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A Conversation with Ava DuVernay: Resistance, Storytelling, and Film

Professor Khalil Gibran Muhammad was joined by Oscar-nominated filmmaker and screenwriter Ava DuVernay in JFK Jr. Forum

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Institutional Antiracism and Accountability Project

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Antiracism

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DuVernay’s latest film ‘Origin’ is a powerful adaptation of Isabel Wilkerson’s book ‘Caste’, taking a broad look at underlying systems of social hierarchies. It draws connections between race in the United States, the persecution of Jews in Nazi Germany, and the system of caste in India. By translating these true stories to screen, ‘Origin’ fosters a crucial dialogue on the American understanding of race.

This event hosted by the Institutional Antiracism and Accountability Project (IARA) and the Institute of Politics, explored the relationship between film and advancing racial equity, asking: how is film an effective platform for shaping an informed and critical public narrative about race in the U.S.? And for the filmmakers attempting to do this, what barriers are standing in the way?

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Over the past five years, Untying Knots has served as a vital platform for conversations about racial justice, systemic oppression, and community-driven change. Co-hosted by Erica Licht and Nikhil Raghuveera, the podcast — born from a Harvard Kennedy School course in 2020 — explored how people and institutions are working to dismantle entrenched systems of racial inequity while building new frameworks rooted in justice and accountability. As the podcast concludes, Licht and Raghuveera reflect on its origins, evolution, and enduring impact, offering insights into the lessons learned and the powerful voices that shaped its journey.

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Additional Resource

Global Justice, Truth-telling and Healing Symposium Proceedings

The insights and feedback gathered at the event will guide IARA’s forthcoming report, which aspires to catalyze ongoing policy, advocacy, and community-based efforts for social change.

More on this Issue

Five Years Later, Erica Licht and Nikhil Raghuveera Bid Farewell to Untying Knots
Nikhil Raghuveera and Erica Light, Co-Hosts of

Podcast

Five Years Later, Erica Licht and Nikhil Raghuveera Bid Farewell to Untying Knots

Over the past five years, Untying Knots has served as a vital platform for conversations about racial justice, systemic oppression, and community-driven change. Co-hosted by Erica Licht and Nikhil Raghuveera, the podcast — born from a Harvard Kennedy School course in 2020 — explored how people and institutions are working to dismantle entrenched systems of racial inequity while building new frameworks rooted in justice and accountability. As the podcast concludes, Licht and Raghuveera reflect on its origins, evolution, and enduring impact, offering insights into the lessons learned and the powerful voices that shaped its journey.

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a purple and black sky behind a silhouette of a city scape

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‘The writing was on the wall’

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Group photo of the participants and the IARA team on the front steps of the Ash Center

Additional Resource

Global Justice, Truth-telling and Healing Symposium Proceedings

The insights and feedback gathered at the event will guide IARA’s forthcoming report, which aspires to catalyze ongoing policy, advocacy, and community-based efforts for social change.