The symbols of systemic racism -- and how to take away their power

Title:
The symbols of systemic racism -- and how to take away their power
Speaker:
Paul Rucker
Description:

Multidisciplinary artist and TED Fellow Paul Rucker is unstitching the legacy of systemic racism in the United States. A collector of artifacts connected to the history of slavery -- from branding irons and shackles to postcards depicting lynchings -- Rucker couldn't find an undamaged Ku Klux Klan robe for his collection, so he began making his own. The result: striking garments in non-traditional fabrics like kente cloth, camouflage and silk that confront the normalization of systemic racism in the US. "If we as a people collectively look at these objects and realize that they are part of our history, we can find a way to where they have no more power over us," Rucker says. (This talk contains graphic images.)

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Video Language:
English
Team:
closed TED
Project:
TEDTalks
Duration:
07:01
Format: HTML5
Primary
Original