W.E.B. Du Bois: Rebel With a Cause
Explore the life and legacy of notable Black scholar and civil rights pioneer W.E.B. Du Bois. From his birth, just five years after the Emancipation Proclamation; to his death, on the eve of the March on Washington in 1963, his legacy as an activist continues to resonate today.
Creator . Director . Writer . Speaker
Rita Coburn is a Peabody and Emmy Award-winning Director, Writer, and Producer of radio, television, and film. Beginning her career as a producer and writer for various news outlets across the U.S., Coburn went on to produce for the likes of The Oprah Winfrey Show, Oprah Radio, Apollo Live!, and Walt Disney Productions. In 2016, Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise, which was co-directed and co-produced by Coburn, premiered at the 2016 Sundance Festival and went on to win a Peabody Award in 2017. Coburn directed Marian Anderson: The Whole World in Her Hands, which premiered nationwide on February 8, 2022 on PBS American Masters. On May 19, 2026, her third documentary for American Masters, W.E.B. Du Bois: Rebel With A Cause, will air. Check local listings for the premiere and additional airings.
Coburn’s value lies in her ability to bridge the gap between generations while preserving African-American history. Through her work, she uniquely addresses topics from a multi-generational lens, driven by a passion for illuminating the untold stories of prominent figures and the key ideals that shape African-American culture. As Coburn moves into narrative filmmaking, audiences can expect features that explore generational relationships, from feature length romantic dramas to short films.
