Premieres September 18 at 8/7c
Due to the funeral of the Queen of England, the original airdate of parts 2 and 3 of “The U.S. and the Holocaust” have been pushed back to Tuesday, Sept. 20 and Wednesday, Sept. 21 respectively, both airing at 8/7c.
The U.S. and the Holocaust is a three-part, six hour series that examines America’s response to one of the greatest humanitarian crises of the twentieth century. Americans consider themselves a “nation of immigrants,” but as the catastrophe of the Holocaust unfolded in Europe, the United States proved unwilling to open its doors to more than a fraction of the hundreds of thousands of desperate people seeking refuge. Through riveting firsthand testimony of witnesses and survivors who as children endured persecution, violence and flight as their families tried to escape Hitler, this series delves deeply into the tragic human consequences of public indifference, bureaucratic red tape and restrictive quota laws in America. Did the nation fail to live up to its ideals? This is a history to be reckoned with.
PBS BOOKS TALKS
Panel Discussion | “The US and the Holocaust: A Michigan Perspective” with Historians and Community Builders | Now on Demand
In preparation for the premiere of the new documentary film by Ken Burns, Lynn Novick and Sarah Botstein “The U.S. and the Holocaust,” Detroit Public TV (DPTV) will host a live panel discussion in partnership with The Zekelman Holocaust Center, the Interfaith Leadership Council of Metropolitan Detroit and ADL Michigan. The event “The U.S. and the Holocaust: A Michigan Perspective” will include video segments from the documentary, a message from filmmaker Ken Burns and a panel discussion with prominent leaders and historians addressing a range of topics raised by the documentary.
Author Talk: “The US and the Holocaust: Building Bridges” with Eboo Patel | Founder & President Interfaith America | Now on Demand
In connection with The US and the Holocaust, PBS Books is pleased to present a conversation with Interfaith America’s Founder and President Eboo Patel, author of We Need to Build: Fieldnotes for Diverse Democracy. It is an inspirational guide for those who seek to promote positive social change and build a more diverse and just democracy. While looking at the Holocaust and some of US’s historical policies, Eboo will discuss his work, his book, and inspiring social activists as he underscores the importance of social infrastructures within today’s society as we build our diverse democracy and ensure there is never another Holocaust.
Author Talk: “The US and the Holocaust: Navigating Misinformation” with Dr. Seema Yasmin| Thursday, October 25 at 8pm ET
PBS Books, in collaboration with PBS Newshour Student Reporting Labs, is pleased to present a conversation with Emmy-winning journalist Dr. Seema Yasmin, author of What The Fact, in connection with The US and the Holocaust: A film by Ken Burns, Lynn Novick, and Sarah Botstein, and in celebration of National Media Literacy Week. Yasmin’s book is an accessible guide that traces the spread of misinformation and disinformation through our fast-moving media landscape and teaches readers of all ages about the skills that will help them identify and counter poorly-sourced clickbait and misleading headlines. Yasmin will be interviewed by PBS Newshour Student Reporting Labs’ Isaac Harte, who is a 10th-grade student at the Shipley School and a MediaWise Teen Fact-Checker. In addition, a PBS Newshour Student Reporting Labs story, created by Thais Giraudet, about misinformation and activism will be shared and discussed as connections are made to US history and the Holocaust.
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
These important resources enable libraries to maximize the impact of this powerful film.
National PBS Conversations on the Holocaust: A Virtual Event Series
Watch hour-long discussions with the filmmakers and special guests, featuring clips from the three-part series, THE U.S. AND THE HOLOCAUST. The six-hour series explores America’s response to one of the greatest humanitarian crises in history.
“The Holocaust and Refugees, Lessons for Today”
Filmmakers Ken Burns and Sarah Botstein speak with International Rescue Committee’s Chief Operating Officer Madlin Sadler. Moderated by Jake Tapper, CNN Anchor and Chief Washington Correspondent. Presented by PBS and the International Rescue Committee.
“The Holocaust and Authoritarianism Today”
Filmmakers Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, speak with Freedom House’s President Michael Abramowitz. Moderated by Julia Ioffe, Puck. Presented by PBS and Freedom House.
FUNDING FOR THE U.S AND THE HOLOCAUST WAS PROVIDED BY: Bank of America; David M. Rubenstein; the Park Foundation; the Judy and Peter Blum Kovler Foundation; Gilbert S. Omenn and Martha A.Darling; The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations; and by the following members of The Better Angels Society: Jeannie and Jonathan Lavine; Jan and Rick Cohen; Allan and Shelley Holt; the Koret Foundation; David and Susan Kreisman; Jo Carole and Ronald S. Lauder; Blavatnik Family Foundation; Crown Family Philanthropies, honoring the Crown and Goodman Families; the Fullerton Family Charitable Fund; Dr. Georgette Bennett and Dr. Leonard Polonsky; The Russell Berrie Foundation; Diane and Hal Brierley; John and Catherine Debs; and Leah Joy Zell and the Joy Foundation. Funding was also provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and by public television viewers.