oh good afternoon it’s such a pleasure to be here
to be here
to be here but I want to talk about today is the
but I want to talk about today is the
but I want to talk about today is the way in which culture creates justice
way in which culture creates justice
way in which culture creates justice it’s not a question we ask very often
it’s not a question we ask very often
it’s not a question we ask very often but it’s what I study and teach and
but it’s what I study and teach and
but it’s what I study and teach and write about I learned the most about it
write about I learned the most about it
write about I learned the most about it though from my grandfather he became an
though from my grandfather he became an
though from my grandfather he became an artist a painter and a jazz musician
artist a painter and a jazz musician
artist a painter and a jazz musician because of one powerful experience he
because of one powerful experience he
because of one powerful experience he had in New York City in high school he
had in New York City in high school he
had in New York City in high school he was in the 11th grade in a history class
was in the 11th grade in a history class
was in the 11th grade in a history class and he wanted to know why the world in
and he wanted to know why the world in
and he wanted to know why the world in the textbooks they were given didn’t
the textbooks they were given didn’t
the textbooks they were given didn’t look like the world represented as I see
look like the world represented as I see
look like the world represented as I see it here he wanted to know where Asian
it here he wanted to know where Asian
it here he wanted to know where Asian Americans were where African Americans
Americans were where African Americans
Americans were where African Americans were where Native Americans we’re where
were where Native Americans we’re where
were where Native Americans we’re where Latinos were he wanted to know why
Latinos were he wanted to know why
Latinos were he wanted to know why excellence and achievement always looked
excellence and achievement always looked
excellence and achievement always looked one way in those textbooks in 1926 the
one way in those textbooks in 1926 the
one way in those textbooks in 1926 the teacher told him that african-americans
teacher told him that african-americans
teacher told him that african-americans in particular had done nothing to merit
in particular had done nothing to merit
in particular had done nothing to merit inclusion and he refused to accept that
inclusion and he refused to accept that
inclusion and he refused to accept that as an answer so he asked again he was
as an answer so he asked again he was
as an answer so he asked again he was expelled for his impertinence and his
expelled for his impertinence and his
expelled for his impertinence and his pride was so wounded that he never went
pride was so wounded that he never went
pride was so wounded that he never went back to high school he never received a
back to high school he never received a
back to high school he never received a high school diploma
high school diploma
high school diploma but he became this extraordinary artist
but he became this extraordinary artist
but he became this extraordinary artist not well-known he would create in the
not well-known he would create in the
not well-known he would create in the works the images he hoped to find in
works the images he hoped to find in
works the images he hoped to find in those textbooks when I was younger I
those textbooks when I was younger I
those textbooks when I was younger I wanted to be a painter I still secretly
wanted to be a painter I still secretly
wanted to be a painter I still secretly do and would love visiting him in
do and would love visiting him in
do and would love visiting him in Virginia we would go down for holidays
Virginia we would go down for holidays
Virginia we would go down for holidays and he lived there with my grandmother
and he lived there with my grandmother
and he lived there with my grandmother in a house that was wooden and white and
in a house that was wooden and white and
in a house that was wooden and white and looked as if it was just about ready to
looked as if it was just about ready to
looked as if it was just about ready to sink back down into the earth but when
sink back down into the earth but when
sink back down into the earth but when you’d enter you’d go into the house
you’d enter you’d go into the house
you’d enter you’d go into the house through this past
through this past
through this past chamber that was his makeshift artists
chamber that was his makeshift artists
chamber that was his makeshift artists studio and there he would create works
studio and there he would create works
studio and there he would create works that seemed to me to possess a kind of
that seemed to me to possess a kind of
that seemed to me to possess a kind of magic he taught me how to draw and how
magic he taught me how to draw and how
magic he taught me how to draw and how to paint with a kind of seriousness as
to paint with a kind of seriousness as
to paint with a kind of seriousness as if he was giving me a set of tools
if he was giving me a set of tools
if he was giving me a set of tools through which to create new
through which to create new
through which to create new possibilities in my life my
possibilities in my life my
possibilities in my life my grandfather’s name was Shadrach Emanuel
grandfather’s name was Shadrach Emanuel
grandfather’s name was Shadrach Emanuel Lee a very cool name my name is Sara
Lee a very cool name my name is Sara
Lee a very cool name my name is Sara Elizabeth Lewis a little bit more plain
