Danielle Allen
Professor of Public Policy, James Bryant Conant University Professor
Multiracial Democracy
Antiracism is a critical building block for a modern, healthy democracy
Multiracial, multiethnic democracy doesn’t just happen — we have work to do to get there.
Antiracist institutions and organizations address and challenge racial disparities by instituting policies and recommendations to foster greater diversity, equity, and inclusion.
We encourage you to explore the below events, research, and commentary to learn more about our work.
Meet the Experts
Gloria Yayra A. Ayee
Adjunct Lecturer in Public Policy
Cornell Brooks
Hauser Professor of the Practice of Nonprofit Organizations;
Professor of the Practice of Public Leadership and Social Justice
Archon Fung
Director, Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation;
Winthrop Laflin McCormack Professor of Citizenship and Self-Government
Yanilda María González
Ford Foundation Assistant Professor of Public Policy
The Latest News and Research
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.
Feature
‘The writing was on the wall’
Five insights on race, class, and gender in the 2024 presidential election from Professors Khalil Gibran Muhammad and Leah Wright Rigueur
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.
Feature
Six Takeaways from the 2024 Truth and Transformation Conference
Six seasoned speakers offered practical strategies for confronting the anti-DEI movement at the sixth annual conference of the Institutional Antiracism and Accountability (IARA) Project.
Feature
Healing through History
Examining the American Medical Association Archives to Understand Racial Disparities in Healthcare
Feature
Representative Barbara Lee on the Imperative of Reparative Justice
At the Global Justice, Truth-Telling, and Healing Symposium, Lee speaks on how we can interrupt the cycle of inaction when it comes to reparative justice in the United States.
Feature
Antiracism Summer Reading List
15 noteworthy recent releases handpicked by the Institutional Antiracism and Accountability (IARA) Project.
Video
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
Video
Art Imitates Nation: A Conversation with Hank Willis Thomas
Artist Hank Willis Thomas spoke with Harvard professor Sarah Elizabeth Lewis about how love guides his artwork at a Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics forum.
Feature
Five books and a podcast on sports, patriotism, and racial justice
This reading list from the Institutional Antiracism and Accountability Project explores the intersection of sports and racial justice, in the lead-up to their panel on March 19.
Feature
Five most-read antiracism research articles on RRAPP in 2023
The best of the Race, Research, and Policy Portal (RRAPP) this year
Q+A
‘We deserve to enjoy this land’
A Conversation with Eternal Polk, Director of Gaining Ground, a new film about reclaiming Black land in the US
Feature
How can we hold institutions accountable for antiracist change?
During the fifth-annual convening of the Truth and Transformation Conference hosted by the Institutional Antiracism and Accountability Project (IARA), experts discussed challenges as well as best practices for holding organizations accountable for antiracist change.
Video
Panel 3 — Turning Up the Heat: Social Pressure for Organizational Accountability
When it comes to establishing accountability in institutions, how can pressure be deployed, and what can it help accomplish? This panel featured leading advocates who have used a range of social and political tactics to push for change. They shared how they and their collaborators have instigated these efforts and illuminate lessons we should glean from their work.
Video
Panel 4 — Reckoning with History: Moving Beyond Organizational Accountability
This panel was part of the Truth & Transformation Conference 2023, hosted by the Instructional Antiracism and Accountability Project (IARA). In this session, panelists discussed real-world examples of historical reckoning and truth-telling, exploring how historical documentation, resources, and materials can be applied to antiracism work.