Black Public Media (BPM), the Harlem-based national nonprofit dedicated to amplifying Black voices in film and media, is fighting back against the growing threat of cultural erasure. Following a $1.8 million cut to its annual federal funding, BPM has launched the Black Stories Production Fund — a bold, nationwide fundraising effort to raise $9 million over the next two years to ensure the future of Black storytelling remains vibrant, visible, and independent.
The campaign seeks support from both major institutions and individual donors, encouraging contributions of all sizes — including donations starting at just $5. The first year’s goal is to engage 1.8 million donors in direct response to the federal funding loss.
“As we build the production fund, we will also work with our public media partners to rebuild a better, more responsive and representative public media system,” said Leslie Fields-Cruz, BPM’s executive director. “The future of public media should never again be subject to the whims of politics. Our mission of supporting independent voices who create work in service to the advancement of our nation, and Black people everywhere, is too important.”
For more than four decades, BPM has been a cornerstone of Black media innovation, investing over $17 million in productions that have redefined public media. Its funded works include acclaimed titles such as Ailey, Daughters of the Dust, I Am Not Your Negro, Mr. Soul!, and Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes. Many BPM-supported films have received Emmy, Peabody, and Telly Awards — and even Oscar nominations — while launching the careers of celebrated filmmakers like Julie Dash, Stanley Nelson, Michèle Stephenson, and Sam Pollard.
Beyond film, BPM continues to champion emerging media with programs that train creators in virtual and augmented reality, and initiatives that open access to funding, technology, and mentorship. The organization’s long-running series AfroPoP: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange is now in its 17th season, alongside digital shorts and the award-winning children’s podcast Keyshawn Solves It.
“For more than four decades, Black Public Media has supported innovative films and other media that mark our history and herald what’s on the horizon,” Fields-Cruz added. “It is vital that these narratives retain their rightful place in the public square where they educate audiences, spark conversations and illuminate solutions.”