untitled civil rights project
untitled civil rights project
South Asians and African Americans have been standing up for each other for over a century. These are the histories we were never taught.
From Mahatma Gandhi to Mordecai Johnson to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to Congressman John Lewis to President Barack Obama to Vice President Kamala Harris, the connection between these two communities is deeply intertwined.
We’ll explore Horace R. Cayton, Jr and Black dreams of Indian liberation, organizer, ally, and founder of the Free India Committee Bayard Rustin
We’ll learn about the Black Bengalis where multiple waves of Bengali Muslim migrants moved to cities like New York, New Orleans, and Detroit and married African American, Creole, and Puerto Rican women, building new lives in American working class communities of color
And the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 where pressure from the Civil Rights Movement forced the massive immigration reforms that created South Asian America.
The Dalit Panthers, a militant Dalit (Untouchable) liberation movement inspired by the Black Panther Party and Black Power activism. Founded in Bombay, members organized against casteist repression and murder.
And now, from Ferguson to Jackson Heights to Silicon Valley, South Asian Americans have organized against anti-Black racism.
The connections are endless.
We will trace the roots of these movements, exploring the racism and divide each community faces in the United States and how together, the support they give one another strengthens and connects them forever.
We aim to capture stunning new visuals which we will pair with vibrant locations and a pulsing soundtrack to accompany a treasure trove of archival photos and footage.
The series will be an exploration of Indian culture, Black culture, music, and politics, weaving together interviews, archival footage, family photographs, and historical documents in the visual style of Summer of Soul, 13th, and The Defiant Ones. An original soundtrack will include celebrated jazz pianist and composer Vijay Iyer, 5 time Grammy Award winner Lalah Hathaway and bassist, songwriter, and vocalist Stephen “Thundercat” Bruner to combine the sounds of Indian folk music, Blues, Jazz, Hip Hop, and Bomba.