In racially charged early 1960s America, Dianne Gaines and Brenda Shapiro forged an intentional friendship that defied societal boundaries. A Black Catholic Woman from New Orleans, Louisiana, and a White Jewish woman from Portland, Maine, met through The Panel of American Women and chose each other to improve the world for their children.
Their relationship was an act of radical connection, transcending racial and cultural divides. Supporting each other through law school, divorce, remarriage, and loss, they built a bond stronger than the prejudices surrounding them. Their friendship wasn’t just personal—it was a quiet rebellion, a living testament to understanding and mutual respect. Dianne and Brenda chose unity in a world designed to separate, proving that true friendship knows no boundaries. (Recorded 2020)