Elizabeth Lewis a little bit more plain
Elizabeth Lewis a little bit more plain but the initials SEL are meant to honor
but the initials SEL are meant to honor
but the initials SEL are meant to honor my grandfather
my grandfather
my grandfather I was wondering for a long time and it’s
I was wondering for a long time and it’s
I was wondering for a long time and it’s really why I’m here today about why my
really why I’m here today about why my
really why I’m here today about why my grandfather didn’t become a politician
grandfather didn’t become a politician
grandfather didn’t become a politician an activist after an experience like the
an activist after an experience like the
an activist after an experience like the one he had in high school why he became
one he had in high school why he became
one he had in high school why he became an artist he’s left me with a question
an artist he’s left me with a question
an artist he’s left me with a question that occupies the focus of my work what
that occupies the focus of my work what
that occupies the focus of my work what is the role of culture in determining
is the role of culture in determining
is the role of culture in determining who counts in society what’s the role of
who counts in society what’s the role of
who counts in society what’s the role of art images films performances events
art images films performances events
art images films performances events like this for justice today we’re living
like this for justice today we’re living
like this for justice today we’re living at a time where it’s urgent that we
at a time where it’s urgent that we
at a time where it’s urgent that we begin to address this question because
begin to address this question because
begin to address this question because as I see it we’ve long sought that
as I see it we’ve long sought that
as I see it we’ve long sought that culture mainly gives us a sense of
culture mainly gives us a sense of
culture mainly gives us a sense of what’s happening in society it gives us
what’s happening in society it gives us
what’s happening in society it gives us a reflection of society it takes the
a reflection of society it takes the
a reflection of society it takes the temperature of what’s happening but is
temperature of what’s happening but is
temperature of what’s happening but is it possible that the opposite is true
it possible that the opposite is true
it possible that the opposite is true that culture can in fact create the more
that culture can in fact create the more
that culture can in fact create the more just society in which we hope to live
just society in which we hope to live
just society in which we hope to live today we live in a age in which we
today we live in a age in which we
today we live in a age in which we create as many images in two minutes as
create as many images in two minutes as
create as many images in two minutes as were made in the entire 19th century
were made in the entire 19th century
were made in the entire 19th century 2014 alone we took one trillion images
2014 alone we took one trillion images
2014 alone we took one trillion images there were 1 trillion views on YouTube
there were 1 trillion views on YouTube
there were 1 trillion views on YouTube alone
alone
alone images are allowing us to see the world
images are allowing us to see the world
images are allowing us to see the world in this digital age we have created a
in this digital age we have created a
in this digital age we have created a new equation image first information
new equation image first information
new equation image first information second we’re also living at a time in
second we’re also living at a time in
second we’re also living at a time in which we are encountering those unlike
which we are encountering those unlike
which we are encountering those unlike ourselves less and less sociologists
ourselves less and less sociologists
ourselves less and less sociologists tell us we worship amongst those who
tell us we worship amongst those who
tell us we worship amongst those who share our beliefs and we tend to live
share our beliefs and we tend to live
share our beliefs and we tend to live amongst those who vote the way that we
amongst those who vote the way that we
amongst those who vote the way that we do so increasingly it’s becoming
do so increasingly it’s becoming
do so increasingly it’s becoming pictures films short clips performances
pictures films short clips performances
pictures films short clips performances that allow us to encounter worlds unlike
that allow us to encounter worlds unlike
that allow us to encounter worlds unlike our own consider it as you look at this
our own consider it as you look at this
our own consider it as you look at this image taken by White House photographer
image taken by White House photographer
image taken by White House photographer Pete Souza of a young boy whose identity
Pete Souza of a young boy whose identity
Pete Souza of a young boy whose identity might not be your own here he is Jacob
might not be your own here he is Jacob
might not be your own here he is Jacob Philadelphia a five-year-old boy
Philadelphia a five-year-old boy
Philadelphia a five-year-old boy visiting the White House with his
visiting the White House with his
visiting the White House with his parents and brother his father was a
parents and brother his father was a
parents and brother his father was a former Marine and worked in the White
former Marine and worked in the White
former Marine and worked in the White House the young boys were allowed to ask
House the young boys were allowed to ask
House the young boys were allowed to ask the president one question Jacob
