Iowa PBS presents A Monumental Journey

In 1925, 12 Black lawyers met in Des Moines to push back against a society trying to suppress their legal work and they set out to even the playing field. Explore the founding, impact and legacy of the National Bar Association with Iowa PBS’s new documentary A Monumental Journey, premiering Tuesday, November 30 at 7 p.m.

“These lawyers, who were pillars of the community, believed in justice even though they lived in the shadow of racism. I found the dedication, bravery and perseverance of the association's founders inspiring,” said Iowa PBS Senior Producer and Director Dave Miller. “Bringing their story to Iowans and beyond is truly an honor.”

The documentary will take viewers on an exploration of the motivation of the lawyers who founded the National Bar Association. Their stories, as well as those of judges and lawyers who see the association as the inspiration for their legal careers, are woven around the construction of Kerry James Marshall’s statue “A Monumental Journey.” The memorial, unveiled in 2018 in Des Moines, honors the association’s founding.

Support for A Monumental Journey is provided by Pella Rolscreen Foundation.

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