July 8 | An Artist’s Journey to Uphold our Founding Ideals Film Screening & Discussion
Friday, July 8 | 6:30 – 8:30pm
Join us at the National Portrait Gallery for an exclusive screening of a new documentary about the power of teaching social justice through art.
Truth Tellers is a new documentary film chronicling the lives of courageous Americans fighting for peace, racial equity, environmental justice, and indigenous rights through the eyes of Robert Shetterly, a long-time activist and artist. The film explores the intersection of these issues stressing the urgency of coming together to confront them and galvanizing our resolve to uphold our country’s founding ideals.
Through following Shetterly’s visits to individuals and communities across this nation, Truth Tellersexplores his journey to inspire and empower Americans to emulate his “models of courageous citizenship”. His story is an urgent reminder that courage and dissent play a critical role in protecting American rights and liberties and indeed our democracy.
Immediately after the film will be a discussion moderated by Asantewa Boakyewa, Associate Director, Collections and Exhibits (Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum), Louis Clark, Executive Director and CEO, Government Accountability Project, Dawn Wooten, Whistleblower, ICE’s Irwin County Detention Center, Mr. Shetterly, and Rev. Lennox Yearwood, President and CEO of the Hip-Hop Caucus, and is featured in the film. Attendees will also have the opportunity to see a performance by Emma’s Revolution, the award-winning activist duo of Pat Humphries & Sandy O, whose songs have been sung for the Dalai Lama, praised by Pete Seeger and covered by Holly Near.
Come early to view the exhibition The Struggle for Justice, that looks at the history of democracy in this country, and the individuals that have fought to bring equal opportunity to all.
This program is jointly presented by two Smithsonian museums – the Anacostia Community Museum and the National Portrait Gallery.
See the trailer for the film here.