Dr. M. Joycelyn Elders served as the first African American and second woman to be the United States Surgeon General, from 1993 to 1994. During her 15-month tenure, Dr. Elders was known for her outspokenness and focus on controversial public health issues, including sex education and substance abuse prevention and was eventually forced out of this position because of her outspokenness. As she later concluded, change can only come about when the Surgeon General can get people to listen and talk about difficult subjects. This film looks back at the way she served our country and is a timely reminder during this time when we so badly need leaders who will speak truth to power.
