The ninth season of the award-winning documentary series “AfroPoP: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange” kicked off on WORLD Channel on January 16 with the documentary “An American Ascent.” The gripping film captures the first African American team of climbers to attempt to summit Denali (formerly Mount McKinley), North America’s highest peak, and to inspire other Blacks to connect with the outdoors.

Filmed 4 summers ago, and previously titled “Expedition Denali,” “An American Ascent” follows 9 mountaineers who attempted to become the first all-African-American team to climb Denali in Alaska, which rises to 20,320 feet above sea level. In the summer of 2013, the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) brought together a group of men and women who made history as the first team of African Americans to blaze a trail up America’s highest peak – Denali – in part to mark the 100th anniversary of the peak’s first ascent, but also to build a legacy by paving a way for young people of color to get outside, get active, get healthy, become passionate about America’s wild places, and chase their own Denali-sized dreams.

Directed by Andrew Adkins and George Potter, the film’s mountaineers include Scott Briscoe, Stephen Deberry, James Kagambi, Billy Long, Ryan Mitchell, Tyrhee Moore, Robby ReChord, Rosemary Saal, Adina Scott, Stephen Shobe, and Erica Wynn.

The riveting documentary is now available online in full and can be watched below.

Hosted by actress Nikki Beharie, “AfroPoP” is comprised of documentaries about contemporary life, art and culture across the African Diaspora. The program is produced by National Black Programming Consortium and co-presented by series distributor American Public Television (APT).

New episodes of “AfroPoP” air weekly through February 15.

First, watch a trailer for “An American Ascent” and then watch the documentary in full below.

Trailer:

Full film:

An American Ascent

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