Through creativity, self-expression, and storytellling, Black Americans have made and continue to make an indelible impression on the history and culture of our nation. Black ingenuity pushes the boundaries of possibility and opportunity, shaping the future of technology, business, art, community investment, and more.
The scale of our network paired with our unique content and experiences offer an unparalleled platform to showcase these contributions and more all year long. This Black History Month, Comcast NBCUniversal proudly celebrates and amplifies the voices of Black entrepreneurs, entertainers, civic leaders, and advocates who are building a better, more equitable tomorrow.
Explore Xfinity’s “Black is the New Black” Editorial Collection
“Black is the New Black” is an expression conveying the timeless and enduring nature of the color black – representing elegance, sophistication, authority, and power. This theme is carried throughout the curated and free programming that is available to Xfinity and Xumo customers throughout the month, all of which can be found on The Black Experience on Xfinity (BEX).
BEX is a first-of-its-kind destination of Black entertainment, movies, TV shows, news and more, and features high-quality content from many of Xfinity’s current network partners, as well as original work from Black creatives and filmmakers, including the films and docuseries Black Girls, Black Boys, I Am My Brother’s Keeper, and In Our DNA: Hip House. It is the only channel of its kind endorsed by the African American Film Critics Association, the world’s largest group of Black film critics. Available at home on Xfinity X1 and Flex, and on-the-go with the Xfinity Stream app, the Black Experience on Xfinity is a one-stop destination for Black storytelling. It can also be accessed by saying “Black Experience” into the Xfinity Voice Remote. Non-Xfinity customers will be able to view content on Xumo Play, Comcast and Charter’s free ad-supported streaming service app.
Check out the trailer for I Am My Brother’s Keeper:
To bring “Black is the New Black” to life, Xfinity has enlisted a powerhouse of guest editors to curate special programming all month long that honors and highlights the lasting contributions of the Black community to the entertainment industry.
Special guest editors and partners include Gil Robertson, President of the African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA); MeKai Curtis, star of the hit series Power Book III: Raising Kanan on Starz; B. Monet, film director, Black Girls; Comcast Project UP partners 1863 Ventures, Echoing Green, The Hidden Genius Project, and the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs.
Additionally, for the first time ever, Xfinity welcomes Comcast’s Black Employee Resource Group recommendations to the collection.
Curated collections on Black Experience on Xfinity for Black History Month include:
- Shadows of Affection: A Symphony of Black Love
- Black Girls (documentary available on BEX)
- Black Love (TV series)
- AfroRefined: Celebrating the Pinnacle of Black Elegance
- Riches (TV series) and Coming 2 America (film)
- Resilient Spirits: The Tenacious Journey of Black Men
- I am My Brother’s Keeper (BEX exclusive content) and Black Boys (documentary)
- Strong-Willed and Determined Black Characters
- Black Panther (film) and Harlem (TV series)
- Cuisine Noir Chronicles
- It’s CompliPlated (TV series) and New Soul Kitchen (TV series)
- Listen & Learn (podcasts)
- Earn Your Leisure, Black Girl Nerds, Amplify Color
BEX will also feature Comcast Newsmakers interviews with leaders from the National Council of Negro Women, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, the Black Innovation Alliance and the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc.
Here in Chicago, we recognize the importance of celebrating Black History Month and the achievements of our employees.
“Black History Month provides an opportunity to reflect on the unwavering courage and tenacity of the African American community that has fueled immense contributions to our nation,” said Carl Jones, Jr., Vice President of Government and External Affairs for Comcast’s Greater Chicago Region. “This month and beyond, Comcast is proud to celebrate the Black changemakers that have and continue to influence and shape our culture.”
Comcast is committed to bringing a celebration of Black culture to your screen to celebrate the contributions of African Americans in our region and beyond.
Free Black Entertainment from Popular Networks and Subscription Video on Demand
In 2023, Comcast launched “Free This Week,” a program that delivers Xfinity and Xumo customers more value by unlocking a new selection of free content from top streaming services and premium networks, with no strings attached. To honor Black History Month, Comcast will offer customers with Xfinity X1, Xfinity Flex, Stream, and Xumo TV free, week-long access to a selection of premium Black networks and streaming services easily accessible within the Black Experience on Xfinity destination. Content availability may vary across platforms.
