The Television Academy has announced this year’s Honors Awards, which celebrate and recognise seven compelling television programs and their producers who have leveraged the extraordinary power of storytelling to propel social change.

Each year, Television Academy Honors celebrates programs across numerous platforms and genres that raise awareness about complex issues facing society. This year’s honorees include remarkable programs — original dramas, documentaries and dramatized historical events — that address social injustice; civil rights; LGBTQIA+ rights and experiences; Indigenous history and reparations; the experience of mixed-race Americans; racism and racial justice; and mental health.

Disney has picked up two of these awards for the Disney+ Original series, “A Small Light”, and the Hulu/Star Original series, “The 1619 Project”.    Both of these series are available to stream on Disney+ around the world.

The 1619 Project (Harpo; Lionsgate Television; One Story Up Productions; The New York Times; Onyx Collective)

This Emmy-winning nonfiction series is a dramatic expansion of the “The 1619 Project” created by Pulitzer Prize-winner Nikole Hannah-Jones and the New York Times Magazine. The series seeks to reframe America’s history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of Black Americans at the very centre of the national narrative, tackling issues surrounding racial justice, economic justice, reproductive justice, racism, democracy, criminal justice and reparations.

A Small Light (ABC Signature; Keshet Studios; National Geographic)

Starring Bel Powley and Liev Schreiber, this Emmy-nominated limited series follows the remarkable tale of Miep Gies, a Dutch woman who risked her life to shelter Anne Frank and her family from the Nazis for nearly two years during World War II. With Miep’s story more relevant than ever, this series presents a true account of an ordinary secretary who showed extraordinary courage during one of the darkest moments in history.

Plus, “Lakota Nation vs. United States” also picked up one of the awards, and you can watch this on Hulu and Hulu On Disney+ in the United States.

The other shows to pick up a Television Academy Honor include “1000% Me: Growing Up Mixed”, “BEEF”, “Deadlocked: How America Shaped the Supreme Court”, and “Heartstopper.

Television Academy Chair Cris Abrego said in a statement:

“This year’s honorees have leveraged the medium’s power to drive meaningful conversation and create social impact.  We honor their commitment to authentic, evocative storytelling that tackles important social issues that affect the global audience.”

Scott Freeman, Governor of the Reality Programming Peer Group, also said:

 “The Academy Honors Selection Committee was pleased to receive many extraordinary submissions for this award. While all should be commended and it was a challenging responsibility to determine the final honorees, this year’s deserving recipients have delivered powerful and thought-provoking stories that resonate with viewers around the world.  This honor recognizes the passion and commitment from all those in front of and behind the camera to power social and cultural transformation,” added Banks.

A special ceremony will be taking place on Thursday, 23rd May 2024 at Citizen News in Hollywood, California.

Have you checked out “A Small Light” or “The 1619 Project”?  Let us know on social media!

Roger Palmer

Roger has been a Disney fan since he was a kid and this interest has grown over the years. He has visited Disney Parks around the globe and has a vast collection of Disney movies and collectibles. He is the owner of What's On Disney Plus & DisKingdom. Email: Roger@WhatsOnDisneyPlus.com Twitter: Twitter.com/RogPalmerUK Facebook: Facebook.com/rogpalmeruk

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