I was shocked and saddened to learn earlier this week that GBH, a pioneering producer of public media in the United States, has paused American Experience, the longest-running and most-watched historical documentary series on American television, and laid off its staff and leadership. These cuts are especially devastating considering the current state of affairs in this country, when the preservation and teaching of American history is more needed — and more threatened — than ever before. No documentary series in the U.S. has been more dedicated to historical stories than American Experience, let alone as well-researched, curated, and popular; there is quite literally no replacement for this series.

I had the pleasure of directing and producing a number of award-winning documentaries for American Experience, including Freedom Riders – which was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry in 2020 – Freedom Summer, The Murder of Emmett Till, Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple, and Jesse Owens, among others. These films, along with the dozens of other indispensable documentaries produced for the series, made American history relevant and accessible to audiences of all ages and backgrounds, providing programming that was both educational and entertaining. With the core mission of public media – which is to educate, inspire, entertain, and express a diversity of perspectives – facing unprecedented attacks from political leaders, it is highly distressing that public media would pause the production of such vital programming that serves the core of this mission.

I stand in solidarity with American Experience’s dedicated staff and call on public media leadership to prioritize this essential series at such a crucial time in this nation’s history. We all have a responsibility to preserve the ongoing story of the U.S., especially at a time when freedom of expression is so threatened.