Visiting Interdisciplinary Scholar - Invisible Warriors: African American Women in World War II

Gregory S. Cooke (Documentarian) with Kevin Willmott

WED NOV 20, 7:00 PM
Hall Center Conference Hall

Documentary historian Gregory S. Cooke, creator and director of Invisible Warriors: African American Women in World War II, will screen his film and discuss it with KU Film & Media Studies Emeritus Professor Kevin Willmott. The film tells the story of the 600,000 African American women who worked as “Rosie the Riveters” in factories, shipyards, and government offices during World War II. The film explores social, economic, and political influences on these women, and how they overcame racism and sexism while supporting American operations overseas and dealing with Jim Crow at home. The women featured in the film share their personal stories of triumph and struggle, and how their resilience and strength paved the way for generations of Black women. Invisible Warriors is an inaugural recipient of the Better Angels Lavine Fellowship and also received the Congressional Black Caucus Veterans Braintrust Award.