I recently had the opportunity to preview two new shows coming up soon on American Experience. American Experience is a television series from PBS that brings to life the characters and stories that have shaped America's past and present. It is television's most-watched history series and has won numerous awards, including 24 Emmy Awards. I have viewed a few episodes of this show and have been really impressed! Here are the upcoming shows I recommend:
- My Lai - The story of the My Lai massacre during the Vietnam War in 1968 is related in this episode, including what led up to it, what happened, and the subsequent cover up. The episode also covers how the story eventually came to light and how the U.S. public reacted. The story is vividly told through the soldiers who took part in the massacre, the American journalists documenting what happened, and the Vietnamese survivors. What I liked most about the episode is that it is very thought-provoking, showing what soldiers in Vietnam went through, but also how misinformation can lead to disastrous results. It also asks difficult questions, such as if the soldiers were just following orders. I wish the episode talked more about the subsequent affect of it on the war, but the episode focused more on the event itself and was very informative nonetheless. This episode is set to air on April 26.
- Roads to Memphis - This upcoming episode focuses on the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on April 4, 1968. It chronicles the events leading up to this fateful day, specifically detailing what led both King and James Earl Ray, his assassin, to be in Memphis that day. MLK was involved in a protest by sanitation workers, while Ray had followed him there with the intent to kill. I liked how the episode focused on Ray, detailing who he was, his past, and what motivated him to assassinate one of the most pivotal figures in American history. It also detailed the immense manhunt that followed and showed how Ray was eventually caught and charged for the murder. The episode showed how America reacted to King's death, and how tumultuous this period of history was for the country. "Roads to Memphis" is scheduled to air on May 3.
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