We all know Rosie the Riveter, whose image became a cultural icon representing the surge of women who entered the workforce during World War II. Women, whose efforts in factories and shipyards helped lead the Nation to victory and the stories we don’t know much about are from the 600,000 African American women who came to work in factories and U.S. government offices during World War II.
These women are the focus of a recent documentary entitled, Invisible Warriors: African American Women in World War II that is featured this month at the Aurora Public Library District (APLD) in partnership with more than 50 Illinois public libraries and the College of DuPage.
Invisible Warriors explores the individual experiences of a small group of elegant ladies who represent the thousands of black women who fled their lives as domestics and sharecroppers in order to provide for their families during the 1940s. This powerful film, which explores world history and celebrates black excellence, brings long overdue honor and recognition to vital members of our Nation’s narrative. “When my five brothers went off to war,” remembers film subject, Marian Reid, “the girls were left to do their work, picking cotton and peanuts and working heavy machinery.”
Another woman featured in the film, Ruth Wilson, left her job as a maid to become a sheet metal worker in Philadelphia. While working at the Navy Yard, she helped to build the aircraft carrier USS Valley Forge. These women faced countless hardships while battling discrimination and prejudice in the factories, but despite their obstacles, they persevered and made significant contributions to the War effort while paving the way for future generations.
The time has come for these stories to be shared with the world. To watch Invisible Warriors and learn the full stories of these extraordinary women, simply register for our upcoming question and answer session with film producer Gregory S. Cooke. Upon registration you will receive an Email with a link to stream the film online. Cooke will be answering questions and invoking insightful conversation about the film Wednesday, March 15 by way of Zoom. He will talk about his work as the founder and president of the Basil and Becky Educational Foundation (BBEEF), a non-profit organization, dedicated to relocating African Americans from the margins to the main pages of American and global history. More can be read on the film and Cooke’s non-profit work at invisiblewarriorsfilm.com.
APLD has additional resources available if you’d like to dive further into the history of these often-forgotten Rosie the Riveters. Check out the book, Standing Up Against Hate by Mary Cronk Farrell, which tells the stories of the African-American women who enlisted in the newly-formed Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps in World War II, and Hidden Warriors: An Analysis on Women in the U.S. Military, which is an upcoming program offered in collaboration with the G.A.R. Museum in Aurora that will be held at The Santori Library Monday, April 10 in Aurora. For more information on any of these titles or programs, please contact The Library at 630-264-4117, or visit our website .
Andrea Tiberi is the communications coordinator for the Aurora Public Library District.