look into how impactful religion in the Black community has been, stretching back to the earliest days of our country’s history.
  7. Salon
    Reviewed by: Melanie McFarland
    Feb 16, 2021
    80
    "The Black Church" is a celebratory tour of American history, examining the regional contributions to the larger culture of worship, and the churches themselves. Some of my favorite moments in the documentary series are the pensive views inside churches across the country interspersed throughout, with the camera work ensuring that even the most modest praise houses glow.
  8. TV Guide Magazine
    Reviewed by: Matt Roush
    Feb 11, 2021
    80
    Fascinating. [15 - 28 Feb 2021, p.11]
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