‘Racism requires ignorance’: How art and culture can help end racial discrimination

"Ignorance allows for racism, but racism requires ignorance. It requires that we don't know the facts," says Sarah Lewis, Associate Professor of African and African American Studies at Harvard University and founder of the Vision & Justice programme there, which connects research, art, and culture to promote equity and justice.

Ms. Lewis was at the UN Headquarters for an event marking last week’s International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

In an interview with UN News’s Ana Carmo, she discussed the crucial intersection of art, culture, and global action to tackle racial discrimination in the face of ongoing challenges.

The interview has been edited for length and clarity.

UN News: How can art contribute to both raising awareness of racial discrimination, and inspiring action towards its elimination?

Sarah Lewis: I grew up not far from the United Nations, just ten blocks away. As a young girl, I became interested in the narratives that define who counts and who belongs. Narratives that condition our behaviour, narratives that allow for the implementation of laws and norms.

And what I've come...
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