the president one question Jacob
the president one question Jacob Philadelphia wanted to know if his hair
Philadelphia wanted to know if his hair
Philadelphia wanted to know if his hair texture really did match that of the
texture really did match that of the
texture really did match that of the presidents President Obama decided to
presidents President Obama decided to
presidents President Obama decided to lean down to give this boy the ability
lean down to give this boy the ability
lean down to give this boy the ability to touch his head and verify for himself
to touch his head and verify for himself
to touch his head and verify for himself that indeed they were the same what does
that indeed they were the same what does
that indeed they were the same what does it mean that a five year old boy wanted
it mean that a five year old boy wanted
it mean that a five year old boy wanted some kind of proof that he could be a
some kind of proof that he could be a
some kind of proof that he could be a present of the United States what kind
present of the United States what kind
present of the United States what kind of images was he being surrounded by and
of images was he being surrounded by and
of images was he being surrounded by and as you look at this picture I wonder if
as you look at this picture I wonder if
as you look at this picture I wonder if you might imagine what images allowed
you might imagine what images allowed
you might imagine what images allowed you to see your own possibility that
you to see your own possibility that
you to see your own possibility that your own dreams were valid we’re able to
your own dreams were valid we’re able to
your own dreams were valid we’re able to see worlds unlike our own through these
see worlds unlike our own through these
see worlds unlike our own through these pictures but what it also means is that
pictures but what it also means is that
pictures but what it also means is that we have come to have pictures occupy a
we have come to have pictures occupy a
we have come to have pictures occupy a civic funk
civic funk
civic funk without realizing it we’re living with a
without realizing it we’re living with a
without realizing it we’re living with a high degree of visual literacy today
high degree of visual literacy today
high degree of visual literacy today without recognizing this fact now you
without recognizing this fact now you
without recognizing this fact now you might be saying well this is all well
might be saying well this is all well
might be saying well this is all well and good but can’t art just be for its
and good but can’t art just be for its
and good but can’t art just be for its own sake well yes of course but consider
own sake well yes of course but consider
own sake well yes of course but consider this how many times has a social justice
this how many times has a social justice
this how many times has a social justice movement been galvanized by the impact
movement been galvanized by the impact
movement been galvanized by the impact of a work of art a performance play a
of a work of art a performance play a
of a work of art a performance play a powerful picture and move society in the
powerful picture and move society in the
powerful picture and move society in the direction of justice
direction of justice
direction of justice more times than we can possibly count
more times than we can possibly count
more times than we can possibly count I’ll give you a few examples think of a
I’ll give you a few examples think of a
I’ll give you a few examples think of a young boy named Charles black jr. in
young boy named Charles black jr. in
young boy named Charles black jr. in 1931 wanting to go to a dance he’s 16
1931 wanting to go to a dance he’s 16
1931 wanting to go to a dance he’s 16 years old and Austin Texas and just try
years old and Austin Texas and just try
years old and Austin Texas and just try to meet some girls and he finds himself
to meet some girls and he finds himself
to meet some girls and he finds himself just struck still by the power of this
just struck still by the power of this
just struck still by the power of this trumpet player he has never heard of
trumpet player he has never heard of
trumpet player he has never heard of before
before
before in this moment he sees that there is
in this moment he sees that there is
in this moment he sees that there is genius coming out of the body of this
genius coming out of the body of this
genius coming out of the body of this black man this trumpet player and he
black man this trumpet player and he
black man this trumpet player and he knows in that moment that segregation
knows in that moment that segregation
knows in that moment that segregation must be wrong it turns out that this
must be wrong it turns out that this
must be wrong it turns out that this trumpet player was Louis Armstrong king
trumpet player was Louis Armstrong king
trumpet player was Louis Armstrong king of the trumpet his friend there with him
of the trumpet his friend there with him
of the trumpet his friend there with him recognizes this genius and Louie
recognizes this genius and Louie
recognizes this genius and Louie Armstrong and he instead shakes his head
Armstrong and he instead shakes his head
Armstrong and he instead shakes his head and utters an epithet about
and utters an epithet about
and utters an epithet about african-americans used during the day
african-americans used during the day
african-americans used during the day but Charles black jr. was sure that he
but Charles black jr. was sure that he
but Charles black jr. was sure that he was looking at genius Charles black jr.
