PBS’s Michel Martin welcomed the father-daughter duo of Director David Greaves and Producer Liana Greaves to Friday’s edition of Amanpour and Company to promote their new documentary, Once Upon a Time in Harlem, about the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s. However, Martin wasn’t just interested in discussing the history. She had to find a way to make it about President Trump, which David and Liana were happy to oblige, calling it “a sign of resistance” and an “act of resistance.”
Towards the end of their discussion, Martin declared, “So, before we let you go, you know, this film arrives at a moment when there is actually, you know, political discourse around black history. I mean, it's this whole notion of what should be taught, what should be preserved. I mean, you know, this administration, the Trump administration, tried to remove certain information from historical markers in some places that has been recently added. They're trying to add, you know, disclaimers at some sort of historical sites.”
PBS's Michel Martin hypes the "Once Upon a Time in Harlem" documentary by telling producer Liana Greaves, "So, before we let you go, you know, this film arrives at a moment when there is actually, you know, political discourse around black history. I mean, it's this whole notion… pic.twitter.com/XdLdtCzwpp
— Alex Christy (@alexchristy17) October 17, 2026
Trying to tie that to the film, Martin wondered, “And as we said, some of these folks had parents who were born into slavery, and they, also some of them were living in a time when there was racial violence that was commonplace. I mean, commonplace. So, I'm wondering what each of you hopes this film will do in the world. Liani, do you want to start?”
Martin never provided any examples of “certain information from historical markers,” but PBS put up a Reuters headline for an article that referenced a George Washington exhibit that was exclusively negative.
As it was, Liana took the opportunity and ran with it, “I think the film is so historically important in the world right now. I think it's also — you know, it's also very useful in the world right now. And my hope is that people will see it — going to see this film. We wanted for people to be in community going to see the film in theaters. And that people will see that as a sign of resistance to this kind of oppression that we're experiencing around history and who we are as a nation also.”
She also claimed, “And I think that—and it's useful particularly now because of the themes around it, because of the community and empathy that's exhibited in the film. I think it's useful for us to remember who we are as a nation, what we're capable of, you know. And I think it can be very instructive in that way. And so, yeah, it feels like an act of service to be — to the nation to be offering this in the world right now.”
David agreed, “I think showing this film now as opposed to, say, in '72 or '73, the times now make this film and seeing it an act of resistance to what is happening. These are primary sources of folks talking about the black experience, talking about the American experience. And hearing it unvarnished, if you will.”
He further declared, “There is a rich history behind America, behind African-Americans in America that has been lost. But here we are and we are determined that it will be seen now, be seen in the future. And folks will look at it and say, ‘Yeah, I have to see this film. I have to know about this at this time. And it will not be erased.’”
The idea that the Harlem Renaissance was at risk of being erased from history by the Trump administration is silly, but for Amanpour and Company, the goal is to turn people against the administration. The facts are of secondary concern.
Here is a transcript for the October 16 show:
PBS Amanpour and Company
10/16/2025
MICHEL MARTIN: So, before we let you go, you know, this film arrives at a moment when there is actually, you know, political discourse around black history. I mean, it's this whole notion of what should be taught, what should be preserved. I mean, you know, this administration, the Trump administration, tried to remove certain information from historical markers in some places that has been recently added. They're trying to add, you know, disclaimers at some sort of historical sites.
And as we said, some of these folks had parents who were born into slavery, and they, also some of them were living in a time when there was racial violence that was commonplace. I mean, commonplace.
DAVID GREAVES: Right.
MARTIN: So, I'm wondering what each of you hopes this film will do in the world. Liani, do you want to start?
LIANA GREAVES: I think the film is so historically important in the world right now. I think it's also — you know, it's also very useful in the world right now. And my hope is that people will see it — going to see this film. We wanted for people to be in community going to see the film in theaters. And that people will see that as a sign of resistance to this kind of oppression that we're experiencing around history and who we are as a nation also.
And I think that—and it's useful particularly now because of the themes around it, because of the community and empathy that's exhibited in the film. I think it's useful for us to remember who we are as a nation, what we're capable of, you know. And I think it can be very instructive in that way. And so, yeah, it feels like an act of service to be — to the nation to be offering this in the world right now.
DAVID GREAVES: I think showing this film now as opposed to say in '72 or '73, the times now make this film and seeing it an act of resistance to what is happening. These are primary sources of folks talking about the black experience, talking about the American experience. And hearing it unvarnished, if you will.
And just straight from the folks who were as close to that time as were ever going to come. There is a rich history behind America, behind African-Americans in America that has been lost. But here we are and we are determined that it will be seen now, be seen in the future. And folks will look at it and say, "Yeah, I have to see this film. I have to know about this at this time. And it will not be erased."
