Twenty-three years after she riveted a nation – sitting before a microphone in a bright blue suit, calmly telling an all-male Senate committee that she once was subjected to sexual harassment by Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas – Anita Hill will appear at a Kansas City Public Library event commemorating that historic event. The free program features a screening of the documentary Anita: Speaking Truth to Power and a subsequent question-and-answer session with Hill.

Now a professor of social policy, law, and women’s studies at Brandeis University and a highly visible advocate for gender and workplace rights, Hill became a household name in 1991 – albeit a divisive one. Thomas denied her accusations, narrowly won Senate confirmation, and sits on the high court today. Hill never has wavered from her testimony, which ignited a political firestorm over sexual misconduct and power in the workplace that continues to resonate. The documentary, directed by Oscar winner Freida Mock, chronicles the events. The program is part of this year’s observance of Women’s Equality Day.

This Kansas City Public Library event is co-presented by the Black Archives of Mid-America and Association for Women Lawyers Foundation. It is co-sponsored by the ACLU of Kansas; American Association of University Women-Kansas City; Greater Kansas City Women’s Political Caucus; Greater Kansas City Coalition of Labor Union Women; League of Women Voters of Kansas City, Jackson, Clay, and Platte Counties; Kansas National Organization for Women, Johnson and Wyandotte counties chapter; Mainstream Coalition; NAACP, Kansas City, Missouri, branch; Synergy Services; Zonta Club of Kansas City II, Missouri; and an Anonymous Donor.