Respect My Crown: The Rise of African American Women In California Politics is a compelling documentary that chronicles the groundbreaking journeys of California's Black women in leadership in the areas of politics, labor, activism and the judicial system. Through intimate interviews, archival footage, and expert analysis, the film highlights the struggles and triumphs of these leaders, from PTA to the state legislature and beyond. It delves into their personal stories, revealing the systemic challenges they faced and the resilience they demonstrated. By illuminating their contributions to policy and community advocacy, the documentary celebrates their legacy and inspires future generations to engage in political activism, emphasizing the importance of representation and diversity in leadership.

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Immersed in the films timeline is the backdrop of the existential circumstances of the day.

Each decade in the last sixty years has had its own set of challenges, wars, poverty, racial uprisings, presenting each bill, each vote, each march, each decision with its own set of residual fallout which could affect the communities they represent for years to come. California has sent more women of color to the House and Senate than any other state. 

Respect My Crown intends to show the role of intersectionality in politics and public service in the state of California. The film serves an an archival project of the  Mervyn M. Dymally African American Political and Economic Institute (MDAAPEI), a non-partisan public policy center, and serves as a study of Black Women in politics for the California Black Women's Collective Empowerment Institute,  a 501C3 non-profit organization, which focuses on improving the lives of Black Women and Girls throughout the state. Both Think Tanks are housed on the campus of California State University, Dominguez Hills. 

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The 85 minute film includes interviews from 34 remarkable women who are leaders in their fields.