BET News is covering the complexity of the 2012 election process from the African-American perspective in a “whole new way”. The network partnered with the Peabody Award-winning and Emmy Nominated Producers of “Brick City”, Marc Levin and Mark Benjamin, and Emmy Award-winning and Academy Award Nominated Filmmaker, Sam Pollard, for the two part docu-series entitled “Second Coming: Will Black America Decide the 2012 Election”.
“Horse-race coverage of this election is now ubiquitous, almost to the point of distraction for many viewers. We sought a new way to bring the biggest story of the year – the fate of the first African-American incumbent President – to our audience in an engaging, highly journalistic way.” said Loretha Jones, President of Original Programming and News, BET Networks. “We are excited to be working with Sam Pollard and Brick City TV who have helped us reinvent political coverage for our audience.”
The docu-series captures the consensus and division among Black organizers, celebrities and operatives as they work through the process of bringing about change by mobilizing voters to impact the Presidential race. It follows the behind-the-scenes efforts to mobilize the Black vote against the backdrop of urban youth violence, the debate over gay marriage, and the economic crisis. Grassroots activists such as Tarsha Williams, Charles Perry and the siblings responsible for “Barack The Vote”, Brandon & Lorielle Broussard, are profiled as they work diligently in their respective battleground states to inspire and empower communities.
“We want the series to leave the audience wanting to be players not just spectators in this historic election,” said Brick City executive producer Mark Benjamin.
Celebrities such as Kerry Washington, Usher, Samuel L. Jackson, Eve, Ice Cube, Yolanda Adams, Common, Snoop Dogg, 2 Chainz and A$AP Rocky are captured throughout the 2012 election cycle.
