VOICES FOR FREEDOM: The Hyers Sisters’ Legacy

NOLA Code:

VFHS 0000 H1

Number of Episodes/Length:

1 / 30

Genre:

Biography

Collections:

African American, Black History Month, March, Women's History

Rights End:

9/28/2025

Producer

C. Susheel Bibs

Co-Producer

Living Heritage Foundation

Presenter

KVIE Public Television

Presenter

KLRU

TV-PG

CC

Stereo

Year Produced:

2017

Version:

Base

Winner to date of five international festival awards and a Telly Award in documentary film, Voices for Freedom – The Hyers Sisters’ Legacy chronicles the lives of Sacramento's Hyers Sisters -- African-American opera prodigies who toured the nation to acclaim from the 1871 to 1894 and championed human rights in works that changed American Music Theater forever. The Hyers were celebrated in touring opera nationwide from 1871-73, but in 1876 -- perilous times, when touring blackface minstrels denigrated African Americans -- they stood up and became "voices" for the dignity of their people. Through beloved music-dramatic works (now called the first American musicals) they depicted black life with dignity to their mainstream audiences for the first time, changing many minds and hearts.. The film gives insights into times of lynching, Chinese and black persecution, and Jim Crow while it presents colorful excerpts from opera, music theater, period song, and spirituals sung by internationally acclaimed artists. It is hosted by opera superstar Denyce Graves and is enriched with montages, enactments, a hip-hop poet, historical narration, and informed commentary that shed light on our lives today.