was looking at genius Charles black jr.
was looking at genius Charles black jr. became one of the lawyers for the
became one of the lawyers for the
became one of the lawyers for the Supreme Court case the 1954 case Brown
Supreme Court case the 1954 case Brown
Supreme Court case the 1954 case Brown versus Board of Education that deemed
versus Board of Education that deemed
versus Board of Education that deemed segregation unlawful in this country and
segregation unlawful in this country and
segregation unlawful in this country and he inaugurates this as the moment that
he inaugurates this as the moment that
he inaugurates this as the moment that affected this life changing shift he
affected this life changing shift he
affected this life changing shift he went on to teach constitutional law and
went on to teach constitutional law and
went on to teach constitutional law and every year he would have
every year he would have
every year he would have an Armstrong listening night to honor
an Armstrong listening night to honor
an Armstrong listening night to honor the man who effected this private shift
the man who effected this private shift
the man who effected this private shift that had massive public consequences
that had massive public consequences
that had massive public consequences think of the impact of this image
think of the impact of this image
think of the impact of this image Earthrise taken from the near surface of
Earthrise taken from the near surface of
Earthrise taken from the near surface of the moon after the first man mission the
the moon after the first man mission the
the moon after the first man mission the Apollo 8 that shows our planet in an
Apollo 8 that shows our planet in an
Apollo 8 that shows our planet in an environment this is the image that had
environment this is the image that had
environment this is the image that had enough coalescent force to catalyze the
enough coalescent force to catalyze the
enough coalescent force to catalyze the environmental movement I could offer you
environmental movement I could offer you
environmental movement I could offer you countless examples think of the ways in
countless examples think of the ways in
countless examples think of the ways in which citizens around the United States
which citizens around the United States
which citizens around the United States and abroad were mobilized by what they
and abroad were mobilized by what they
and abroad were mobilized by what they saw during the civil rights movement on
saw during the civil rights movement on
saw during the civil rights movement on their televisions and in newspapers and
their televisions and in newspapers and
their televisions and in newspapers and decided to go to Selma or to Birmingham
decided to go to Selma or to Birmingham
decided to go to Selma or to Birmingham to combat injustice think of times when
to combat injustice think of times when
to combat injustice think of times when images are so potent in their ability to
images are so potent in their ability to
images are so potent in their ability to speak back to injustice but they’re
speak back to injustice but they’re
speak back to injustice but they’re censored as was the case with this image
censored as was the case with this image
censored as was the case with this image taken by photographer Dorothea Lange she
taken by photographer Dorothea Lange she
taken by photographer Dorothea Lange she was hired by the government the War
was hired by the government the War
was hired by the government the War Relocation agency to document in 1942
Relocation agency to document in 1942
Relocation agency to document in 1942 Japanese internment instead her images
Japanese internment instead her images
Japanese internment instead her images showed the inhumanity of this act if
showed the inhumanity of this act if
showed the inhumanity of this act if you’re in my class we would talk about
you’re in my class we would talk about
you’re in my class we would talk about the way in which the composition in fact
the way in which the composition in fact
the way in which the composition in fact undermines the very remit that she had
undermines the very remit that she had
undermines the very remit that she had for this project these images were
for this project these images were
for this project these images were impounded by the US Army and were not
impounded by the US Army and were not
impounded by the US Army and were not printed as their formal document about
printed as their formal document about
printed as their formal document about Japanese internment finally I’d asked
Japanese internment finally I’d asked
Japanese internment finally I’d asked you to consider the ways in which
you to consider the ways in which
you to consider the ways in which leaders have pointed out the role of
leaders have pointed out the role of
leaders have pointed out the role of culture for getting us to a moment of
culture for getting us to a moment of
culture for getting us to a moment of justice during times of crisis perhaps
justice during times of crisis perhaps
justice during times of crisis perhaps no one did so more than Frederick
no one did so more than Frederick
no one did so more than Frederick Douglass in Boston’s Tremont temple that
Douglass in Boston’s Tremont temple that
