Dr. Angela Williamson: Filmmaker Keeping the Rosa Parks Legacy Alive

You are more than what society labels you to be so don’t let “no” stop you from your destiny.

African American women are not powerless, we can be powerful women breaking down barriers and making history.

I am an African American documentary filmmaker with a doctoral degree because one woman said “enough”. After spending a decade of hearing no, I decided to say yes to myself and started the 2-year process of producing, writing and directing my first documentary about our Cousin Rosa Parks and my Aunt Carolyn’s tireless efforts to keep Cousin Rosie’s legacy alive.

Whenever African American heroines are discussed, it’s always as a one-dimensional character. “My Life with Rosie” proves to debunk that myth by showing Cousin Rosie as a three-dimensional character with a long legacy of activism.

There are so many stories that are yet to be told about women that are champions of the human spirit. I have set out to be the storyteller that highlights these remarkable strengths of courage, even if I have to be an independent filmmaker to make it happen.

I could have let my decade of hearing “no” distract from this amazing journey, but it is women, like our Cousin Rosie, that gave me the courage to step outside my comfort zone to create a documentary to tell America the truth of what it takes to change the ills of society.

Young African American women should have role models that look just like them in all areas of entertainment – especially when it comes to decision-making in the stories that should be told.

“My Life with Rosie” won the grand prize in the documentary film category when it premiered at the Culver City Film Festival. I had some incredible people helping me bring this story to the big screen, but I do believe it won because it resonates with people and it encourages people to be “more” than what society labels you to be.

My goal is to create documentaries that encourages people to be “more” because that is the message we need at this point in time.