documentaries
Invisible Warriors Brings 600,000 Untold Stories to the Screen for Black History Month
The documentary “Invisible Warriors” highlights the contributions of African American women during World War II, showcasing their roles on the home front while battling racism and sexism. Set for release on February 3, 2026, it emphasizes their significance in history and aims to correct the narrative surrounding their efforts and impact.
Black History Month is often a time for big names and headline moments—but some of the most powerful chapters in American history were written by people whose stories never made it into the spotlight. This February, a new documentary aims to change that.
Vision Films has announced the North American transactional VOD release of Invisible Warriors: African American Women in World War II, arriving February 3, 2026 across major streaming and cable platforms in the U.S. and Canada. The film is directed, written, and executive produced by Gregory S. Cooke, with executive producers Ethel “Becky” Cooke and Basil Spalding Jones, and associate producer Joyce Licorish.
At the center of the documentary: the 600,000 African American women who served on the home front—many as “Rosie the Riveters”—while fighting a second battle against racism and sexism at home.
A WWII story we rarely hear—told by the women who lived it
Invisible Warriors is built around first-person accounts and rare archival footage, giving audiences a direct line to the voices of women who stepped into factories, shipyards, and government offices at a time when opportunity was heavily gated by both race and gender.
These were not symbolic roles. These women helped power the war effort, kept industries moving, and proved—daily, publicly, and under pressure—that they belonged in spaces America had never intended to share with them.
The documentary frames their contributions as more than wartime necessity. It positions them as trailblazers whose work helped reshape what was possible for generations of Black women in industry, civil service, and beyond—opening doors that had been locked for decades.
Why this release hits differently in 2026
Vision Films Managing Director/CEO Lise Romanoff calls the documentary “an important” tribute that keeps alive the legacy of women who joined the war effort “despite racial, gender and societal obstacles,” adding that it celebrates heroines who paved the way for working women—and for those still fighting for racial and gender equality today.
Cooke, an educator and historian, puts it even more plainly—and personally. He describes these women as “arguably… the most significant group of Black women in the 20th Century,” noting that his own mother was also a Rosie. In his view, their story isn’t optional history—it’s foundational.
A film with a classroom mission baked in
This isn’t just a documentary release—it’s part of a larger educational push. Cooke’s nonprofit, The Basil and Becky Educational Foundation (BBEEF), has developed companion Social Studies and STEAM curricula tied to the film, targeting grades 8–12. The goal: move African American experiences from the margins to “the main pages” of history, and make that history relevant to students now.
That educational angle feels especially aligned with the film’s purpose: not simply to honor the past, but to make sure it’s taught accurately, widely, and with the context it deserves.
International recognition—and a long list of supporters
The film was originally co-sponsored by the Dutch government, which sought to honor African American women for their role in the WWII liberation of the Netherlands. Additional support came from organizations and foundations including 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.
That range of backing signals something important: this story resonates far beyond a single community or a single country. It’s a missing piece of WWII history—period.
Where to watch (and where to start)
Pre-orders are already live on:
- iTunes/Apple TV: https://bit.ly/4pJ6fXN
- Fandango at Home: https://bit.ly/4qUj0zU
For updates and more info, visit: https://invisiblewarriorsfilm.com
About BBEEF: https://bbeef.org
About Vision Films: https://www.visionfilms.net
The takeaway
Invisible Warriors isn’t positioned as a niche WWII documentary—it’s positioned as a correction. A long-overdue recognition of women who helped win a global war while being denied full equality at home, and who still showed up anyway.
If Black History Month is about remembering, this film is about restoring.
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