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kareem abdul jabbar
In this Monday, Feb. 12, 2018 photo, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar poses in his office, in Newport Beach, Calif. Abdul-Jabbar has been a best-selling author, civil-rights activist, actor, historian and one of the greatest basketball players who ever lived. This fall Abdul-Jabbar will embark on a cross-country tour as part of “Becoming Kareem,” a stage show in which he’ll discuss his life, answer audience questions and talk about the key mentors in his life he says helped him achieve his goals along the way. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
In this Monday, Feb. 12, 2018 photo, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar poses in his office, in Newport Beach, Calif. Abdul-Jabbar has been a best-selling author, civil-rights activist, actor, historian and one of the greatest basketball players who ever lived. This fall Abdul-Jabbar will embark on a cross-country tour as part of “Becoming Kareem,” a stage show in which he’ll discuss his life, answer audience questions and talk about the key mentors in his life he says helped him achieve his goals along the way. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is set to executive produce a new one-hour documentary on THE HISTORY(R) Channel called “Fight The Power: The Movements That Changed America”, premiering June 19th at 8:00 p.m. ET.

Jabbar is partnering with Deborah Morales of Iconomy Multi-Media & Entertainment to release the documentary on Juneteenth, the date commemorating the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States.

“Fight the Power: The Movements That Changed America” looks at the impact key movements throughout U.S. history have had in shaping our society, laws and culture. From the labor movement of the 1880s, women’s suffrage and civil rights, to the LGBTQ+ and Black Lives Matter movements, protest is in the American DNA and this documentary gives an unfiltered look at the ways it has evolved the world in which we live”, according to a press release.

Protest is an American tradition

“One of this country’s greatest strengths is its willingness to listen to the voices of its people – whether at the ballot box or in the streets – and make changes to bring about a more equitable society,” said Abdul-Jabbar.

Protest helped forge American independence in 1776 and continues to serve as a charged impetus for change in the 21st century. Civil disobedience has always forced our country to take an uncompromising look at itself, to judge if we are on the right course and seek to answer the question: does the arc of the moral universe bend toward justice when pressure is applied?

From protests that started in small cities fighting for local change to movements that affect millions and garner national attention, everyday people forged change. Anchored by sit-down interviews and narratives from Abdul-Jabbar’s personal experiences, coupled with anecdotes from noteworthy historians and authors, and supported with archival imagery and current footage, “Fight the Power: The Movements That Changed America” explores the people, protests and movements that played an important role in making our country better.

Mike Creef is a fighter for equality and justice for all. Growing up bi-racial (Jamaican-American) on the east coast allowed him to experience many different cultures and beliefs that helped give him a...