Dr. Joycelyn Elders - From The Cotton Fields to the White House
“You can’t be what you can’t see. We were told to prepare ourselves to become maids.”
- Dr. Joycelyn Elders on becoming a doctor
On October 5th, 2023, at the Clinton Library in Little Rock, AR, we will be celebrating the life of Dr. Joycelyn Elders and showcasing a film on her brilliant career and unique accomplishments to public health and social justice.
From the Cotton Fields to the White House
Produced and directed by a team of filmmakers who have won multiple Academy and Emmy awards, From the Cotton Fields to the White House tells the inspirational story of Dr. Joycelyn Elders, the daughter of sharecroppers and granddaughter of an escaped slave, who became the first black woman to serve as Surgeon General of the United States.
The film explores Dr. Elders’ extraordinary journey as the first Black woman to become U.S. Surgeon general, and her tireless advocacy for reproductive and sexual health and freedom. The film features interviews with her colleagues, family, patients and political friends and foes, providing an intimate and personal look into the life and work of one of America’s most remarkable public health leaders.
Woven through the documentary is Dr. Elders’ powerful account of how she overcame poverty, racism and sexism on her path to becoming Surgeon General, including stories exclusive to our film, which Dr. Elders has never told before.
Interested in Donating? Click here to donate to the production and distribution of this important film: