Soledad O’Brien Shares Her Thoughts On CNN’s Upcoming Special: Beyond Bravery: The Women Of 9/11

Media outlets across the spectrum are gearing up for the tenth anniversary of 9/11 with a variety of specials, retrospectives and in-depth interviews. CNN, however, is offering something markedly different from its competitors: a glimpse into the lives (and, in some cases, the tragic deaths) of women who acted as first responders, and who are still doing their part to help our country move forward in the wake of the attacks.

Hosted by Soledad O’Brien, CNN’s Beyond Bravery: The Women of 9/11 will debut on Monday, September 5th at 11:00 p.m. ET. And, as O’Brien tells us, its goal is not to make it seem as if these female first responders require extra attention or accolades just for being female. Rather, the women interviewed for this special simply want their stories told so that a faithful portrayal of that day can be given and an honest account of history ensured for those looking back on one the most formative moments our nation has experienced.

These women don’t want preferential treatment, O’Brien explained to us over the phone, they simply want their stories heard and remembered alongside the equally important, heartbreaking and inspiring accounts from their male colleagues. “I want to remind people,” says one female firefighter, “that I and my sister firefighters and my brother firefighters were all there,” challenging the notion that fire brigades are solely a brotherhood rather than a larger family that includes their sisters.

Included in the documentary is another perspective the public doesn’t often get to glimpse — that of a young girl who lost her mother, a police officer, the day of the attacks. “It’s not how she died,” she shares in the documentary, “it’s how she lived her life.”

But what does “Beyond Bravery” actually mean? For O’Brien, the documentary’s title reflects the attitude and the strength exhibited that day ten Septembers ago. It signifies the actions of first responders, civilians, victims and heroes — male and female alike — who found themselves dealing with the type of situation for which no one can truly fully prepare. “Everyone went above and beyond that day,” said O’Brien.

Have a look at the preview below, it will air Monday night at 11 p.m. The documentary will air again Tuesday morning at 2 a.m. and on Sunday, September 11th at 9 p.m.