Vision Films Brings "Invisible Warriors: African American Women in World War II" Documentary to Audiences for Black History Month

Vision Films Inc. ("Vision") has set February 3, 2026 for the North American Transactional VOD release date for the Gregory S. Cooke's documentary feature film Invisible Warriors: African American Women in World War II. Directed, written and executive produced by Gregory S. Cooke, executive produced by Ethel "Becky" Cooke and Basil Spalding Jones, and associate produced by Joyce Licorish. Made available for Black History Month, audiences will find this educational and inspiring tribute to the 600,000 unsung Black women who served as "Rosie the Riveters," on major streaming and cable platforms across the US and Canada. Gregory S. Cooke has dedicated his career as an educator and historian to help relocate African Americans to the main pages of history; it is also the mission of his educational non-profit, The Basil and Becky Educational Foundation (BBEEF), a 501c (3) organization that has amongst other initiatives, created companion Social Studies and STEAM curricula for the film, targeting grades 8 thru 12.

The film was originally co-sponsored by the Dutch government, which wanted to honor African American women for playing a vital role in the WWII liberation of the Netherlands, as well as Drexel Alumni, Better Angels/Lavine Fellowship, Gift of Life Donor Program, Always Best Care Senior Services, Darryl & Leslye Fraser Foundation, and CARIE: Center for Advocacy for the Rights and Interests of the Elderly.

Watch the trailer

Told by the women who courageously fought both racism and sexism on America's home front, this is the untold story of 600,000 Black "Rosie the Riveters." These trailblazing women entered factories, government offices, and shipyards, shattering barriers and laying the groundwork for future generations of African American women. Their determination and patriotism redefined what it meant to serve one's country and opened doors to new opportunities for Black women in industry, civil service, and beyond. Featuring rare archival footage and powerful first-person accounts, audiences hear firsthand about resilience, sisterhood, and enduring fight. Invisible Warriors gives voice to the hidden heroines who helped reshape both a nation at war and the course of American heritage.

Lise Romanoff, Managing Director/CEO of Vision Films shares, "Invisible Warriors is an important documentary to pay respect to and keep alive the powerful and patriotic Black women who joined the war effort despite racial, gender and societal obstacles. It celebrates the heroines who paved the way for all working women, and those still fighting for racial and gender equality." 

Filmmaker Gregory S. Cooke says, "These women are arguably are the most significant group of Black women in the 20th Century. My mother, who was also a Rosie, helped create job opportunities for future generations of Black women. They did remarkable things under very difficult circumstances to improve their life, the lives of their families and the lives of future generations of African American people…we must not forget that."

"Invisible Warriors, the inspiring story of America's previously nameless Black 'Rosies,' is an important film in bringing long overdue honor and recognition to vital members of our nation's 'Greatest Generation.'"
--Holly Rotondi, Executive Director, Friends of the National World War II Memorial

Pre-order now available at iTunes/Apple TV (US, CA, UK): https://bit.ly/4pJ6fXN and Fandango at Home (US):  https://bit.ly/4qUj0zU

Lawrence Hamm will attend funeral of civil rights pioneer Claudette Colvin

Lawrence Hamm, Chairman, People’s Organization For Progress (POP) will attend funeral services for civil rights pioneer Claudette Colvin this weekend.

Ms Colvin was arrested on March 2, 1955 in Montgomery, Alabama, at the age of 15, for refusing to give up her seat on a segregated bus to a white woman. This occurred nine months before the arrest of Rosa Parks.

The arrest of Colvin would lead to her becoming a plaintiff in the lawsuit that ultimately came before the United States Supreme. The court ruled in that case that bus segregation was unconstitutional.

Colvin died from natural causes in Texas on January 13, 2026 at the age of 86. Her passing has drawn national attention to the important role she played and the impact of her case in the Civil Rights Movement.

“It was with great sadness that the news of Claudette Colvin’s death was received. She was a trail blazer in the Civil Rights Movement and the struggle for black liberation,” Hamm, who is also a former U.S. Senate candidate, stated.

“I am attending her funeral services not only due to my personal respect for Ms Colvin, but I have been asked to do so on behalf of the members of the People’s Organization For Progress because of our collective admiration for her courage and sacrifice” he said.

“Myself and members of the People’s Organization For Progress were particularly impacted by her death not just because she was a historical figure but also because we got to know her personally,” he said.

“More that a dozen years ago we learned about Ms Colvin’s contribution to our freedom struggle through discussions about her life on WBAI, a progressive radio station in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area,” Hamm said.

“We were able contact Ms Colvin and arrange for her to speak and tell her story at churches, radio stations, and other venues in our region. In this way we got to know her better and she go to know us,” he said.

“Everywhere she spoke she was well received. People were inspired by her story. Some were brought to tears. They were honored to have this civil rights heroine among them,” he said.

Hamm said he would never forget the first time he heard her response to the question of why she refused to give up her seat knowing she was breaking the segregationist law and would go to jail.

“She said I couldn’t get up because I had Harriet Tubman sitting on one shoulder and Sojourner Truth sitting on the other,” he said.

The viewing will be held on Friday, January 23rd, 1:00pm-7:00pm at the Bushelon Funeral Home, 800 14th St. SW, in Birmingham, Alabama. The Funeral Service is on Saturday, January 24th, 11:00 a.m. at Greater Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, 2135 Jefferson Ave SW, also in Birmingham.

“Our freedom fighter Claudette Colvin has joined the ancestors. However, her contribution to the fight for racial equality and justice will not be forgotten. It will inspire generations to come,” Hamm said.

For more information contact the People’s Organization For Progress at (973)801-0001.

