Ava Duvernays Smithsonian Speech celebrates American size and complexity: watch video

“Let us remind us of those who try to restore a narrow, splitting past that the future belongs to the whole,” said Ava Duvernay, medal recipient of the Great Americans, this week an audience in Washington DC after receiving the honor from the National Museum of American History of Smithsonian.

The Oscar candidate reserves those who “fear … the complete American history that was told in her dazzling complexity and devastating contradictions”, and also found that “history is not a weapon that can be falsified if it is inconvenient.

Duvernay said it very bluntly and told the crowd: there is no future in forgetting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuqymijzyo8

In her remarks on May 8, Duvernay never mentioned directly and made her point of view for everyone who gave her up over his ongoing Maga attacks on democracy, diversity and Smithsonian, which she handed over. The filmmaker and activist added that “now at a time when the truth itself is under revision” added: “We know that the one, which is sometimes referred to as inappropriate ideology, actually bends that what some calls are distorted is simply a new perspective that has been buried for a long time.”

Accompany^TH Person to get the honor. According to Smithsonian, the Array founder is also “the first director, author and producer who receives the award”. The winner of Emmy, Bafta and Peabody Award Duvernay was selected this year because “her lifelong contributions embody American ideas and ideals,” said Smithsonian in his announcement of the award.

Take a look at the career winner video that Duvernay's speech was preceded by here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joll1nae4m4

“Duvernay's extraordinary effect through the medium of the film, which pronounces it with an unshakable eye on American history as someone who illustrates the highest ideals of art, altruism and attorney,” said Elizabeth MacMillan director of the museum, Anthea M. Origin Director when presenting the award. “Your service and success embody the true meaning of a great American.”

Read Ava Duvernay's full Smithsonian Speech here:

Many thanks to the National Museum of American History, Dr. Hartig and the remarkable leadership of the Smithsonian, who gave me this really incredible honor. It is not lost for me – what it means to stand in this place, supported by an institution that understands the weight of the story … and the miracle to say it well.

This understanding now feels particularly urgent, at a time when the truth itself is underpinned … And fear feels like an animating force.

Fear of mirrors. Fear of memory.

Fear of full American history, which is told in her dazzling complexity and devastating contradictions.

The story is not a weapon that is impractical. It is not a bedtime story that should weigh us to sleep. It is a river, fluent … deep and often turbulent. And the Smithsonian has been the bridge for a long time that can be crossed us with care.

We know that what is sometimes referred to as “inappropriate ideology” is actually binding. What some call “distorted” is simply a new perspective – briefly buried, now reveals.

Let me tell you by the child who goes into the Smithsonian and sees a photo of a woman who looks like her mother, who looks like her grandmother, who is great in protest or prayer.

Let me tell you by the teacher who brings the students here because their textbooks do not speak of Redlining, Tulsa or International Campers or Stonewall. Let me tell you by the families – black, white, brown, immigrant, native – who go through these doors and have the feeling that this country could make room for everyone.

This is not indoctrination.

That belongs.

This is education.

That is democracy.

And at the head of this bastion of truth, a man of vision, a man in the class, the strength, secretary, doctor extravagant – Dr. Lonnie Haufen. The first historian to lead the Smithsonian. The first African American to do this. A curator of courage. A guard of the good. A building contractor between pain and progress.

Under his administration, the Smithsonian did what America has to do – the contradictions in our foundation, shed light on the lines of fault in our systems and still consider space for grace, for growth, for size.

Because here is the truth … There is no honor in history that flatters. There is no integrity in the memory that only remembers some. And there is no future in forgetting.

For those who would close their eyes to injustice who would silence the voices of our elders, our ancestors, our scholars, our artists – I offer the following:

We won't keep forgetting. We will not make myths instead of memory. We will not exchange the truth for consolation.

Instead, we will gather.

We will remember.

We will teach.

We will share.

We will tell everything.

Let's hold this line.

And we remind those who try to restore a narrow, splitting past – That the future is one of us. And even if the current swell is on us, the bridge will hold because the truth deserves the passage. And with the Smithsonian and this museum we don't cross alone.

Thanks for tonightPresent a lot.