How It Feels to Be Free

This powerful documentary celebrates six trailblazing African American women whose artistry and courage helped reshape American entertainment and culture. Through the lives and careers of Lena Horne, Abbey Lincoln, Nina Simone, Diahann Carroll, Cicely Tyson, and Pam Grier, the film explores how these performers challenged racial barriers, defied stereotypes, and forged new paths for creative freedom and social change.

Featuring rare archival footage, intimate interviews, and reflections from those who knew them, as well as contemporary artists inspired by their legacies, the documentary offers a personal and moving look at their lasting impact. Based on Ruth Feldstein’s acclaimed book, How It Feels To Be Free: Black Women Entertainers and the Civil Rights Movement, the film places their work within the broader struggle for racial and gender equality, showing how their voices continue to resonate today.