Erased: WW2's Heroes of Color Menu About Bios Episodes Photos Releases Videos Releases May 3, 2024 Production Biographies Shianne Brown – Director, “D-Day” Shianne Brown has a wealth of experience developing and delivering premium singles and series, working as well with sensitive contributors as she does with high-profile talent and organizations. She is diligent and astute and has a passion for character-led historical documentaries. Her first-time directorial project, the documentary short “Take Your Knee Off My Neck,” was nominated for a Grierson. She also produced the BBC’s landmark “Fight the Power” series, which was Grierson and BAFTA-nominated and awarded a Royal Television Society Award. Charlene Osuagwu – Producer, “D-Day” Charlene Osuagwu is a conscientious and enthusiastic producer with experience in sensitive and high-pressure environments, as well as negotiating complex access. She has a track record of establishing strong and immediate relationships with contributors from wide-ranging and diverse backgrounds. She is passionate about bold, nuanced and revelatory storytelling. Daniel Dewsbur Press Release May 3, 2024 Descendant Biographies Pearl Harbor Erika Bethea – Erika Bethea is the eldest grandchild of Clark Simmons, an African American mess attendant who survived the attack on Pearl Harbor. Erika currently lives in Plano, Texas, but spent part of her childhood living with Simmons in New York City. Erika speaks proudly of her grandfather, aka Papa, whom she describes as the patriarch of the family. Erika revealed that Simmons was more of a father to her than her own dad and asked him to give her away at her wedding. Erika powerfully conveys fond memories of her grandfather and intimate conversations that they shared before he passed away in 2017. Frank Bland – Frank Bland is the son of George Bland, an African American messman who survived the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941. In 2022, Bland published the book “A Rope from Above at Pearl Harbor,” which documents his father’s experiences serving in a segregated Navy during WW2. Frank’s book powerfully portrays his father’s miraculous escape from the USS West Press Release May 3, 2024 National Geographic Honors WW2 Soldiers of Color With Two New Specials (WASHINGTON, DC – April 17, 2024) Continuing National Geographic’s 136-year record of giving viewers access to pivotal historical moments with new breadth and insight, the network will honor the contributions and sacrifices of overlooked Allied soldiers of color with two new specials on Monday, June 3. At 9/8c, ERASED: WW2’S HEROES OF COLOR, a four-part docuseries executive produced and narrated by Idris Elba (“Hijack”), will premiere, and THE REAL RED TAILS, a one-hour documentary narrated by Sheryl Lee Ralph (“Abbott Elementary”) will kick off the evening at 8/7c. Both specials will stream the next day on Disney+ and Hulu. Produced by October Films and Elba’s 22Summers, ERASED: WW2’S HEROES OF COLOR uncovers the long-lost legacies of soldiers of color during World War II. This landmark series sheds light on the immense contributions of over eight million individuals who fought heroically for the Allied forces and whose stories have largely gone untold. The four-part series weaves a Press Release
May 3, 2024 Production Biographies Shianne Brown – Director, “D-Day” Shianne Brown has a wealth of experience developing and delivering premium singles and series, working as well with sensitive contributors as she does with high-profile talent and organizations. She is diligent and astute and has a passion for character-led historical documentaries. Her first-time directorial project, the documentary short “Take Your Knee Off My Neck,” was nominated for a Grierson. She also produced the BBC’s landmark “Fight the Power” series, which was Grierson and BAFTA-nominated and awarded a Royal Television Society Award. Charlene Osuagwu – Producer, “D-Day” Charlene Osuagwu is a conscientious and enthusiastic producer with experience in sensitive and high-pressure environments, as well as negotiating complex access. She has a track record of establishing strong and immediate relationships with contributors from wide-ranging and diverse backgrounds. She is passionate about bold, nuanced and revelatory storytelling. Daniel Dewsbur Press Release
May 3, 2024 Descendant Biographies Pearl Harbor Erika Bethea – Erika Bethea is the eldest grandchild of Clark Simmons, an African American mess attendant who survived the attack on Pearl Harbor. Erika currently lives in Plano, Texas, but spent part of her childhood living with Simmons in New York City. Erika speaks proudly of her grandfather, aka Papa, whom she describes as the patriarch of the family. Erika revealed that Simmons was more of a father to her than her own dad and asked him to give her away at her wedding. Erika powerfully conveys fond memories of her grandfather and intimate conversations that they shared before he passed away in 2017. Frank Bland – Frank Bland is the son of George Bland, an African American messman who survived the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941. In 2022, Bland published the book “A Rope from Above at Pearl Harbor,” which documents his father’s experiences serving in a segregated Navy during WW2. Frank’s book powerfully portrays his father’s miraculous escape from the USS West Press Release
May 3, 2024 National Geographic Honors WW2 Soldiers of Color With Two New Specials (WASHINGTON, DC – April 17, 2024) Continuing National Geographic’s 136-year record of giving viewers access to pivotal historical moments with new breadth and insight, the network will honor the contributions and sacrifices of overlooked Allied soldiers of color with two new specials on Monday, June 3. At 9/8c, ERASED: WW2’S HEROES OF COLOR, a four-part docuseries executive produced and narrated by Idris Elba (“Hijack”), will premiere, and THE REAL RED TAILS, a one-hour documentary narrated by Sheryl Lee Ralph (“Abbott Elementary”) will kick off the evening at 8/7c. Both specials will stream the next day on Disney+ and Hulu. Produced by October Films and Elba’s 22Summers, ERASED: WW2’S HEROES OF COLOR uncovers the long-lost legacies of soldiers of color during World War II. This landmark series sheds light on the immense contributions of over eight million individuals who fought heroically for the Allied forces and whose stories have largely gone untold. The four-part series weaves a Press Release
