Who Were Basil and Becky?

BASIL AND BECKY were siblings who valued family, education, and hard work; both were children during the Great Depression. "Becky," my Mom, was a World War II "Rosie the Riveter," and "Uncle Basil" was a Navy veteran. Both of them encouraged my brothers and me to be courageous in pursuit of our dreams. Today, their legacies live on through the Basil and Becky Educational Foundation.

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Do you know a Modern Day Rosie?

During WWII, 600,000 Black “Rosies” stepped up as riveting pioneers, sheet metal workers, and administrative trailblazers in defense industries. Named after the iconic wartime persona, a “Rosie” is any of the millions of diverse women who transformed the industrial and government workforce with grit, patriotism, and determination. These brave African American women did not just build planes and tanks; they simultaneously fought a dual battle against foreign fascism and domestic Jim Crow segregation. Their tireless labor secured economic independence and laid the vital foundations for the modern Civil Rights Movement.

Today, Black women continue to be the unstoppable backbone of American progress, driving innovation in STEAM, transforming education, and leading grassroots community movements.

To honor this legacy, the Basil and Becky Educational Foundation (BBEEF) invites you to nominate the Modern-Day Rosies in your network—African American women boldly shaping the future and lifting others as they rise.

Top nominees will receive a national platform with a special spotlight feature on National Black Women’s Labor Day on April 5, 2027. Submit your nomination by September 1, 2026.

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Celebrating Black Rosies

We continue to celebrate the inspiration and empowerment of the remarkable Black women who shaped history during World War II. Join us and support our work as we pay homage to the 600,000 Black “Rosie the Riveters” whose resilience and strength changed the employment landscape for all future generations of African American women.

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INVISIBLE WARRIORS: AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN IN WORLD WAR II

Visit the Invisible Warriors website for more information and to find upcoming screenings.