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Hearing Silences Documentary

50 years of Black women faculty at Northwestern

Featured Academics

Learn about these pioneering leaders

More than a dozen women academics are featured in "Hearing Silences: 50 Years of Black Women Faculty at Northwestern University." The film explores the trials and triumphs of becoming pioneering figures in their respective fields and the impact they’ve made across university departments and campuses.

Watch the Trailer

Dig Deeper

Explore the Northwestern University archives

Learn more about the Black women faculty featured in the documentary by reading the transcripts or watching the videos of their full interviews.

Dive into the Archives

In an attempt to account for every Black woman who taught at Northwestern between approximately 1970-2020, we’ve uncovered the names of nearly 300 academics. This database shows the variety of departments (such as journalism, Black studies, theatre and education) and specific teaching titles. This collection provides a foundation for the next generation of researchers who want to study this group in greater depth.