a shock to the system. that easterly wind feeding in that colder air stays with us as we move monday into tuesday, so that means any show is coming so that means any showers coming in off that cold north sea will be falling primarily as snow. western areas will see the best of any shelter, best of the sunshine, but you are not immune to that cold feel. factor in the strength of the wind, your thermometer mayjust read a couple of degrees above freezing, but it is going to feel more like —5 to —7. take care. hello, this is bbc news. the headlines: a leaked document appears to reveal plans to reverse reforms made to the nhs in england by the coalition government in 2012, which saw the private sector given a greater role. the chairman of the vaccines taskforce says he's confident the uk will be able to offer coronavirus

jabs to everyone over 50 by may. thousands of people take to the streets in myanmar to protest against the military coup and to demand the release of aung san suu kyi. president biden says donald trump is "dangerous" and wants him to lose access to intelligence briefings normally given to former presidents. and tens of thousands of farmers block major highways across india as they continue their protests against new agricultural laws. now on bbc news for this special edition of witness history, larry madowo brings us five extraordinary stories to mark black history month in the us — from washington dc.

hi, thank you forjoining me here in washington, dc for this very special edition of witness history, marking black history month here in the us we will go back to important moments in the past from the civil rights era to the present day. coming up, we will hear about the damning 1960s report that told the us it was fundamentally racist. we spent some time at the dance theatre of harlem and beerfrom time at the dance theatre of harlem and beer from the daughter of an american gi who grew up in germany and has spent her life wrestling with her identity. but first, let's go back to one of the darkest days of the civil rights era. on the 15th of the civil rights era. on the 15th of september 1963 the baptist church

on 16th st in birmingham, alabama, was packed and ready for sunday service. then a bomb went off and for young girls were killed. sarah survived but her sister didn't. why would somebody put a bomb on our church and killed a little girl, all of them were angels. she was standing across from me and that's been sent there, and denise

came in the door and that's when the bomb went off. boom!. it was the loudest sound i ever heard and it scared me so bad i called out, jesus. ifelt scared me so bad i called out, jesus. i felt a stinging my body. glass all over my body, several pieces went in my eye.- glass all over my body, several pieces went in my eye. now that the little uirls pieces went in my eye. now that the little girls are _ pieces went in my eye. now that the little girls are buried _ pieces went in my eye. now that the little girls are buried in _ pieces went in my eye. now that the little girls are buried in the - pieces went in my eye. now that the little girls are buried in the soil - little girls are buried in the soil of this— little girls are buried in the soil of this sick city it is possible that— of this sick city it is possible that the _ of this sick city it is possible that the last chance of achieving freedom — that the last chance of achieving freedom in the land of the free has been _ freedom in the land of the free has been buried with them. it is a possibility that the bomb has blasted — possibility that the bomb has blasted into white birmingham's content — blasted into white birmingham's content and it could mean the end of the worst— content and it could mean the end of the worst evils of segregation. —— white _ the worst evils of segregation. —— white birmingham's conscience.

their life was sacrificed for peace. when those girls died they had to look at themselves then, really. why are we so prejudiced? why do we have so much hate? why would they put a bomb in the church? and the killing of these girls, i really believe that they began to see that this was wrong. you don'tjudge us by our colour. we don'tjudge at all. you're supposed to love. that said sunda in you're supposed to love. that said sunday in alabama _ you're supposed to love. that said sunday in alabama is _ you're supposed to love. that said sunday in alabama is a _ you're supposed to love. that said sunday in alabama is a shocking . sunday in alabama is a shocking example of what black people faced in the 1960s. four years later, riots were erupting all across the us and the so—called long hot summer of 1967.

us and the so—called long hot summer of1967. black us and the so—called long hot summer of 1967. black communities were fed up of 1967. black communities were fed up with poor housing, high unemployment and police harassment. the government set up the current commission to investigate the causes of the rights. it's finding sent shock waves across america. the shots are coming _ shock waves across america. tue: shots are coming fast shock waves across america. tte: shots are coming fast and shock waves across america. t'te: shots are coming fast and heavy shock waves across america. tte: shots are coming fast and heavy here in detroit as the night is again broken by gunfire.— in detroit as the night is again broken by gunfire. from city after ci in this broken by gunfire. from city after city in this tragic _ broken by gunfire. from city after city in this tragic summer - broken by gunfire. from city after city in this tragic summer of - broken by gunfire. from city after city in this tragic summer of 1967 | city in this tragic summer of 1967 has come use of violence across america. rioting, looting, burning, sniping, killing. he america. rioting, looting, burning, sniping. killing-— sniping, killing. he riots and disorders — sniping, killing. he riots and disorders were _ sniping, killing. he riots and disorders were really - sniping, killing. he riots and - disorders were really frightening. there was a lot of needless deaths, most of those who died were black. and most of them were innocent of any wrongdoing. there was quite a bit of overreaction by the police and the national guard when they came in. we

and the national guard when they came in. ~ ., ., . came in. we will not en'oy violence. it matters not h came in. we will not enjoy violence. it matters not by whom _ came in. we will not enjoy violence. it matters not by whom it _ came in. we will not enjoy violence. it matters not by whom it is - came in. we will not enjoy violence. it matters not by whom it is done, l it matters not by whom it is done, or under— it matters not by whom it is done, or under what slogan or banner. and i went or under what slogan or banner. and i went into — or under what slogan or banner. and i went into the _ or under what slogan or banner. jim i went into the kitchen and stood almost at attention and i said yes, sir, mr president. and he said fred, i'm going to a point that commission you talking about it and i'm going to put you on it. they wouldn't even look at us. one man said, i can stand even to look at white people any more. and all of them expressed a feeling that none of you are going to do anything. these people are living in such

desperate conditions of poverty. there is such terrible hostility with justification against the police that any random spark could set them off. i wanted people to have and i think they did a real sense of history here that we better just tell the truth and don't try to sugar—coat it any or make it sound better. and we got to the point where we were going to say that white racism had created the black ghettos and it was white racism which sustained them that unnerved some members. no federal agency had ever used the word racism and we said, well, that is what it is and i think it is important to say that because, for a lot of young black kids in the country, we want to say, you are not crazy. this system is

sort of rigged against you. decommission made in a very exhaustive sturdy and spend a couple of million _ exhaustive sturdy and spend a couple of million dollars but they recommend that i spend 80 million and i've _ recommend that i spend 80 million and i've got no place to get the at. i and i've got no place to get the at. i can't _ and i've got no place to get the at. i can't borrow it, can't it, can't get _ i can't borrow it, can't it, can't get a — i can't borrow it, can't it, can't get a tax — ican't borrow it, can't it, can't get a tax lrill— i can't borrow it, can't it, can't get a tax bill of any kind. doctor martin luther king junior characterised our report this way. he said it is a physician's diagnosis and prediction of death with a prescription for life. well,

through inaction and opposition to, it seems america for about 50 years has chosen death rather than life. but i think now with these terrible police killings and all of the demonstrations and protests that have occurred as a result, there is a change in public opinion and people are opting for life. the commission's _ people are opting for life. the commission's finding is that america was fundamentally racist would fundamental even today because systemic racism remains a deeply divisive issue here. i am at the martin luther king junior memorial but what does a civil rights icon had to do with dance? next, the dance theatre of harlem opened its doors to witness history. the

company's artistic director tells us about how the first ballet school to prioritise black dancers began. it wasn't until i was graduating from the washington school of ballet that the director came to me and she said, you know, you are going to have a career. you are a really wonderful dancer but you will never be a ballerina because of the colour of your skin. tt be a ballerina because of the colour of your skin-— of your skin. it was following the assassination _ of your skin. it was following the assassination of _ of your skin. it was following the assassination of martin - of your skin. it was following the assassination of martin luther i of your skin. it was following the i assassination of martin luther king in 1968 that arthur mitchell decided to set up a dance company for black people in harlem.— people in harlem. arthur mitchell was a prince _ people in harlem. arthur mitchell was a prince would _ people in harlem. arthur mitchell was a prince would answer - people in harlem. arthur mitchell was a prince would answer with i people in harlem. arthur mitchell. was a prince would answer with new york city ballet and he was the first african—american to achieve that level in a major american ballet company. he looked around at this neighbourhood and he said, these kids don't have a future.

education is terrible, the schools are failing, nobody cares about them. they don't have a of breaking this cycle of poverty but if i teach them ballet i'm going to give them something else to draw from within themselves. we something else to draw from within themselves-— themselves. we started with 30 children and _ themselves. we started with 30 children and two _ themselves. we started with 30 children and two dancers - themselves. we started with 30 children and two dancers and i children and two dancers and everybody said i was crazy because i was using _ everybody said i was crazy because i was using a — everybody said i was crazy because i was using a european art form, classical— was using a european art form, classical ballet. but i think that is the _ classical ballet. but i think that is the strongest technical foundation and once you have that technique — foundation and once you have that technique you can do whatever you want _ technique you can do whatever you want. . ,, technique you can do whatever you want. , want. classical ballet is impossibly difficult and _ want. classical ballet is impossibly difficult and it — want. classical ballet is impossibly difficult and it focus, _ want. classical ballet is impossibly difficult and it focus, it _ want. classical ballet is impossibly difficult and it focus, it requires i difficult and it focus, it requires self—discipline and it requires perseverance. th self-discipline and it requires perseverance.— self-discipline and it requires perseverance. self-discipline and it requires erseverance. ., ., , ., perseverance. in two months i had 400 kids in — perseverance. in two months i had 400 kids in it _ perseverance. in two months i had 400 kids in it for _ perseverance. in two months i had 400 kids in it for months - perseverance. in two months i had 400 kids in it for months i - perseverance. in two months i had 400 kids in it for months i had - perseverance. in two months i had | 400 kids in it for months i had 800 kid so _ 400 kids in it for months i had 800 kid so shows there is a want and need _ kid so shows there is a want and need and — kid so shows there is a want and need and desire for this. | kid so shows there is a want and need and desire for this. i got to new york _ need and desire for this. i got to new york in _ need and desire for this. i got to new york in the _ need and desire for this. i got to new york in the fall— need and desire for this. i got to new york in the fall of _ need and desire for this. i got to new york in the fall of 1968 - need and desire for this. i got to new york in the fall of 1968 and | new york in the fall of 1968 and somebody told me that arthur mitchell was teaching a class up in harlem on saturdays and i could go up harlem on saturdays and i could go up and take less and get a little

ballet back in my life. and ijoined dance theatre of harlem in the spring of 1969. and right from the start it was magic. hit spring of1969. and right from the start it was magic.— spring of 1969. and right from the | start it was magic._ he start it was magic. hit my hand. he was maniacal- _ start it was magic. hit my hand. he was maniacal. if _ start it was magic. hit my hand. he was maniacal. if we _ start it was magic. hit my hand. he was maniacal. if we were _ start it was magic. hit my hand. he was maniacal. if we were going - start it was magic. hit my hand. he was maniacal. if we were going to l start it was magic. hit my hand. he l was maniacal. if we were going to do ballet we were going to be the best ballet we were going to be the best ballet dancers the world has ever seen. it was extremely difficult and painful, those first years. nothing that we did was right. he was driving us, he was pushing us every minute. to me, ballet is about the elevation of the human spirit. i always say that dancing en pointe is the closest that you can get to flying. there were black people who did not want us to do that white peoples art form at white people thought you can't understand it and you don't have the talent of the bodies. we were really fortunate for

our first new york performances the big credit from the new york times said, this is the most exciting thing in ballet. and that he gave us the little nod and people were saying, oh, ok, let's go see them. let's see if they are any good. ten years after that i would see young people walking into the studio with a sense of ownership. of course i can be a ballet dancer. and that was the most beautiful thing in the words to me that they had no question where i had nothing but questions. in a sense, dance theatre of harlem was ahead of its time. there was a desire to bring more diversity to ballet. it is notjust about being perfect on balance in a tutu. that'sjust about being perfect on balance in a tutu. that's just a sliver of what ballet can say. be wonderful dancers of the dance theatre of harlem, there. and now you see the collection with martin luther king junior. just a reminder you can

watch witness history every month on the bbc news channel. all catch up with all our films and more than 1000 radio programmes on our website. just search for bbc witness history. let's now turn to one of the most controversial police shootings of the 1990s and this is because of the death of george floyd is still fresh in our mind. an immigrant living in new york city were shot by the police 41 times. his devastated mother told us about the day that changed her family's life forever. t the day that changed her family's life forever.— life forever. i will never forget that day- _ life forever. i will never forget that day- i _ life forever. i will never forget that day. i collapsed - life forever. i will never forget that day. i collapsed and - life forever. i will never forget that day. i collapsed and my l that day. i collapsed and my daughter was there with me and she held me _ daughter was there with me and she held me and said, mum, i know something — held me and said, mum, i know something is wrong but take it easy. i something is wrong but take it easy. i knew— something is wrong but take it easy. i knew then — something is wrong but take it easy. i knew then my life that i had been living _ i knew then my life that i had been living before would never be the same _

living before would never be the same. ho — living before would never be the same. .., living before would never be the same. .. ., �* ., living before would never be the same. ., �* ., ., , ., , same. he came to the bronx two years auo in same. he came to the bronx two years ago in search _ same. he came to the bronx two years ago in search of— same. he came to the bronx two years ago in search of the _ same. he came to the bronx two years ago in search of the american - same. he came to the bronx two years ago in search of the american dream. l ago in search of the american dream. that dream ended here on his doorstep where he was shot down in a volley of 41 bullets that have left their skies. volley of 41 bullets that have left theirskies. he volley of 41 bullets that have left their skies. he was unarmed but the involved say they thought he was reaching for a gun. t involved say they thought he was reaching for a gun.— reaching for a gun. i was devastated. _ reaching for a gun. i was devastated. not - reaching for a gun. i was devastated. not only - reaching for a gun. i was - devastated. not only because my child was gone but also the way he was killed. all i wanted was to cross the ocean and come to new york and find out why my child would be gunned down like that. he was my first born. i had him and i wasjust 16 years old. he was very shy but he was gentle. 16 years old. he was very shy but he was gentle-— was gentle. anger and disbelief in the community — was gentle. anger and disbelief in the community where _ was gentle. anger and disbelief in the community where he - was gentle. anger and disbelief in the community where he lived. i the community where he lived. holding — the community where he lived. holding wallets have a laugh they asked _ holding wallets have a laugh they asked how the four officers could possibly— asked how the four officers could possibly have mistaken a wallet for a gun _

possibly have mistaken a wallet for a run. ~ ., possibly have mistaken a wallet for a i un, . ., ., 4' a gun. when i arrived in new york i said, ou a gun. when i arrived in new york i said. you have _ a gun. when i arrived in new york i said, you have to _ a gun. when i arrived in new york i said, you have to take _ a gun. when i arrived in new york i said, you have to take me - a gun. when i arrived in new york i said, you have to take me where i a gun. when i arrived in new york i | said, you have to take me where my son lived and died. i remember seeing the bullet wounds on the wall. i remember picking up my son's clothes, bringing it to my facejust to smell it. when i came to new york and i saw the outcry and the response of all people of all origin, or religion, all colours. people my stewing, protesting. i was comforted by that support it was thousands and thousands of people. that energy was so powerful. i was sitting in the courtroom every day when the verdict was given a

quitting all the four officers. i devastated and i felt betrayed because how can an innocent young man being killed and being blamed for his own death because that was the argument in the end. unfortunately so many people fell victim to the same police brutality. my my mission was the foundation. the goal of the foundation is education racial healing and to bring police and community relations awareness. i started a foundation in and since then we have given a scholarship to african students who were also struggling and that help to heal me a little bit. i don't want anyone to

forget him a child was. i want him to be remembered. by the life he lived not the way he died. his death was almost two decades before black lives matter or george floyd. so much has changed in america since then and so much has remained the same. and for our final film we are heading to post—war germany. she was the daughter of a white german mother and an african—american gi. as a mixed—race so—called occupation baby her story shows how the racism she faced growing up led to years spent grappling with her identity. itrui’heh growing up led to years spent grappling with her identity. when i was a child people _ grappling with her identity. when i was a child people would - grappling with her identity. when i