Douglass in Boston’s Tremont temple that integrated Church one block from Boston
integrated Church one block from Boston
integrated Church one block from Boston Commons he made a speech that stunned
Commons he made a speech that stunned
Commons he made a speech that stunned his audience during the Civil War he
his audience during the Civil War he
his audience during the Civil War he spoke about the power of not combat but
spoke about the power of not combat but
spoke about the power of not combat but something as small and
something as small and
something as small and like as a picture to achieve the
like as a picture to achieve the
like as a picture to achieve the reconciliation our nation so desperately
reconciliation our nation so desperately
reconciliation our nation so desperately needed the audience was confused but
needed the audience was confused but
needed the audience was confused but they would listen
they would listen
they would listen Douglas was known as as Abraham Lincoln
Douglas was known as as Abraham Lincoln
Douglas was known as as Abraham Lincoln said one of the most meritorious men if
said one of the most meritorious men if
said one of the most meritorious men if not the most meritorious man in the
not the most meritorious man in the
not the most meritorious man in the United States Douglass was also the most
United States Douglass was also the most
United States Douglass was also the most photographed American man in the 19th
photographed American man in the 19th
photographed American man in the 19th century not african-american man
century not african-american man
century not african-american man American man he sat for his photograph
American man he sat for his photograph
American man he sat for his photograph more times than President Lincoln
more times than President Lincoln
more times than President Lincoln himself what does this mean about his
himself what does this mean about his
himself what does this mean about his understanding of the power of
understanding of the power of
understanding of the power of representation to dislodge stereotype to
representation to dislodge stereotype to
representation to dislodge stereotype to combat injustice at the end of his
combat injustice at the end of his
combat injustice at the end of his speech he made the statement that he
speech he made the statement that he
speech he made the statement that he hoped and believed it might take
hoped and believed it might take
hoped and believed it might take centuries for us to understand precisely
centuries for us to understand precisely
centuries for us to understand precisely what he meant and in this speech he
what he meant and in this speech he
what he meant and in this speech he doesn’t select the work of one masterful
doesn’t select the work of one masterful
doesn’t select the work of one masterful photographer instead he focuses on the
photographer instead he focuses on the
photographer instead he focuses on the phenomenon of being moved by the power
phenomenon of being moved by the power
phenomenon of being moved by the power of an image by the power of a picture
of an image by the power of a picture
of an image by the power of a picture Douglass is really speaking about the
Douglass is really speaking about the
Douglass is really speaking about the function of the imagination for creating
function of the imagination for creating
function of the imagination for creating justice as it’s catalyzed by the arts
justice as it’s catalyzed by the arts
justice as it’s catalyzed by the arts he’s speaking about the ability to be
he’s speaking about the ability to be
he’s speaking about the ability to be moved the way that Charles black jr. was
moved the way that Charles black jr. was
moved the way that Charles black jr. was looking at Louis Armstrong and
looking at Louis Armstrong and
looking at Louis Armstrong and understanding that a new possible future
understanding that a new possible future
understanding that a new possible future was in front of him and that he wanted
was in front of him and that he wanted
was in front of him and that he wanted to be part of it what’s common to all of
to be part of it what’s common to all of
to be part of it what’s common to all of these stories is something we don’t
these stories is something we don’t
these stories is something we don’t often acknowledge that these public
often acknowledge that these public
often acknowledge that these public moments of justice begin with private
moments of justice begin with private
moments of justice begin with private internal moments moments in which we are
internal moments moments in which we are
internal moments moments in which we are able to be still to shift the speed of
able to be still to shift the speed of
able to be still to shift the speed of our processing to decelerate these are
our processing to decelerate these are
our processing to decelerate these are the moments in which we start to see
the moments in which we start to see
the moments in which we start to see what we did not know we did not know
what we did not know we did not know
what we did not know we did not know this is at the heart of justice this
this is at the heart of justice this
this is at the heart of justice this self-correction
self-correction
self-correction the ability to be humble and to
