On a Path to Expand the View of Blackness

By Vivian Wang, The New York Times

J. Joseph, foreground, prepares questions, while Clark Burnett adjusts his equipment before interviewing a student at the Afro-American Cultural Center at Yale.
(Credit
Michael M. Santiago for The New York Times)

It seems like hardly a week goes by without a headline about the collision of race, politics and education on American campuses, as policymakers, students and activists battle over hot-button words like diversity and fairness. Often, they speak about groups of people — black students, Latino students, Asian students — rather than focusing on individuals.

But it’s the individual stories that fascinate Clark Burnett and J. Joseph, rising seniors at Yale, who last month launched the second season of a documentary series exploring the perception of blackness. Each episode of “Now, In Color” features an interview with a student who settles into a comfortable chair, sips a hot beverage, and fields the opening question: “What’s in your cup?” From there, the filmmakers seek a portrait of his or her life — as a black student, but also as an athlete or daughter or friend.

The project started at Yale (where I also attended), but the budding filmmakers are searching the country for black people of all ages to feature in their third season. I recently talked with them about their video series. (Our conversation has been edited for clarity and length.)

Read the full interview here.

Read more Breaking News here.

View more galleries from the ABHM here.

Watch more from Clark Burnett and J. Joseph interview series Now, In Color here.