Empire with Michael Portillo

Actor and peace campaigner Mark Rylance explores the extraordinary World War II story of his grandfather, Osmond Skinner, who spent almost four years as a Japanese prisoner of war. Mark uncovers how Osmond, a banker for HSBC, bravely joined the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Force and was thrown into a deadly battle to defend the island. With no military training, Osmond was shot on Christmas Day and taken as a POW. In this moving and compelling film, Rylance's views on war are tested as he uncovers the real and shocking story of how Osmond survived Hong Kong's notorious POW camps.

From the initial sparks of revolution in Boston to the climactic Siege of Yorktown and beyond, this special paints a comprehensive picture of the African-American experience during the Revolutionary War. Hear the story of the war within the revolution through the eyes of some of the most crucial and significant African-American figures of our country's foundation including Crispus Attucks, Peter Salem, Phillis Wheatley and James Armistead Lafayette. Features NBA legend, best-selling author and esteemed activist Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

At the turn of the 20th century, a steady stream of African-Americans left the south, fleeing the threat of racial violence, and searching for better opportunities in the north and the west.