NJCU Professor Dr. Max Herman Featured as Expert Commentator in PBS Documentary on 1967 Newark Riots
JERSEY CITY, N.J. | Dr. Max Herman, co-chair of the New Jersey City University (NJCU) Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work, is featured as a subject matter expert in the PBS documentary "Riot: From Rebellion to Redemption," which examines the 1967 Newark riots and their lasting impact on New Jersey's largest city.
The documentary premiered this week, and will air on Saturday, February 7, at 6:30 p.m. on WLIW (NJ PBS HDTV), with additional airings on Monday, February 9, at midnight and 4:30 p.m. The documentary also streams on the PBS App and will air on World Channel on February 12. Check the official site at riotthefilm.com or the PBS website for more screenings.
An associate professor and expert in urban sociology and social conflict, Dr. Herman provides historical and sociological context throughout the film as a featured commentator. The 1967 Newark riots, which took place over five days in July 1967, were among the most devastating civil disturbances of the 1960s and profoundly shaped the city's trajectory in the decades that followed.
Dr. Herman has frequently been called upon by media outlets as a subject matter expert on urban sociology and social issues. Notably, Dr. Herman was a subject matter expert in an October 14, 2023 article in NJ.com and the Star Ledger, published by NJ Advance Media writer Daysi Calavia-Robertson, which tells the story of Paterson, N.J.'s "Peru Square" — the area behind Mill, Market, Main, and Cianci streets which was officially designated in 2016.
In October 2021, he was one of several experts quoted in a nationally syndicated story from the USA Today network of papers discussing the January 6, 2021 Capitol insurrection, those arrested for their involvement and their motivation. Dr. Herman has been quoted in other stories in recent years, including a June 2020 article on civil unrest in Fort Myers, Fla.
Directed by Newark native Kevin McLaughlin, the film chronicles the five-day civil disturbance that killed 26 people. It examines the unrest's roots in racial tensions, police brutality, and economic hardship, as well as its long-term effects like white flight, business destruction, and decades of urban decline.
Upcoming Air Schedule for "Riot: From Rebellion to Redemption":
- Saturday, February 7 at 6:30 p.m. – WLIW (NJ PBS HDTV)
- Monday, February 9 at 12:00 a.m. (midnight) – WLIW (NJ PBS HDTV)
- Monday, February 9 at 4:30 p.m. – WLIW (NJ PBS HDTV)
Media seeking an NJCU faculty or staff member as a subject expert are encouraged to contact communications@njcu.edu for assistance and guidance.
About NJCU:
New Jersey City University is a comprehensive public regional institution committed to providing a high-quality education to a diverse student population. Located in Jersey City, New Jersey, NJCU offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs and is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for learning, professional development, and community engagement. Consistent with our mission, NJCU is recognized as a top university for improving upward economic social mobility, ensuring students enrolled in our undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral programs have access to an affordable, diverse environment, and an exceptionally supportive faculty. This prepares them to go on to become the next generation of workers and leaders who improve their communities and the State of New Jersey. On July 1, 2026, NJCU is expecting to complete a merger with Kean University to join the Kean University system and become Kean Jersey City.
Contact:
Ira Thor, Associate Vice President for University Communications and Marketing | ithor@njcu.edu | 201-200-3301