the ability to be humble and to
the ability to be humble and to acknowledge our past failures and to
acknowledge our past failures and to
acknowledge our past failures and to make way for a new imagined future
make way for a new imagined future
make way for a new imagined future whether or not we work in the formal
whether or not we work in the formal
whether or not we work in the formal realm of justice as lawyers or judges we
realm of justice as lawyers or judges we
realm of justice as lawyers or judges we are all part of this dynamic in society
are all part of this dynamic in society
are all part of this dynamic in society this humane imagination it’s Charles
this humane imagination it’s Charles
this humane imagination it’s Charles Blackwood put it I want to end with one
Blackwood put it I want to end with one
Blackwood put it I want to end with one story I’ve often wondered about that
story I’ve often wondered about that
story I’ve often wondered about that high school classroom my grandfather was
high school classroom my grandfather was
high school classroom my grandfather was in I wonder what makes that teacher so
in I wonder what makes that teacher so
in I wonder what makes that teacher so upset my grandfather after all was very
upset my grandfather after all was very
upset my grandfather after all was very funny man very quiet man is it that the
funny man very quiet man is it that the
funny man very quiet man is it that the question he asked forced the teacher to
question he asked forced the teacher to
question he asked forced the teacher to see a new vision of the world and long
see a new vision of the world and long
see a new vision of the world and long enough for him or her to pause and
enough for him or her to pause and
enough for him or her to pause and perhaps to have a whole classroom pause
perhaps to have a whole classroom pause
perhaps to have a whole classroom pause too there’s much work to be done if
too there’s much work to be done if
too there’s much work to be done if we’re going to acknowledge the function
we’re going to acknowledge the function
we’re going to acknowledge the function of culture for creating justice if we
of culture for creating justice if we
of culture for creating justice if we are to do this I think we first need to
are to do this I think we first need to
are to do this I think we first need to honor the power of these small private
honor the power of these small private
honor the power of these small private moments for contributing to change on a
moments for contributing to change on a
moments for contributing to change on a massive scale I think we need to
massive scale I think we need to
massive scale I think we need to inaugurate a new model for civics in
inaugurate a new model for civics in
inaugurate a new model for civics in public education one that acknowledges
public education one that acknowledges
public education one that acknowledges the function of culture for justice I
the function of culture for justice I
the function of culture for justice I believe that our marketing companies and
believe that our marketing companies and
believe that our marketing companies and our media companies need to understand
our media companies need to understand
our media companies need to understand the gravitas of the messaging that
the gravitas of the messaging that
the gravitas of the messaging that accompanies the images they put out into
accompanies the images they put out into
accompanies the images they put out into the world I believe that our very civic
the world I believe that our very civic
the world I believe that our very civic and collective identity is at stake if
and collective identity is at stake if
and collective identity is at stake if we don’t do this work I have
we don’t do this work I have
we don’t do this work I have firm sense of hope in the power of
firm sense of hope in the power of
firm sense of hope in the power of representational justice the kind that
representational justice the kind that
representational justice the kind that we see rising in a young Jacob
we see rising in a young Jacob
we see rising in a young Jacob Philadelphia as he is touching President
Philadelphia as he is touching President
Philadelphia as he is touching President Obama’s hand the kind that Charles black
Obama’s hand the kind that Charles black
Obama’s hand the kind that Charles black jr. had that allowed him to inaugurate a
jr. had that allowed him to inaugurate a
jr. had that allowed him to inaugurate a new path for himself my hope is that
new path for himself my hope is that
new path for himself my hope is that soon we will start to see that the arts
soon we will start to see that the arts
soon we will start to see that the arts are not merely a respite from life a
are not merely a respite from life a
are not merely a respite from life a kind of a luxury but of that in fact the
kind of a luxury but of that in fact the
kind of a luxury but of that in fact the arts have been crucial for creating the
arts have been crucial for creating the
arts have been crucial for creating the very civic and just society in which we
very civic and just society in which we
very civic and just society in which we are honored to live thank you
”
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