The Ebony Canal Scores NAACP Image Award Nomination for Outstanding Short Form Documentary

On January 13, 2026, nominations were announced for the 57th Annual NAACP Image Awards, recognizing excellence across film, television, music, literature, and cultural storytelling. Among this year’s honorees is The Ebony Canal, which earned a nomination for Outstanding Short Form Documentary (Film), a significant milestone for this work and for the broader movement to elevate Black maternal health outcomes globally.

The nomination arrives at a time when the urgency of this work remains undeniable. Black and Brown women in the United States are nearly three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women, according to the CDC and Black infants are over two times more likely to die in their first year of life. That reality has been felt deeply within the maternal health advocacy community following the recent passing of Dr. Janelle Greene Smith, a respected midwife and tireless advocate whose work centered dignity, safety, and access for Black mothers and birthing people. Her legacy continues to shape the conversations and commitments reflected in this film.

Directed by Emmy award-winning Emmai Alaquiva and narrated by EGOT-winning actress Viola Davis, The Ebony Canal examines the systemic factors contributing to Black maternal mortality while centering the lived experiences of four women, their families and healthcare advocates. Since its release, the documentary has been screened in over 14 film festivals globally, produced over 20 private screenings and walked away with Best Short Documentary (Social Impact) at the 2025 Essence Film Festival and received the 2025 Cultural Visionary Award from Urbanworld Film Festival.

The 2026 NAACP Image Awards will reveal winners in select categories during a two-hour televised special airing live on Saturday, February 28, with additional non-televised category announcements taking place throughout the week of February 23–26.

This nomination places The Ebony Canal among a distinguished group of storytellers whose work continues to influence culture, policy, and public awareness affirming the role of documentary film as a powerful tool in shaping national dialogue around health equity and justice.

General Mills and UNCF Celebrate 36th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Breakfast

General Mills (NYSE: GIS) presents the 36th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Breakfast in support of UNCF Twin Cities. The event will be held at the Minneapolis Convention Center on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. Doors open at 6:45 a.m., with breakfast and pre-event programming beginning at 7:30 a.m. Tickets are available at MLKBreakfast.com.

The Minneapolis-based event is one of the nation’s largest annual breakfast celebrations honoring Dr. King. The breakfast supports UNCF’s mission of investing in young men and women in the Twin Cities to help them get to and through college.

This year’s theme “Make a Career of Humanity,” was inspired by Dr. King’s message, “Commit yourself to the noble struggle for equal rights. You will make a greater person of yourself, a greater nation of your country, and a finer world to live in.”

This year’s event will feature two keynote presentations, Soledad O’Brien and Dr. Freeman A. Hrabowski, III.

Soledad O’Brien is an award-winning documentarian, author and founder of Soledad O’Brien Productions, a media production company dedicated to telling empowering and authentic stories. Soledad’s most recent projects include the award-winning HBO Original documentary, The Devil is Busy, and the Netflix documentary The Perfect Neighbor, which premiered at Sundance.

Dr. Freeman A. Hrabowski, III is a consultant, lecturer and speaker on the topics of leadership, STEM education, workforce development and civic engagement. Hrabowski currently serves as President Emeritus of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), championing minority achievement in graduate studies.

“On this day of remembrance and reflection, we gather to celebrate the enduring legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,” said Dr. Michael L. Lomax, president and CEO, UNCF. “His commitment to justice and equality inspires us to continue the work of uplifting our communities through the power of education. With the invaluable support of General Mills, a steadfast partner of UNCF, we are reminded that together we can create pathways to success for our youth and honor Dr. King’s dream.”

NAACP Urges Senate to Act After House Passes Bill to Restore ACA Premium Tax Credits

NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) urging the Senate to swiftly pass legislation already approved by the House that would restore enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits, which expired on December 31, 2025.
 

Without immediate congressional action, millions of Americans are facing sharply higher health insurance premiums in 2026 — premiums that have already more than doubled for many Marketplace enrollees — putting coverage out of reach for working families and risking widespread loss of insurance. Independent analyses project that as many as 8,800 preventable deaths could occur annually due to the resulting health and economic devastation.
  

Black communities and other communities already experiencing disproportionate health and economic inequities will bear an outsized share of this harm. 
 

"Failure to act is itself a decision — one that carries grave consequences for access to care, health equity, and financial stability for millions of Americans," wrote Johnson. "The Senate has an opportunity to revisit this issue with clarity and to repair the harm caused by inaction. We respectfully urge you to act without delay in bringing the House-passed legislation to the Senate floor for consideration and a vote."
 

The House of Representatives passed a three-year extension of the ACA premium tax credits on Thursday, Dec. 8. The Senate has several procedural options available, but further delay will only compound the harm families are already experiencing.
 

Key impacts of inaction include: 

• Coverage Loss: Millions of people projected to lose health insurance. 170,000+ Black adults would lose health care coverage across 10 major metro areas, according to the Economic Policy Institute.  

• Economic Harm: Nearly 340,000 jobs nationwide at risk, half in health care. Black families would also pay an additional $740 million in premiums each year. 

• Racial Inequity: Black Americans and other marginalized communities, already facing higher uninsured rates and chronic health disparities, will be disproportionately harmed. 

• Health Outcomes: Rising premiums create financial barriers to care, worsening chronic illnesses and long-standing health disparities. 

"This vote will be lifesaving," Johnson emphasized. "It will protect American families and the integrity of the health care system. Alternatively, the health and financial cliffs we face as a nation will remain untenable." 

The NAACP continues to advocate for policies that advance health equity, eliminate disparities, and ensure access to affordable, high-quality health care for all. 
 

Read the full letter to Senate Majority Leader Thune here.