Documentary Shines Light On Pioneering TV Show That Celebrated Black Voices

WDCB’s Gary Zidek sits down with filmmaker Melissa Haizlip to talk about her documentary MR. SOUL.

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WDCB's Gary ZIdek sits down with filmmaker Melissa Haizlip to talk about her documentary MR. SOUL.

“He always saw a better future and a better possibility for (Black) artists, he saw their higher selves. He saw them doing and being much more than they were. So, I think that, that genuine quality made him uniquely situated to have a show in which he could create a platform, a vehicle for African-American artistry, but also a platform for political expression and the fight for social justice.” - Director Melissa Haizlip talking about Ellis Haizlip and his work on SOUL!

Melissa Haizlip after a screening of MR. SOUL at the Chicago International Film Festival in 2018

A new documentary is illuminating the remarkable story behind a pioneering public television show dedicated exclusively to black culture and the man who created it. The series, titled SOUL!, debuted on New York City’s public television station WNET in 1968 and soon expanded to PBS affiliates around the country. The program was developed, produced and hosted by Ellis Haizlip. The one-time theater and performance producer was a true trailblazer. He created a weekly variety show that focused solely on black culture at a time when the television landscape was anything but diverse. Haizlip welcomed luminaries such as James Baldwin, Nikki Giovanni, Stevie Wonder, Roberta Flack, James Earl Jones and Herbie Hancock onto the show. But he also used his platform to raise the profiles of up-and-coming black artists and community leaders.

Despite its success with black audiences, SOUL! only aired for five years. And the series is sometimes omitted from discussions on pioneering black television programming. MR. SOUL serves as an extremely timely reminder of the show’s legacy.

The film was conceived of and directed by Ellis Haizlip’s niece, Melissa Haizlip. She started thinking about the project back in 2008 and premiered the documentary at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival.

“What’s remarkable about the show that I like to share, is that it existed in spite of … all of that. It was triumph year after year.” - Director Melissa Haizlip talking about the challenges SOUL! faced during its five year run on PBS.

You can check MR. SOUL for yourself through the Siskel Film Center’s virtual cinema series, FILM CENTER FOR YOUR SOFA starting Friday August 28 (click here for ticket info). And you can find out more information about the film at mrsoulmovie.com