Last night I watched
"Hard Times 1933 - 1945," which was the second episode.

Subtle approach to the issue of racism and 'apartheid' in the US.

Stephen Foster's "Hard Times" was sung, full length, while the narration either talked over the singing
or highlighted certain verses.
And who sang, accompanied on piano? None other than
Mavis Staples of the Staples Singers.
And a gritty, soulful interpretation it was, too.

The name escapes me, but another artist
sang and performed with the Delmore Brothers,
and he was African-American, and proud of it.
As long as he was on the road with the Brothers,
they looked after him like one of their own,
and his case was singled out for attention in this episode.

With the ascent of the Grand Ole Opry at Ryman Auditorium in Nashville,
an institution was born, so was an establishment of the power-holding elite
that goes with such an institution.
And that same artist with the Delmore Brothers,
who was one of the founding performers of the shows,
was summarily fired.

The episode includes footage of
Wynton Marsalis talking about this artist and his story;
and his triumphant return performance, MANY years later,
was filmed,
and the footage shown in the episode.

Reckon that in future episodes
much will be made of singer Charley Pride.