PBS Documentary Spotlights HBCU Students' Journeys

Journalist Brandis Friedman explores why students choose HBCUs today and how they are evolving to serve diverse student bodies

Mar. 3, 2026 at 8:49pm

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Brandis Friedman's new PBS documentary "Opportunity, Access and Uplift: The Evolving Legacy of HBCUs" shines a light on the experiences of regular HBCU students, beyond the typical portrayals of campus life. The film examines why students are choosing HBCUs in the post-COVID and post-racial reckoning era, and how these institutions continue to serve diverse student bodies and produce successful graduates despite facing funding challenges.

Why it matters

The documentary provides an important counternarrative to the sensationalized depictions of HBCU life, highlighting the academic and personal journeys of students from varied backgrounds who are drawn to the unique educational and community-building opportunities offered by these institutions. It also underscores how HBCUs continue to 'punch above their weight' in supporting student success, even with fewer resources than predominantly white institutions.

The details

Friedman's documentary idea was a collaborative effort with co-producers David Duncan and Mario Tharp. They wanted to explore why students today are choosing HBCUs, which is very different from previous generations. The film features perspectives from a diverse range of HBCU students, including international student Peter Kanu and Latino student Daniel Martinez, highlighting how these institutions are evolving to serve increasingly diverse enrollments. The documentary also addresses misconceptions about HBCU graduation rates, showing how they consistently achieve strong outcomes despite having higher percentages of Pell Grant-eligible students who face more socioeconomic challenges.

  • The documentary premiered during Black History Month 2026.
  • The 2022 Supreme Court affirmative action case was a key inflection point for increased HBCU enrollment.

The players

Brandis Friedman

A journalist who directed the PBS documentary "Opportunity, Access and Uplift: The Evolving Legacy of HBCUs".

David Duncan

Friedman's co-producer on the documentary, who attended a predominantly white institution but became interested in HBCUs through research.

Mario Tharp

Friedman's other co-producer on the documentary.

Felicia Commodore

An expert featured in the documentary from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, who highlighted how HBCUs 'punch above their weight' in student outcomes despite facing funding challenges.

Peter Kanu

An immigrant student from Ghana featured in the documentary, representing the diverse student body at HBCUs today.

Daniel Martinez

A Latino student from outside New Orleans featured in the documentary, also showcasing the evolving diversity of HBCU campuses.

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What they’re saying

“We need to add to the body of work and discussion around HBCUs — why students today choose HBCUs. Their reasons today are very different from why I chose one in the '90s, why my parents and aunts and uncles chose them in the '70s, and certainly different from why they were founded.”

— Brandis Friedman, Documentary Director

“I also think that those non-Black students who attend HBCUs come away with a sense of understanding of what the schools offer and why folks like us choose HBCUs. And I think they take that knowledge and awareness with them out into the world when they leave their campus and go to graduate school or go to work in whatever industry they're in.”

— Brandis Friedman, Documentary Director

What’s next

The documentary is available to stream on pbs.org, allowing more viewers to learn about the evolving role and impact of HBCUs.

The takeaway

Friedman's documentary provides a nuanced, timely portrait of HBCU students and their motivations, challenging stereotypes and highlighting how these institutions continue to serve diverse populations and produce successful graduates despite facing resource constraints. The film underscores the vital and evolving role of HBCUs in American higher education.