Duke University’s acclaimed web series Left of Black has officially launched its 16th season this February 2026, timed to coincide with Black History Month. The new season marks a significant evolution for the long-running program, shifting toward a more explicitly international lens on the African diaspora, exploring global Black experiences, scholarship, and cultural connections beyond U.S. borders.
The season premiere was spotlighted on February 15, 2026, with announcements across social media and academic channels celebrating the launch. Early episodes feature scholar Dr. Jarvis C. McInnis (then of Duke University, now affiliated with broader networks including Columbia University Press projects) discussing themes of Black worldmaking, the legacy of the Tuskegee Institute, and his book Afterlives of the Plantation. Social media posts noted the episode as the official Season 16 Premiere, with Duke colleague Dr. Christopher Ouma stepping in as a guest or co-host for the launch, under the series’ signature format of intimate, insightful conversations.
Created in 2010–2011 by Mark Anthony Neal, the James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of African & African American Studies at Duke (who joined the faculty in 2004), Left of Black was inspired by the late journalist Gil Noble’s groundbreaking public affairs program Like It Is. Neal has frequently cited how Noble’s show introduced him as a young viewer in New York City to towering figures such as Paul Robeson, John Henrik Clarke, Yosef Ben-Jochannan, Abbey Lincoln, Sonia Sanchez, and Bob Marley.
“Before I had any idea what Black Studies was, [‘Like It Is’] introduced me to such important figures,” Neal reflected in Duke Today coverage of the new season. The series format invites Black Studies scholars to discuss their latest books and research while revealing the personal motivations and lived experiences that shape their work — all while confronting the enduring forces of racism and inequality.
Produced by the John Hope Franklin Humanities Institute at Duke, with Eric Barstow as director, the show has evolved into a vital digital platform for accessible Black intellectualism. Recent production highlights include Duke undergraduates from Neal’s Spring 2025 course filming the Season 15 finale, which featured Meredith D. Clark of UNC Hussman discussing her book We Tried to Tell Y’All on the cultural power of Black Twitter (pre-X).
The series has earned national recognition, winning two 2025 Telly Awards: Silver in the Interview and Talk Show category and Bronze in Education and Discovery. It continues to stream weekly on YouTube, with a dedicated Season 16 playlist now live.
