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Viacom’s BET has recently acquired the iconic Soul Train  franchise from InterMedia Partners and The Yucaipa Companies, for an undisclosed sum.

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The Soul Train franchise consists of an award show and numerous videos and photos dating back to the groundbreaking music and dance show’s origins in the 1970s. In 2009, Viacom relaunched the Soul Train Awards in association with the brand’s previous owners.

Richard Gay (executive vice president/strategy and operations at BET Networks) stated, “BET Networks is honored to have acquired a brand with such a rich history and unique content that is forever relevant to all segments of our audience….With a Broadway play and a concert tour as examples of opportunities in the works, we look forward to finding engaging and smart ways to grow the brand while preserving its heritage and legacy in music, dance, and fashion.”‘

What are your thoughts? Share with us below in the comment section.

“He’s the most important person in baseball.”

Tonight, Jackie Robinson, the two-part documentary by Ken Burns, Sarah Burns, and David McMahon (in partnership with Bank of America) premieres on PBS. The film depicts the life and accomplishments of civil rights champion and baseball legend Jack Roosevelt Robinson. “He may not be the best player, but he’s the most important,” Burns recently said in an interview for CBS’ Face the Nation. “Because he was this pioneer, finally making the game what it had always claimed to be, the national pastime, by being the first African American in the modern age to cross the color line.”

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The film represents the eighth collaboration in a long-standing partnership between Burns and Bank of America that aims to convene stakeholders around shared cultural experiences, inspiring meaningful dialogue on social issues and honoring those who have altered the course of history.

“Ken Burns has captured the spirit and legacy of Jackie and Rachel in this film, who were trailblazers and equal partners in the fight for social justice,” said Andrew Plepler, environmental, social and governance executive, Bank of America. “Our partnership with Ken Burns and investment in Jackie Robinson is part of our steadfast commitment to fostering an inclusive culture and honoring those who have altered the course of history.”

The documentary premieres during a significant moment in American history, and offers another opportunity for discussion around ongoing social justice issues –both the struggles and triumphs of the last 50-plus years. The film also highlights the courageous journey of his wife, Rachel Robinson, who fought alongside Jackie, to bring attention to women’s efforts to drive social change.

“I’ve worked with the bank for many, many years, and I’m appreciative of not only their financial support to bring my films to life, but also their commitment to partnership and desire to create a collaborative environment to develop meaningful solutions for social change,” said Burns.

Catch the two-part documentary, April 11-12 on PBS. Check your local listings.

As we near the close of Women’s History Month, BlackEnterprise.com continues to pay homage to the exceptional black women who have kicked in steel doors and unapologetically walked through.

Today, we celebrate the phenomenal African American history makers in medicine.

Dr. Ruth Marguerite Easterling

Having entered Tufts College Medical School in 1917 at age 19, Dr. Easterling began her career as a pathologist and served on the staff of Tuskegee Veterans Hospital in Alabama.

Her professional accomplishments include her work with Dr. William Augustus Hinton, who in 1927 perfected the Hinton test for syphilis. Dr. Easterling also conducted tuberculosis research with Dr. Hinton and Dr. John B. West. She died of breast cancer at Cambridge City Hospital in 1943 at the age of 45.

Dr. Muriel Petioni

Also known as the “matron of Harlem health,” Dr. Petioni, a graduate of Howard University Medical School in 1937, was known for her commitment to women’s issues, health care for the underserved, community medicine, and social justice. In 1974 she founded the Susan Smith McKinney Steward Medical Society for Women, a professional association for African American women physicians in the greater New York area.

She also developed a mentorship program with the Coalition of 100 Black Women that guided young African American women into careers in science and medicine. In 1976, she founded the Medical Women of the National Medical Association.

Dr. Jane Cook Wright

Having graduated with honors from New York Medical College in 1945, Dr. Wright made her mark in cancer research by developing new techniques for administering chemotherapy and evaluating new treatments for the disease. In 1955, she joined the faculty of New York University, where she continued her work with chemotherapy and later began experimenting with combinations of anti-cancer drugs. She believed most cancers were caused by viruses and investigated a new class of anti-cancer agents comparable to antibiotics.

Dr. Dorothy Boulding Ferebee

At the age of 37, Dr. Ferebee graduated from Tufts Medical College. Though she was an obstetrician, she is often most recognized for her influence as a civil rights activist. Some of her notable accomplishments include being the 10th president of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc; president of the National Council of Negro Women; medical director of the Mississippi Health Project; vice president of the Washington Urban League; and chair of the Women’s Division of the United Negro College Fund.

Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumple

Dr. Crumple is often recognized as the first African American woman to earn a doctor of science degree, having graduated in 1863 from the New England Female Medical College. She is the author of Book of Medical Discourses, about medical care for women and children.