PBS’s American Experience turns its lens to a lesser-known figure of the Civil Rights movement in “Forgotten Hero: Walter White and the NAACP,” airing Tuesday, February 25, 2025, at 9/8c. Walter White, a light-skinned Black man who led the NAACP for over two decades, has been largely overlooked by history. This documentary seeks to rectify that.
White, who served as NAACP Executive Secretary from 1929 to 1955, occupied a complicated space within the racial landscape of the time. His appearance allowed him to “pass” as white, a privilege he used to investigate lynchings and other racial injustices. Yet, he lived and identified as a Black man, dedicating his life to the fight for equality.
The episode explores why White’s contributions have faded from public memory, examining the factors that often lead to the erasure of certain historical narratives. By placing White alongside better-known figures like W.E.B. Du Bois and Thurgood Marshall, “Forgotten Hero” aims to restore him to his rightful place as a pivotal player in the early years of the Civil Rights Movement.
“Forgotten Hero: Walter White and the NAACP” airs Tuesday, February 25th at 9/8c on PBS.
