Ava DuVernay, Ryan Coogler, Common & More Film Personal Videos Because #BlackLivesMatter

By Aimée Lutkin  |  July 26, 2016 | 7:40pm
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The faces of the Black Lives Matter moment have inevitably been to some extent the faces of black men and women who have died at the hands of police. In a series of videos, activist organization Blackout For Human Rights shows the faces of people who are alive and flourishing, as a reminder of all that could have been.

The videos are mainly of black artists and entertainers recounting their accomplishments. They remind us of the moments in their lives that set them on a path to success, both professionally and personally. Things like making their first film or starting a family or even seeing an ocean for the first time. The videos are punctuated by the stories of Sandra Bland, Tamir Rice, Trayvon Martin, Akai Gurley and more, mentioning their age and the circumstances of their deaths, which kept them from doing so much more in life.

Amongst the monologists are Ryan Coogler, David Oyelowo, Terrence J, La La Anthony, Ava Duvernay, Mara Brock Akil, Common, André Holland, Will Packer, Erica Tazel, and Boris Kodjoe:

 
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