was a child people would scratch i grappling with her identity. when i l was a child people would scratch my face with a scrubbing brush to show other children that it wasn't chocolate on my face. obviously, as a child, i couldn't figure out why this was happening to me. ijust wanted to be white, to have the feeling of belonging and be like the others. ., ., ., " others. following defeat in 1945 germany found _ others. following defeat in 1945 germany found itself _ others. following defeat in 1945 germany found itself once - others. following defeat in 1945j germany found itself once again occupied by allied troops. the american spot with ten black gis who remain stationed in germany for some time after the war. inevitably bonds were formed and in some cases children followed born into an all—white environment and having no contact at all with black people. my father came to germany because he was an american soldier. he was sent back home early because he became ill. all children born to african—american fathers were

identified as occupation babies. when i was six and a half my mother took me to the children's home. i've never blamed her because i know that she was under a lot of pressure. i felt as if i was worth so much less than the other children there. i was hit, locked up in rooms and when i was ten they tried to drive the devil out of me. i had to kneel down in front of a chair. all the windows were closed and i had to repeat, jesusis were closed and i had to repeat, jesus is the victor. then the shutters were opened so the devil hiding inside of me could fly out of the window. i was worth so little that if they could get the devil out

of me then i would be worth a little bit more. that is how i felt. i never thought about my father when i was growing up but when i was 18 i thought i would like to meet him. i tried to get in contact using an old address my mother had. but the letter came back i met audrey in germany in the 1980s. she was an african—american writer and she impressed me as an older black woman. she was very important to me. she told us that as afro germans we

should no longer be silenced in the society and it was very special that others had experienced the same things as me. getting to know him really healed me. suddenly i could feel proud of myself and walk tall. i had arrived where i had always wanted to be and that's how i still feel today. what a great story to end on there

about overcoming racism and prejudice. that is all we have time for this month. the witness history team will be back next month with more story to make you sit up and listen. but for now thank you for joining me here in washington, dc. goodbye.

when we get snow across the country it does tend to dominate weather headlines, doesn't it? but i want to point out that for many hit western areas today we've got some lovely sunny spells. this was cumbria just a few hours ago and we have got relatively mild are still in place with temperatures peaking around seven or 8 degrees. but in colder further east and it is this cold air that will dominate the story over the next few days, originating from the next few days, originating from the arctic and coming down across scandinavia it is also going to interact with storm dassey which is really going to fog across the far north of europe butjust the tail end of that weather front interacting with that cold air and that could bring wintry precipitation over the next few hours. some showers drifting in off the north sea and clearer skies as we go through the night so that means a cold, icy start first thing on sunday morning. but it is the

south—east that will be the cause for concern during the early part of sunday. the met office has issued an amber warning potentially for 5—10 centimetres of snow quite widely, even as much as 20 centimetres plus on higher ground. the yellow he had a note that that snow might drift further north and west so you need to keep abreast of the forecast to see exactly where that snow is threatening during sunday morning. elsewhere it is going to be a case of sunny spells and scattered showers. particularly where we have got to the snow, blizzard —like conditions and gusts in excess of 50 mph. western areas will continue sunshine to the afternoon and scattered showers. it is going to be a cold day. temperatures, while struggling to climb above freezing, factoring the strength in the direction of the wind, it is really going to feel bitterly cold with more like —4 minus five degrees. into monday the easterly wind drives

in showers and an emphasis further north and east as we can see and again temperatures i fetched a struggle for many. it is going to feel bitterly cold indeed. a few have not already got the got the message the early part of the week looks likely stay very cold indeed with further score the wintry showers.

this is bbc news. i'm rebecca jones with the latest headlines. a leaked document appears to reveal plans to reverse reforms made to the nhs in england by the coalition government in 2012, which saw the private sector given a greater role. the chairman of the vaccines taskforce says he's confident the uk will be able to offer coronavirus jabs to everyone over 50 by may. thousands of people take to the streets in myanmar to protest against the military coup and to demand the release of aung san suu kyi. president biden says donald trump is "dangerous" and wants him to lose access to intelligence briefings normally given to former presidents. i just think that there is no need to have that intelligence briefing. what value is giving him

an intelligence briefing? what impact does he have at all, other than the fact he might