Array 101

For generations, Black Americans have used film, television, and documentaries to educate the world about their lived experiences—a means of trying to gain visibility within a society and web of institutions (including education) that refuses to see them.

Iconic filmmaker and storyteller, Ava DuVernay, invites educators to bring her works—including Selma, 13th, and When They See Us—into conversations with their young learners through a new online learning tool called Array 101. The website features DuVernay’s films and television series on a rotating basis and includes an online and downloadable learning companion that highlights key themes (e.g. power) and objectives (e.g. the ability to analyze your understanding of individuals rights before and after a viewing), as well as providing resources for “self-reflection and deeper-learning.” The initiative is intentionally disruptive—avoiding any “watered down” or mechanical iterations. Take a look at how this could serve as a tool to empower the young people you engage with (and yourself) to learn, without disingenuous filters, about historically silenced narratives.