PBS North Carolina Presents 'A Binding Truth' Nationwide Through PBS Plus
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PBS NORTH CAROLINA PRESENTS ‘A BINDING TRUTH’ NATIONWIDE THROUGH PBS PLUS
The award-winning documentary follows two high school classmates—one Black, one white—who reconnect 50 years later after a shocking discovery.
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC, 9/15/2025— PBS North Carolina announces the national release of the award-winning documentary A Binding Truth. The film will be made available to stream on October 1, 2025 online and on the free PBS app. It will air on PBS NC on Thursday, October 2, 9:30 PM.
Directed by independent filmmaker Louise Woehrle, A Binding Truth tells the story of two North Carolina classmates from 1965: Jimmie Lee Kirkpatrick, the school’s first Black football star, and De Kirkpatrick, a white student who respected him from afar. Five decades later, a shocking discovery found among church records changes their lives forever. What unfolds is a deeply personal yet profoundly American story—one that reveals the legacy of slavery, the complexities of race and privilege and, ultimately, the power of truth in their journey toward healing.
“While working on A Binding Truth, I learned how important it is to listen to each other,” said director Louise Woehrle. “It’s been a privilege to serve as the director/producer for Jimmie and De’s story and to witness how it continues to set the table for meaningful conversations about race and our country’s history of slavery. I’m grateful to partner with PBS knowing this story will be seen by people all across the nation and hopefully serve as a catalyst for new awareness, understanding and healing.”
A Binding Truth has received several awards, nominations and special screenings, including Best Feature Documentary at the Florence Film Awards (Italy), the Twin Cities Black Film Festival (Minneapolis), the Rameshwaram International Film Festival (India) and the Founders Award at the International Black Film Festival (Nashville).
“The first time I watched A Binding Truth, I was deeply moved,” said Rachel Raney, Director of National Productions at PBS North Carolina. “Filmmaker Louise Woehrle skillfully chronicles Jimmie and De’s journey—which is both painful and uplifting—and compels viewers to not only witness it but to truly feel its impact. A Binding Truth is not just their story; it’s a story that resonates across North Carolina and throughout the American experience. As part of our ongoing commitment to supporting independent filmmakers, PBS North Carolina is honored to help bring this vital work to a national audience.”
On Thursday, September 18 at 7 PM, PBS North Carolina will host a free screening of the film at the Mint Museum – Uptown in Charlotte, NC. Following the screening, there will be a conversation with the film’s central figures, Jimmie Kirkpatrick and De Kirkpatrick, along with the filmmaker, Louise Woehrle, sharing behind-the-scenes insights, how they reconnected, their relationship and answering audience questions. For more information and to RSVP, visit Eventbrite.
A Binding Truth is produced by Whirlygig Productions in association with PBS North Carolina.
About Whirlygig Productions
Whirlygig Productions shines a light on stories that help us see ourselves and others in new ways, promotes healing and connects us as human beings. Louise Woehrle, the owner of Whirlygig Productions, Inc., is an award-winning filmmaker whose projects have found national and international broadcast and distribution. All her projects have won awards and most broadcast on PBS, including Grandfather’s Birthday (Regional Emmy), Stalag Luft III: One Man’s Story and Pride of Lions. To learn more about Whirlygig Productions, visit whirlygigproductions.com.
About PBS Plus
PBS Plus is a syndicated programming service for public television stations, supplementing primetime, daily news and children’s content in the National Program Service (NPS). All PBS member stations, reaching all available national TV households, have access to PBS Plus content. Annually, stations are provided with approximately 500 hours of programming. PBS Plus series and specials range from “how-to” programs such as This Old House and food series such as Somewhere South to topical news and information programs and arts and cultural shows such as Austin City Limits and The Caverns Sessions. To learn more about PBS Plus, visit pbs.org/about/producing-pbs/pbs-plus.
About PBS North Carolina
As North Carolina’s statewide PBS network serving the country’s third largest public media market, PBS North Carolina educates, informs, entertains and inspires its audience on air, online and in person. Through its unique partnership of public investment and private support, the network includes in-person engagement, digital-first social and online content delivery and four over-the-air channels: PBS NC, the North Carolina Channel, Rootle 24/7 PBS KIDS channel and the Explorer Channel. Its transformational events and content spark curiosity and wonder for all North Carolinians. Additionally, PBS North Carolina serves as the backbone for North Carolina’s state emergency services. To learn more about PBS North Carolina, visit pbsnc.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
-PBS NC-
Media Contact
Allyson Meade, Marketing & Communications
PBS North Carolina
press@pbsnc.org