The 16th annual Television Academy is recognizing six titles and their producers that exemplify the power of television to enact social change.
Announced Thursday, the six titles earning Academy honors are A24’s “Mo,” ESPN Films’ “37 Words,” Peacock’s “The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks,” Amazon’s “As We See It,” , Florentine Films and “” by WETA. The US and the Holocaust” and HBO Max’s “We’re Here,” representing a mix of scripted, nonfiction, and documentary entries.
As part of its mission statement, the Television Academy Honors “celebrates programs across numerous platforms and genres that raise awareness of the complex issues facing society represented in works of both fiction and nonfiction, addressing neurodiversity; civil rights, LGBTQ+ rights; equal rights for women; the experience of immigrants and refugees; and racism, xenophobia and antisemitism”.
“These exceptional shows and producers have used television to skillfully address some of the most important and challenging issues facing communities around the world,” Television Academy President and CEO Frank Scherma said in a statement. “Our medium is incredibly powerful, and these six programs have harnessed it to inspire transformative change.”
In addition to this year’s honorees, the Honors selection committee gives special recognition to the documentary series “Profiled: The Black Man” (Discovery+) and will receive a certificate recognizing its thought-provoking social justice content.
Past winners of this award include HBO’s “I May Destroy You” and “Watchmen”, Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show”, Hulu’s “Dopesick” and FX’s “Reservation Dogs”.
Honors recipients will be celebrated during a recognition ceremony scheduled for May 31. Below is the full list of winners and the reasons for the selection:
“37 Words” (ESPN Films, Industrial Media and Trilogy Films)
The full story of Title IX: the uphill battle to advance equal rights in education and athletics, the decades-long effort to undo its impact, and the ripple effects of historic civil rights law that continue to reverberate today. This four-part documentary traces the spectacular transformation that 37 Words has inspired in American culture and women’s lives, as well as the many ways in which the spirit of this bold law has yet to be fully realized.
“As We See It” (True Jack Productions; Yes Studios; Universal Television; Amazon Studios)
This empathetic comedy series follows twenty-something roommates with autism as they struggle to get a job, keep it, make friends, fall in love, and navigate a world that eludes them. With the help of their families, helpers, and sometimes each other, these roommates experience setbacks and celebrate triumphs on their own unique journeys toward independence and acceptance.
“Mo” (A24)
The heartwarming comedy that follows Palestinian refugee Mo Najjar as he crosses the line between two cultures and three languages while constantly living one step away from asylum on the path to US citizenship. Mo brilliantly captures the experience of immigrants and refugees navigating institutional systems.
“The Rebel Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks” (A Peacock Original, SO’B Productions)
This comprehensive feature delves into the life of civil rights icon Rosa Parks, her historic work, and her role in the Montgomery bus boycott. Through interviews with those who knew her, powerful archival footage, and her own words, this documentary tells the story of Parks’ extensive organizing, radical politics, and lifelong dedication to activism.
“The United States and the Holocaust” (Florentine Films and WETA, Washington, DC)
Inspired in part by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum’s “Americans and the Holocaust” exhibit and supported by its historical resources, this documentary examines the rise of Hitler and Nazism in Germany against the backdrop of anti-Semitism and global racism, the eugenics movement in the United States and racial laws in the southern United States.
“We Are Here” (HBO Max)
This Emmy Award-winning series follows renowned drag queens Bob the Drag Queen, Eureka O’Hara, and Shangela on a journey to find deeper truths in small-town America, spreading love and connection through the art of drag. drag. The queens recruit a diverse group of local residents to share their stories, raise awareness, and promote acceptance in their communities by participating in one-night-only drag shows, sometimes in the face of increased opposition and anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.
