coming up, daniel beaty.ay with us. ♪ finding strength in a turbulent child heard -- childhood forms the base, it chronicles how we found inspiration in the difficult circumstances that might undermine so many others lives. it listen to create a new play called "the tallest tree in the forest." from hisform a piece "transforming pain to power." >> ♪ old man river ♪ on rolling along ♪ tavis: i certainly get it. i think he is one of the most unappreciated amah undervalued -- unappreciated, undervalued. >> he epitomizes the artist activist. think it is really important to highlight the story of artists who really did take a stand. tavis: he is the ultimate renaissance man. run through some of the things they will learn about him in the play. >> i call him a black superhero. it does not even sound real when you tell the story. he was born the son of a slave in 1898. he was the third negro ever to graduate from rutgers university . he went on to columbia law school. after that, he got into singing and did not stop