- February 5 – 11: kweliTV, Qwest TV, Aspire TV, REVOLT, and TV One
- February 19 – February 25: Black & Sexy TV, Brown Sugar, The Africa Channel, Afro, Cleo TV, and the Impact Network.
Customers can also enjoy a trivia section called “Guess who said it?” Four quotes will be presented, and customers will have a chance to guess the celebrity who said each quote. Once the customer clicks on the quote, the entity page of the celebrity will appear, showing all films and TV series in which they’ve appeared.
Comcast Newsmakers Spotlights Black Voices and Entrepreneurs
In February, Comcast Newsmakers will release five new interviews focused on entrepreneurship, economic mobility, and ways that advocates are working to increase equity for Black communities. Featured guests include Shavon Arline-Bradley from the National Council of Negro Women, Nicole Austin-Hillery from the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, and Melissa Bradley from Black-led business accelerator 1863 Ventures. Watch the interviews online, or say “Comcast Newsmakers” into your Xfinity Voice Remote.
Meet the Cast of Our New Docuseries Showcasing Small-Business Owners and Startup Founders
Coming this May—a three-part docuseries from Comcast NBCUniversal LIFT Labs and Comcast RISE! Join us as we take you behind the scenes of the stories of nine underrepresented founders and business owners from across the nation. Hosted by Felecia Hatcher, CEO of Black Ambition Prize—together, we’ll unveil the challenges, triumphs, and innovative spirit that defines an entire generation of entrepreneurs. Meet the cast:
Felicia Hatcher – Series host and CEO of Black Ambition Prize
Melinda Archuleta – RISE Recipient and Owner of Bar Carlo
Cody Coleman – LIFT Labs Alum and Co-founder of Coactive AI
Bertony Faustin – RISE Recipient and Owner, Abbey Creek Vineyard
Grace Hsia – RISE Recipient and Co-founder of Warmilu
Chekesha Kidd – LIFT Labs Alum and Co-founder of Kinumi
Latoya Peterson – LIFT Labs Alum and Co-Founder of Glow Up Games
Will Toms – Comcast Partner and Co-Founder of REC
Ashley Williams – SportsTech Alum and Founder of RIZZARR
David Wong – RISE Recipient and Founder of Frieda
NBCUniversal
NBCUniversal’s “Discover Black Heritage” campaign will highlight the Black community’s power of storytelling and feature events and programming across its portfolio of brands to educate and drive cultural awareness. Join us as we discover and evolve our stories.
Digital Equity & Social Impact
We continue to invest in numerous leaders and organizations that support the Black community through Project UP, our comprehensive initiative to advance digital equity and help build a future of unlimited possibilities. This includes supporting the work and research of changemakers focused on Black and Brown entrepreneurs including Melissa Bradley of 1863 Ventures, as well as empowering the next generation of leaders like Kevin Butler, who went from student to mentor thanks to The Hidden Genius Project and its focus on engaging Black male youth in tech skills and entrepreneurship.
Our Employees
Comcast employees are celebrating Black History Month across the country with local and national employee-led events exploring the richness of Black history through events about economic development, art, education, professional development opportunities, allyship, and more.
As part of our DE&I Speaker Series this month, teammates will gather virtually to hear from Michele Norris, acclaimed journalist and author of the newly published book, Our Hidden Conversations: What Americans Really Think About Race and Identity. Michele will discuss her decade-long work on The Race Card Project, a Peabody Award–winning narrative archive where people around the world share their reflections on race and identity in just six words, and the insights it brought on our country’s relationship with race.
Changemaking through Art and Creative Expression
Our Connection through Creation program highlights content creators who are using art and the Internet to create community, honor culture, and spark positive change. Stay tuned throughout the month to see inspirational artwork from Korey Edmonson, Leeya Jackson, Rochelle Dickerson, and Shakerra Monét across Comcast’s social media and Xfinity platforms.
