Directed by documentarian Ken Burns, this is the story of the first African-American boxer to win the most coveted title in all of sports -- the Heavyweight Boxing Championship of the World. It's also about his struggle, in and out of the ring, to live his life free of racial prejudice. The son of former slaves, he entered professional boxing, where, in the early 1900's the heavyweight champion was an exclusively "white title." Johnson openly flaunted the conventions of the time by dating and then marrying white women. In 1908 he became the first African-American to earn the title Heavyweight Champion of the World. His victory set in motion a worldwide search for a "white hope" to restore the title to the white race. On July 4, 1910, in Reno, Nevada, ex-champion Jim Jeffries, the new "Great White Hope," came out of retirement to challenge Jack Johnson. Johnson easily won the contest, billed as the Battle of the Century. This victory provoked race riots all around the U.S.

Log on to http://www.pbs.org/unforgivableblackness/index.html.

"The French Revolution"

(Because "The French Revolution" airs at the same time as the PBS' Ken Burns program about Jack Johnson, you may want to tape this history documentary for later viewing or tune into its repeat broadcast Friday, January 19 at 8 p.m.)

This program is about 18th Century France, which was then the world's wealthiest nation with the most powerful king, best-educated population and strongest army in Europe. But it also suffered an exploding national debt (partly due to the King's support of the American Revolution) and an increasingly restless middle and lower class. On July 14, 1789, discontent erupted when a mob of Parisians stormed the Bastille, seizing arms and gunpowder and commenced a decade of revolutionary ideals and a murderous cycle of violence. This two-hour documentary introduces viewers to the key figures of the Revolution, including King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, who ruled unaware of the depth of anger of their subjects; Robespierre, the lawyer turned revolutionary who resorted to violence to preserve the new Republic; Danton, Robespierre's ally, whose calls for ending the violence would lead to his own violent end; Marat, the newspaperman who fanned the flames of the Revolution and would be turned into a martyr after he was murdered; and Charlotte Corday, the woman who murdered Marat, hoping his death would put an end to the violence. Especially if you like the book or musical Les Miserables, you should check out this show.

Log on to http://www.historychannel.com/frenchrevolution/.

Airing the same week the U.S. President is being inaugurated, these are the initial two programs of a documentary series running in this time slot though Friday, January 21. The series is worth taping. Based on the book, To the Best of My Ability, edited by Pulitzer Prize-winning historian James McPherson, this 8-part series provides a look at the men from all walks of life and parts of the country who have led America from the Oval Office. Also examined is the human side of the Presidents, offering a look at their strengths and weaknesses, their families and accomplishments.

Part 1 covers 1789-1825, from George Washington, who defined the presidency, to James Monroe, the last of the Revolutionary War heroes. Events included Washington's Whisky Rebellion, John Adams' XYZ Affair, Thomas Jefferson's Louisiana Purchase, James Madison's War of 1812, and the Monroe Doctrine.

In Part 2, -1825-1849, was a period marked by rapid growth and the bitterest election in U.S. history and the first decided by popular vote -- the election of 1828. Andrew Jackson imposed his will upon the nation, heralding the era of the Common Man and Manifest Destiny. Also shown are the dark politics of John Quincy Adams' presidency; the Indian Removal Act; Bank War; economic turmoil during Martin Van Buren's term; William Henry Harrison's death and the first succession crisis; the elevation of Vice President John Tyler ("His Accidency"), and the first impeachment resolution against a president; and exploits of James K. Polk, who took the U.S. to war with Mexico and expanded the nation "from Sea to Shining Sea."