University of Texas Documentary 'When I Rise' Premiering Tonight on the PBS Series Independent Lens

University of Texas Documentary 'When I Rise' Premiering Tonight on the PBS Series Independent Lens

Highly-Praised Documentary, Made Possible in Part by AT&T, Features Civil Rights Pioneer and Opera Star Barbara Smith Conrad

DALLAS, Feb. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of its ongoing commitment to the African American community and to the arts, AT&T*, along with PBS, today announced the public premiere of 'When I Rise' - a full-length documentary produced by the University of Texas (UT) that tells the story of Barbara Smith Conrad. Conrad, a gifted music student at UT, was thrust into a civil rights storm that changed her life, and the lives of countless others, forever.

'When I Rise' will premiere on the Emmy® Award-winning PBS series Independent Lens, hosted by America Ferrera, today, Tuesday, February 8, 2011 at 10 PM Eastern time (check local listings).

"We're honored to have a part in helping tell Ms. Conrad's remarkable story," said Randall Stephenson, chairman and CEO, AT&T. "Her courageous triumph over racial discrimination and her outstanding career will undoubtedly inspire everyone who sees 'When I Rise.'"

At the University of Texas in 1957, Ms. Conrad was cast in an opera to co-star with a white male classmate, fueling a racist backlash from members of the Texas legislature. When she was expelled from the cast, the incident escalated and she persevered as an early pioneer in the movement to create a more open and diverse university community. The small-town girl, whose voice and spirit stem from her roots in East Texas, emerged as an internationally celebrated mezzo-soprano.

Made possible in part by sponsorship of AT&T, the film is a production of the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History and was directed by Mat Hames, produced by James Moll and Michael Rosen and executive produced by Don Carleton. The film was an official selection and received critical acclaim at the internationally recognized 2010 South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin, in addition to well-received screenings at 10 other film festivals and competitions. To learn more about the film and its subjects, and for downloadable clips of the documentary, please visit http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/when-i-rise.

AT&T is proud to support the film as part of its greater commitment to education, business and technology within the African American community. AT&T recently launched its 28 Days Black History Month campaign - a program focusing on celebrating past history makers and new innovators through a free, exclusive speaker series. In its third year, the 2011 AT&T's 28 Days will showcase five individuals who are making their own page in African American history in the fields of technology, media, fashion, politics, and business.

For more information about AT&T 28 Days and Black History Month programs, visit att.com/thebridge. Additional information on 'When I Rise' is also available at: www.WhenIRiseFilm.com.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates - AT&T operating companies - are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet and voice services. A leader in mobile broadband, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T | DIRECTV brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive are known for their leadership in local search and advertising. In 2010, AT&T again ranked among the 50 Most Admired Companies by FORTUNE®magazine.

Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com. This AT&T news release and other announcements are available at http://www.att.com/newsroom and as part of an RSS feed at www.att.com/rss. Or follow our news on Twitter at @ATT. Find us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ATT to discover more about our consumer and wireless services or at www.Facebook.com/ATTSmallBiz to discover more about our small business services.

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SOURCE AT&T Inc.

AT&T Inc.

CONTACT: Serena Thomas, +1-314-982-0554, serena.thomas@fleishman.com, for AT&T Inc.

Web Site: http://www.whenirisefilm.com/

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