Sisters Testify is a history project to connect not only with the signatories of the African American Women in Defense of Ourselves proclamation but also with those who did not sign.

Your story and your vantage point matter. Together, we can magnify our voices and provide insights into gender, race, regional, and generational politics in America following Anita Hill’s testimony at the Clarence Thomas Supreme Court nomination hearings in 1991.

This survey may take you anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes to complete, depending on how much reflection you enjoy.You will be able to save your answers, and the survey will auto save every 5 minutes, so please, sit back with a cup of tea and think back to what was going on for you in 1991.

You can download this form or cut and paste the questions into a separate document.

 

Send your answers to Sisters Testify:

By email or by snail mail.

Attention, Delida Costin
3542 Fruitvale Avenue
Oakland, CA 94602

 

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  1. At the time you signed the petition, what age were you?
  2. Where did you live then?
  3. What was your situation at the time in 1991? Were you working? A student? Married? Ill? Overseas? A mother? Please provide any details you care to share.
  4. Did you identify with or participate in a social, cultural, or political movement at the time? Please Select Yes / No
  5. How did you hear about the proclamation?
  6. What did you hope to achieve by contributing to the African American Women in Defense of Ourselves proclamation?
  7. Did you participate in conversations or activities related to the Anita Hill/Clarence Thomas hearings in 1991? Please Select Yes No
  8. Have your thoughts on signing the proclamation changed? Please Select Yes / No
  9. What impact do you think the hearings had (both for you in your life and for our larger society?)
  10. How has your education, work, family, personal life, professional life, or health changed since you signed the proclamation?
  11. Do you currently identify with or participate in a social, cultural or political movement, or have you in the past twenty-five years? Please Select Yes / No
  12. Do you know of anyone who refused to sign the proclamation and on what grounds?
  13. Do you have contact information for anyone who could be helpful to hear from? Why might he or she be helpful?
  14. If you signed on behalf of someone else, or an organization, please identify that person or organization here.
  15. Gender
  16. Race/Ethnicity
  17. How did you hear about Sisters Testify?
  18. Please Select - Social Media Contact (Facebook or Twitter)/ Phone Call / Letter / Friend / Professional Contact Word of Mouth / Other (if other, please explain)
  19. Please share with us the information that you used to sign the letter in 1991.
  20. 1991 Name
  21. 1991 City
  22. 1991 State
  23. 1991 Other (such as profession or title)
  24. Do you have any other comments that might be helpful?

Thank you for taking the time to complete our survey.

We are excited by the enthusiasm of those we have reached, and by the response rate. We know you’re busy and we’re grateful for the time you’ve spent telling us your story.

Last spring, we reached out to as many signatories as we could find. We have contacted many by email, snail mail, and via social media, but we are always looking to reach signatories we haven’t been able to find.  Please pass the news about this project to anyone who may have signed.

Stay tuned to hear what we learn. In the interim, please don’t hesitate to let us know what information you would like to learn about the other signatories or the project.

Once again, thank you!