Mini Fact:
The Civil Rights March on Washington, D.C., took place on Aug. 28, 1963.
February is Black History Month. This week, The Mini Page looks at some of the people and events that allowed the United States to grow from a society where it was legal to enslave people with dark skin to a country that has elected an African American woman as vice president.
‘All men are created equal’
The United States was founded on the idea of equality. The Declaration of Independence states:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal …”
But in 1776, a lot of people were left out. Women had few rights. Slavery was still legal. And only property-owning men could vote.
And today, almost 250 years later, Black and white people are still struggling to understand the idea of equality and how to achieve it in our country.
Lincoln’s goal
President Abraham Lincoln was determined to end slavery in the United States. Starting in 1862, he built on the Declaration of Independence when he issued the Emancipation Proclamation to free the slaves in Confederate states.
Difficult changes
In 1865, the 13th Amendment officially ended slavery. The 14th Amendment, passed in 1868, granted equal protection to all persons. In 1870, the 15th Amendment banned racial restrictions in voting.
But some people still fought against rights for African Americans. In the South, communities made laws forbidding Black people from using the same restrooms, schools, restaurants or transportation as white people. These were called Jim Crow laws.
Other laws, rules and threats made it impossible for most African Americans to vote.
The work continues
In the 1950s and ’60s, under the leadership of people like Martin Luther King Jr., people of all colors took part in nonviolent protests against discrimination, or unfairness. But many people reacted violently to these protests. It took a lot of courage for people to continue to work for equal rights when they knew it could cost them their jobs or even their lives.
The goal of real equality for all Americans has not yet been met. Changing laws is only one part of the challenge. People also have to work to get rid of prejudice ,or bad feelings against a person or group.
As Dr. King taught, injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. If one person’s rights can be taken away, then maybe your rights might be taken away next.
Sunday BLESS THE HARTS (8) WXXA 7:30 p.m.
Jenny and Betty see a psychic who predicts the day Betty will die in this new episode. When the psychic turns out to be wrong, Jenny tries to get a refund and winds up getting cursed for the attempt. Wayne’s fishing trip turns into a manhunt.
THOR: RAGNAROK TNT 8:00 p.m.
Hammerless Thor (Chris Hemsworth) joins forces with old foes and new allies to defeat Hela, goddess of death (Cate Blanchett) a.k.a. Asgard’s grumpiest older sister - in this Marvel hit. He just needs to defeat the Hulk in a gladiator-style arena first.
GRAND OLE OPRY: 95 YEARS OF COUNTRY MUSIC (13) WNYT 9:00 p.m.
Country music superstars Brad Paisley and Blake Shelton host this new special honoring Nashville’s legendary “Grand Ole Opry” music show, for its 95th anniversary. This special looks back and celebrates the artists and the stage itself over the years.
YOUR HONOR SHO 10:00 p.m.
Bryan Cranston stars as New Orleans judge Michael Desiato, an honorable man whose values and morals are tested when his son (Hunter Doohan) is involved in a hit and run, killing the son of a mob boss (Michael Stuhlbarg). Hope Davis also stars.
Monday THE NEIGHBORHOOD (6) WRGB 8:00 p.m.
Tina (Tichina Arnold) helps the church find a new minister in this rebroadcast, selecting the charming Pastor Don (Victor Williams). As she spends more time with him, Calvin (Cedric the Entertainer) begins to grow suspicious that the pastor is covetous.
BLACK LIGHTNING (15) WCWN 9:00 p.m.
The Kobra Cartel and the 100 continue to wage war against each other in this new episode. While Lynn’s (Christine Adams) concern over Jefferson (Cress Williams) grows, a new boy at school piques Jennifer’s (China Anne McClain) curiosity.
30COINS HBO 9:00 p.m.
Ex-convict and exorcist Father Manuel Vergara (Eduard Fernández) is sent to a small town in Spain where he joins forces with locals to solve a mystery involving a coin he possesses. Megan Montaner and Macarena Gómez also star in this dark Spanish drama.
Tuesday YOUNG ROCK (13) WNYT 8:00 p.m.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson takes a comedic look back at his life in a new episode of this premiering series. Adrian Groulx, Bradley Constant and Uli Latukefu star as Johnson through various stages of his life, chronicling the wild stories that shaped him.
TWO SENTENCE HORROR STORIES (15) WCWN 8:00 p.m.
Tune in for back-to-back new episodes of this horror anthology. A Nigerian American nurse attempts to protect her paralyzed twin sister from both a neglectful medical system and from a dark force targeting the vulnerable. Nicole Nowkolo stars.
BIGSKY (10) WTEN 10:00 p.m.
Kylie Bunbury and Ryan Phillippe star as private detectives Cassie Dewell and Cody Hoyt in a new episode of this procedural drama. The duo joins forces with locals and unlikely allies to put a stop to a slew of kidnappings on a remote Montana highway.
Wednesday TOUGHASNAILS (6) WRGB 8:00 p.m.
Twelve hard-working contenders are tested by a series of challenges meant to push their endurance, life skills and mental toughness to the limit at real-world job sites. Phil Keoghan returns to host this blue-collar competition series’ second season.
THE CONNERS (10) WTEN 9:00 p.m.
Harris (Emma Kenney) brings her new friend, Josh (Milo Manheim), home in this rebroadcast, leaving her family to wonder what, exactly, his intentions are. Becky (Lecy Goranson) and Ben (Jay R. Ferguson) stir up family drama during a renovation project.
THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NEW JERSEY BRAVO 9:00 p.m.
Don’t miss the Season 11 premiere of this fourth Real Housewives installment. Teresa Giudice is the only original cast member, and this season she is joined by Melissa Gorga, Dolores Catania, Margaret Josephs, Jennifer Aydin and Jackie Goldschneider.
Thursday MR. MAYOR (13) WNYT 8:00 p.m.
In this new episode, Neil (Ted Danson) tries desperately to convince Orly (Kyla Kenedy) that a casual fling means more than it implies. Meanwhile, the staff gets a little too heated during a trivia competition and the result could break up the team.
CLARICE (6) WRGB 10:00 p.m.
Rebecca Breeds stars as FBI agent Clarice Starling in this new series based on the “Silence of the Lambs” heroine. Still reeling from the traumatic events of her dealings with a cannibalistic serial killer, Clarice returns to the field.
US HBO 10:45 p.m.
Lupita Nyong’o gives a knockout performance as Adelaide, a woman tormented by an experience she had as a child, and her crazed doppelgänger “Red.” This acclaimed film from director Jordan Peele subverts audience expectations of the horror genre.
Friday SNATCH AMC 11:30 a.m.
Jason Statham leads an ensemble cast in this twisted black comedy heist drama. A small-time fight promoter finds himself in big-time trouble when he crosses paths with a sadistic mobster (Alan Ford), an Irish Traveler (Brad Pitt) and a stolen diamond.
THE EQUALIZER TNT 10:30 p.m.
Denzel Washington stars as Robert McCall in this action film, a former black ops officer who fakes his death in order to leave his old life behind. When a young woman he befriends is beaten, McCall’s call to protect and serve proves too strong to resist.
PAINTING WITH JOHN HBO 11:00 p.m.
In this new episode, John Lurie shares a story from his teenage years about being turned away from the DMV and how his mother had tried to intervene. On the island where John lives now, mysterious disappearances have been occurring.