Rosie The Riveter Tour

CELEBRATE WOMEN’S HERITAGE MONTH 2023

FIRST ANNUAL “ROSIE THE RIVETER” TOUR

World War II was the largest and most consequential event in human history, yet Black female participation and their impact on America is often ignored by scholars and educators. During World War II, 600,000 African American women – “Rosie the Riveters” – entered industry and government employment for the first time. Rosies’ courage, patriotism, and faith drove them to abandon their oppressive lives as domestics and sharecroppers to conquer new frontiers that changed employment possibilities for all future generations of Black women. Invisible Warriors: African American Women in World War II, a critically-acclaimed feature-length documentary, is their story. 

As part of Women’s Heritage Month, the Basil and Becky Educational Foundation (BBEEF) invites you and your organization to participate in the First Annual “Rosie the Riveter Tour,” a virtual global screening of Invisible Warriors: African American Women in World War II. The Tour engages a variety of non-profit, community, educational, cultural, and professional organizations, and their members, who celebrate, empower and inspire girls and women. 

On March 21, 2023, “National Rosie the Riveter Day,” we encourage participating organizations to identify a present-day “Rosie” (welder, police officer, bus driver) in their communities for recognition by connecting their jobs to the first African American women to secure manufacturing and government employment. We believe that illuminating Black women’s historic and patriotic wartime contributions will be empowering to individual families and communities – especially among girls and women.

BBEEF will have a zoom meeting on December 9, 2023, 2pm EST, to answer questions and field suggestions. If your organization would like to participate in the Rosie the Riveter Tour, please get in touch today.

Participating Organizations

African American Federal Executives Association (AFFEA)
Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society, Great Richmond, VA Chapter
Barns of Rose Hill, Berryville, Virginia

Delaware Historical Society, Wilmington, DE

Des Moines Area Community College, Des Moines, IA

Heritage Place at The Yes Center – Library, Chester PA

Wisconsin Maritime Museum, Manitowoc, WI