Invisible Warriors: African American Women in World War II features elegant ladies, now in their 80s and 90s, who represent the 600,000 Black women who fled lives as domestics and sharecroppers to work in factories and governments offices. They were the first! Affectionately known during the war as "Rosie the Riveters," our Warriors triumphed over racism at home, Nazism abroad, and sexism everywhere. They opened doors of opportunity for future generations of working women in America.
Who We Are
Gregory S. Cooke
I’m the Founder and President of the Basil and Becky Educational Foundation (BBEEF). As a career educator, World War II historian, and documentary filmmaker, my mission is simple: “Helping to relocate African Americans from the margins to the main pages of American and global history.”
After a rewarding teaching career at Drexel University and the Community College of Philadelphia, I speak at educational and cultural institutions about African American participation in World War II. I also mentor young people, teaching them the ways of the “Force”.
Gina Schwartz
is a life-long educator and currently teaches at The Community College of Philadelphia. She is a retired Teacher of English and Screenwriting from the School District of Philadelphia.
Gina created the iconic images, in oils, "Victory" and "Allies", for two World War II documentaries.
Gina earned an MA in Education, MEd in Counseling from The College of New Jersey, and a BA in Art History from the University of Pennsylvania.
Sabrina Young
is the Executive Director of Basil and Becky Educational Foundation. She is a veteran of the United States Air Force and currently works at Penn Medicine as a Marketing Analyst. Sabrina has a deep commitment and passion to serve others as demonstrated through her years of military service as well as volunteer service to various non-profit organizations. Sabrina earned her BS from Bellevue University, and MBA from St. Joseph’s University.
Dr. Reginald F. Wells
has a distinguished career as a public servant in the US Government. He is currently the Deputy Commissioner of the Social Security Administration's (SSA) Office of Human Resources after serving as Deputy Associate Commissioner for Disability Program Policy and Senior Advisor in the Office of Disability and Income Security Programs.
Reggie earned a Ph.D. in Social and Organizational Psychology from Temple University, and a B.A. in Psychology and Sociology from American International College.
Dr. Clarissa Myrick-Harris, Historical Consultant
Dr. Clarissa Myrick-Harris is Chair of the Humanities Division of Morehouse College and Professor of Africana Studies. Her career as a higher education administrator, African American Studies scholar, and public historian, includes leadership positions as Interim Associate Provost of Strategic Academic Initiatives and Graduate Studies at Lincoln University of Missouri and Provost at Savannah State University.
Clarissa earned a Ph.D. in American Studies (African American Studies Emphasis) from Emory University, Master’s degree in News-Editorial Journalism from The Ohio State University, and B.A. degree in English from Morris Brown College.
