By Williamena Kwapo | OBSERVER Staff Writer

Alisa Covington, Assemblymember Tina McKinnor, and Pamela Bright-Moon at the Sacramento screening of “Respect My Crown: The Rise of African American Women in California Politics.” Alisa Covington and Pamela Bright-Moon are the producers of the film. Amayah Harrison, OBSERVER.
Alisa Covington, Assemblymember Tina McKinnor, and Pamela Bright-Moon at the Sacramento screening of “Respect My Crown: The Rise of African American Women in California Politics.”  Alisa Covington and Pamela Bright-Moon are the producers of the film. Amayah Harrison, OBSERVER.

A group of African American women state legislators gathered at the Crest Theater in Sacramento on March 13, many of them wearing tiaras.

They were there for the screening of a documentary that is receiving high praise across California titled, “Respect My Crown. The Rise of African American Women in California Politics.”

The event was hosted by the California Legislative Black Caucus and the California Legislative Women’s Caucus.

The 90-minute long documentary chronicles the journeys of women like Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary of State Shirley Weber, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, trailblazing state, congressional and Los Angeles County politician Yvonne Brathwaite Burke, and many others whose paths into California politics were motivated by their desire to make a positive impact on Black and brown communities. 

Assemblymember Tina McKinnor and Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas introducing the documentary during its Sacramento screening. Amayah Harrison, OBSERVER.
Assemblymember Tina McKinnor and Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas introducing the documentary during its Sacramento screening. Amayah Harrison, OBSERVER.

The documentary comes at a time when there’s a rise in African American women running for various political offices, some of whom were present at the screening.

In attendance were Secretary of State Weber, Michelle Chambers – who’s currently running for state senate, and Assemblymember Tina McKinnor (D – Inglewood).

After the screening, McKinnor hosted a Q&A portion with the filmmakers. 

“‘Respect My Crown’ is so important to California and the nation, because Black women need to tell their story,” McKinnor said. “We have so many strong progressive, loud, passionate, get sh*t done Black women that we need to know about.” 

Alisa Covington, Assemblymember Tina McKinnor, and Pamela Bright-Moon at the Sacramento screening of the documentary “Respect My Crown: The Rise of African American Women in California Politics.” Amayah Harrison, OBSERVER.
Alisa Covington, Assemblymember Tina McKinnor, and Pamela Bright-Moon at the Sacramento screening of the documentary “Respect My Crown: The Rise of African American Women in California Politics.” Amayah Harrison, OBSERVER.

Produced by two Black women filmmakers, Pamela Bright-Moon and Alisa Covington, the film was born out of their desire to archive audio recordings of the experiences of some African American political leaders who are now elders in the community. After a few initial recordings, they decided that there was a need to tell a bigger story and chose to produce a documentary to do so. 

“Sometimes you guys don’t understand the significance of what you do every day,” Covington said.  “One of the most important things that was said in the film is when Black women are in the room, they do the heavy lifting because we’re not just looking out for ourselves. We’re looking out for everybody, because that’s just who we are.”

Between research, interviews, and getting on the schedules of these powerful African American women across California, Bright-Moon said it took over three years to make the documentary. 

Chris Faulkner, Pamela Bright-Moon, Assemblymember Tina McKinnor, and Alisa Covington flanked by supporters and attendees after the screening of “Respect My Crown: The Rise of African American Women in California Politics” at the Crest Theater in Sacramento. Amayah Harrison, OBSERVER.
Chris Faulkner, Pamela Bright-Moon, Assemblymember Tina McKinnor, and Alisa Covington flanked by supporters and attendees after the screening of “Respect My Crown: The Rise of African American Women in California Politics” at the Crest Theater in Sacramento. Amayah Harrison, OBSERVER.

It premiered in February at the Pan African Film Festival where it won the Audience Award for best feature documentary. Future screenings are secured for the African Diaspora International Film Festival in June, and the Martha Vineyard’s African American Film Festival in August. The producers’ ultimate goal is to have the film on television and create a series that dives even deeper into each generation of African American women in politics. 

“We talked about women as mothers and not wanting to wake up in the morning and just be a politician; they woke up to make a difference,” Bright-Moon said. “It resonates with women, it resonates with African American women and community, political leadership and in organized labor.”