Forgotten Hero: ‘Walter White and the NAACP’ Explores the Untold Story of One of America’s Most Influential Civil Rights Leaders [TRAILER]

When we think of the civil rights movement, names like Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and Malcolm X come to mind. But there’s one name missing from that list—a man whose contributions shaped the movement long before the Montgomery bus boycott. His name? Walter White. And no, we’re not talking about Breaking Bad. This Walter White led the NAACP for a quarter of a century, risking his life to expose racial violence, fight for justice, and influence major civil rights victories.

In the upcoming PBS documentary Forgotten Hero: Walter White and the NAACP, director Michelle Smawley and writer-producer Rob Rapley take viewers on a deep dive into the life of this unsung hero. Premiering on the American Experience series on February 25, the film sheds light on why Walter White’s name has faded into obscurity despite his extraordinary accomplishments.

With blond hair and blue eyes, White described himself as “an enigma, a Black man occupying a white body.” The son of formerly enslaved Black women and powerful white men, he was able to move between both worlds. But his identity was never in question—he was Black by law, conviction, and purpose. He spent his life fighting for Black civil rights and made some of the most dangerous sacrifices along the way.

One of his boldest acts? Going undercover in the Deep South—posing as white—to document lynchings and racial violence. Armed with nothing but a pen and nerves of steel, White risked death to bring national attention to these atrocities, forcing America to confront its brutal realities. His reports became powerful weapons in the fight for federal anti-lynching legislation.

As NAACP’s leader from 1929 to 1955, White also pushed for desegregation in the U.S. military, helped shift Black voters’ allegiance from the Republican Party to the Democrats, and worked closely with President Truman on civil rights policies. He even ventured into Hollywood, advocating for more authentic representation of Black stories and challenging harmful stereotypes in film and theater.

“Walter White was the best lobbyist for the NAACP, ever,” one expert notes in the film. Another adds, “He was a phenomenon. He was everywhere… He brought a kind of energy that was just extraordinary.”

But Walter White’s legacy is complicated. Though he achieved incredible victories, critics felt he grew too comfortable with white elites, disconnected from the grassroots movement he was meant to represent. This tension may help explain why his name hasn’t endured in history books.

Still, his impact on the civil rights movement is undeniable. He hired a young Thurgood Marshall to lead the NAACP’s Legal Defense Fund—a move that laid the groundwork for the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision. His life’s work helped set the stage for many of the victories that came after.

In Forgotten Hero, the documentary doesn’t just retell history; it interrogates why Walter White’s story was lost in the first place. It’s an important reminder that history isn’t just about what’s remembered, but also about what’s deliberately forgotten.

As we continue to recognize the heroes of the civil rights movement, Walter White’s name deserves to stand alongside the giants. Watch the trailer above and tune in to Forgotten Hero: Walter White and the NAACP on American Experience to learn more about this remarkable figure who refused to be invisible.