Movie Matinee: How It Feels to Be Free

How It Feels To Be Free is a powerful and inspiring documentary that honors six trailblazing African American women who transformed the entertainment industry and reshaped American culture. Through the extraordinary careers of Lena Horne, Abbey Lincoln, Nina Simone, Diahann Carroll, Cicely Tyson, and Pam Grier, the film reveals how these groundbreaking performers challenged Hollywood’s racial barriers and stereotypes, forging new paths for representation, artistic freedom, and social change.

Featuring rare archival footage, intimate interviews, and heartfelt reflections from those who knew them best, the documentary offers a deeply personal look at their courage, creativity, and lasting influence. It also includes insights from contemporary artists inspired by their legacies including Alicia Keys, Halle Berry, Lena Waithe, Meagan Good, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Samuel L. Jackson, and Gail Lumet Buckley, daughter of Lena Horne.

Based on Ruth Feldstein’s acclaimed book How It Feels To Be Free: Black Women Entertainers and the Civil Rights Movement, the film situates these women’s artistry and activism within the broader fight for racial and gender equality, illustrating how their voices continue to echo in today’s movements for justice and representation. The film runs 1 hour and 53 minutes, is rated TV-14, and is made available through Kanopy. This program is free and open to the public.