Which Way Home
Each year, thousands of Latin Americans make their way to the U.S. atop freight trains, and some 5 percent are children traveling alone—many fleeing broken homes or trying to reunite with parents. This heartrending documentary follows their perilous journeys, spotlighting the families of two who did not survive. Monday, Aug. 24, at 9 p.m., HBO
Great Performances: Harlem in Montmartre, A Paris Jazz Story
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Between the world wars, an expatriate community of African-Americans flourished in the Montmartre district of Paris. There, Josephine Baker, Ada “Bricktop” Smith, and others helped develop a style of jazz that’s still influential today. Archival footage and musical re-creations evoke a vibrant and often overlooked era. Wednesday, Aug. 26, at 8 p.m., PBS; check local listings
The Human Family Tree
This documentary follows geneticist Spencer Wells to Queens, N.Y., where he collects DNA samples from several hundred people and traces their ancestry back millennia. Drawing on maps of human migration patterns developed by his own Genographic Project, Wells delivers some surprising results. Actor Kevin Bacon—whose name has become synonymous with the concept of “six degrees of separation”—narrates. Sunday, Aug. 30, at 9 p.m., National Geographic Channel
9/11: Science and Conspiracy
According to a 2006 poll, one in three Americans did not believe the official account of the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. This documentary presents forensic evidence that shoots down the most popular conspiracy theories, such as the notion that a controlled explosion destroyed the World Trade Center or that the Pentagon was hit by a missile rather than a jetliner. It also attempts to trace the origins of these scenarios. Monday, Aug. 31, at 9 p.m., National Geographic Channel
Voces: Celia the Queen
Cuban-born “Queen of Salsa” Celia Cruz hurdled musical barriers as well as racism and sexism to rack up 23 gold albums. This colorful profile of the late singer draws on performance footage and interviews with loved ones, peers, and admirers. It’s the season premiere of Voces, a series of documentaries, that will celebrate Latin culture. Tuesday, Sept. 1, at 10 p.m., PBS; check local listings
Other highlights
Global Voices: End of the Rainbow
A look at what happens to a village in West Africa’s Guinea when a massive gold-mining operation moves there. Sunday, Aug. 30,
at 10 p.m., PBS; check local listings
Youth Knows No Pain
The daughter of a plastic surgeon interviews both patients and practitioners about the quest to escape to effects of aging. Monday, Aug. 31, at 9 p.m., HBO
Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel
Nick Schuyler, the only survivor of a boating accident that killed three fellow football players in the Gulf of Mexico, is interviewed. Wednesday, Sept. 2, at 7:30 p.m., HBO
